By: Jayme Fordham
Dodge County and surrounding communities welcomed home its first ever NFL first round draft selection, Leonard Floyd on May 1. Lakeside Assembly on the Cochran Highway hosted a community draft party with a crowd estimated to be over 1,200 friends, family and fans of the former Georgia Bulldog standout.
The Chauncey, Georgia native has been a standout athlete at every level he has played at. He excelled in multiple sports for Dodge County but felt most at home on the football field. A four-year starter at Dodge County, Leonard received multiple scholarship offers from many SEC and ACC schools. “I remember a coach from the University of Florida visiting the school. He watched less than five minutes of film on Leonard and said to turn it off. Leonard had a scholarship offer from the University of Florida”, stated former coach Jayme Fordham. If you know Leonard however, you know he is loyal to his city and his home. He chose to stay and play for the team he grew up idolizing, the Georgia Bulldogs.
Leonard Floyd community draft party held
The road to Athens was a little more complicated that just signing a letter of intent for Leonard coming out of Dodge County High School. Due to academic rules with the SEC and the University of Georgia, Leonard had to attend Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia for a year. There he got to see a sneak peak of what it takes to really be a college athlete and the demands that it takes. He played alongside another first round draft pick Shaq Lawson while attending Hargrave. Shaq left to be a standout defensive end at Clemson and Leonard for the hedges of Athens.
From the moment Leonard stepped on campus at Athens, he made an undeniable impact on the face of the Georgia football program. A quiet leader, Leonard’s practice and on field actions began to create a buzz for those that played with of him. Veteran players began dropping his name in interviews with the press. The coaching staff could not stop raving about his drive and work ethic. Former Georgia standout David Pollack even left the Georgia spring practice with one person’s name he felt the country needed to know about. “One name you need to know, Leonard Floyd”, Pollack tweeted to the world. He earned nicknames like the Beast, Flo, and Railroad. These names referred to the way he played as much as they referenced who he is and where he came from. If you ask him, he is most proud of that.
As things began to change at the top for Georgia especially with the coaching staff, Leonard decided it was time to fulfill his dream and enter the NFL draft a year early. In the last four months everything sped up for the Dodge County native. First he hired an agent. Not just any agent, but one of the best in the world. He was already being considered one of the top prospects coming out of college so he needed someone who could represent that. Once that was in place he moved to Pensacola, Florida to train specifically for the NFL draft. There he honed he skills at the world renowned EXOS training facility and put on fifteen pounds to improve his 6’6 and 232 pound frame for the NFL scouts.
At the NFL combine, Leonard destroyed every negative comment any NFL team had about him being undersized. He weighed in over 245 pounds and showed that he could still perform with the speed and agility that he praised for in college. NFL teams took notice if they didn’t already have him at the top of their draft boards. Leonard found himself giving private workouts for multiple NFL teams that wanted an up close look. He flew from Oakland, to Chicago, New York, even another hometown favorite the Atlanta Falcons. He received regular interviews from the Jaguars, Chiefs, Bucs, Bills, and Cardinals. The list goes on and on. The NFL was finally taking notice and seeing what Pollack had tweeted out the first year Leonard was in Athens.
When the draft day finally arrived, Leonard decided not to attend the Chicago event where the draft was being held, but rather stay home close to family and friends and enjoy the moment with those that were close to him the most. As the moment drew closer and closer the anticipation began to build. Leonard kept checking both phones that he had in his lap as family members leaned over his shoulders. A little over an hour and half after the draft started, that call finally came in. Leonard began to smile as he realized that he was talking to an NFL team and not just someone calling to check on him. He gave a nod to everyone to say this is it. That moment has finally arrived. Friends and family began to buzz as they were trying to figure out what was said and what team it was that had called. Due to the television coverage it would still be a few minutes before it was announced officially live. That moment that every kid dreams of had happened as it hit Leonard. He placed his head in his hands and tried his hardest to hold in his emotions. At this point, crying or screaming would have been a justified response for anyone.
“So with the ninth pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have traded their pick to the Chicago Bears” was announced by the NFL commissioner. The Bears had wanted Leonard so badly they knew that trading up to get him was their only option and with the ninth pick overall, our Dodge County boy was selected. The scene was like him winning the Super Bowl on a last second sack. Everyone who was watching at home and there with him that night, stood and shouted, screamed and cried. That was the way he wanted it. He wants everyone to be a part of his journey and experience the dream that he had like most of us as a child. But he still wanted to share more.
A month before the draft, Leonard already had plans of wanting to come back to the community to celebrate especially with the kids of Dodge County. He contacted one of his former coaches and said let’s make something happen. Coach Fordham began developing a plan and delivered it to Leonard. Pastor Tyler Kirkley and Lakeside Assembly, which strives for community outreach and fellowship, accepted the offer to host and set up his event. Local businesses stepped forward and private donations were given to help with security as crowds of people arrived to take a picture and receive an autograph from the hometown son.
NFL combine activities were set up for the kids to participate in and even a small football field stayed busy with games as the life flight helicopter landed for display. Leonard watched as kids ran through the bags and were timed in the 40 yard dash as local camera crews caught the action. He made his way over to Georgia canopy and sat for over 3 hours making sure to sign every autograph he was asked for and take every picture with those that requested one because simply, that is who he is.
As the day come to a conclusion the Lakeside Assembly leadership team brought Leonard and his family into the sanctuary. Pastor Kirkley thanked Leonard for his character and compassion for his community and presented him with a personalized Bible to carry with him on his journey through the NFL and life. As with everything we do, a prayer concluded the day with his family and the Lakeside team.
Dodge County should be proud. This is a story that you helped raise. Good things do happen and dreams do come true. Our community works, our school systems work. We can raise kids to fulfill dreams and this is a message that Leonard Floyd wants to relay back to his community. He will continue to give back because that is who he is, but he wants you to continue to bless those that come behind him and know that we are and can do something right.
From the moment Leonard stepped on campus at Athens, he made an undeniable impact on the face of the Georgia football program. A quiet leader, Leonard’s practice and on field actions began to create a buzz for those that played with of him. Veteran players began dropping his name in interviews with the press. The coaching staff could not stop raving about his drive and work ethic. Former Georgia standout David Pollack even left the Georgia spring practice with one person’s name he felt the country needed to know about. “One name you need to know, Leonard Floyd”, Pollack tweeted to the world. He earned nicknames like the Beast, Flo, and Railroad. These names referred to the way he played as much as they referenced who he is and where he came from. If you ask him, he is most proud of that.
As things began to change at the top for Georgia especially with the coaching staff, Leonard decided it was time to fulfill his dream and enter the NFL draft a year early. In the last four months everything sped up for the Dodge County native. First he hired an agent. Not just any agent, but one of the best in the world. He was already being considered one of the top prospects coming out of college so he needed someone who could represent that. Once that was in place he moved to Pensacola, Florida to train specifically for the NFL draft. There he honed he skills at the world renowned EXOS training facility and put on fifteen pounds to improve his 6’6 and 232 pound frame for the NFL scouts.
At the NFL combine, Leonard destroyed every negative comment any NFL team had about him being undersized. He weighed in over 245 pounds and showed that he could still perform with the speed and agility that he praised for in college. NFL teams took notice if they didn’t already have him at the top of their draft boards. Leonard found himself giving private workouts for multiple NFL teams that wanted an up close look. He flew from Oakland, to Chicago, New York, even another hometown favorite the Atlanta Falcons. He received regular interviews from the Jaguars, Chiefs, Bucs, Bills, and Cardinals. The list goes on and on. The NFL was finally taking notice and seeing what Pollack had tweeted out the first year Leonard was in Athens.
When the draft day finally arrived, Leonard decided not to attend the Chicago event where the draft was being held, but rather stay home close to family and friends and enjoy the moment with those that were close to him the most. As the moment drew closer and closer the anticipation began to build. Leonard kept checking both phones that he had in his lap as family members leaned over his shoulders. A little over an hour and half after the draft started, that call finally came in. Leonard began to smile as he realized that he was talking to an NFL team and not just someone calling to check on him. He gave a nod to everyone to say this is it. That moment has finally arrived. Friends and family began to buzz as they were trying to figure out what was said and what team it was that had called. Due to the television coverage it would still be a few minutes before it was announced officially live. That moment that every kid dreams of had happened as it hit Leonard. He placed his head in his hands and tried his hardest to hold in his emotions. At this point, crying or screaming would have been a justified response for anyone.
“So with the ninth pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have traded their pick to the Chicago Bears” was announced by the NFL commissioner. The Bears had wanted Leonard so badly they knew that trading up to get him was their only option and with the ninth pick overall, our Dodge County boy was selected. The scene was like him winning the Super Bowl on a last second sack. Everyone who was watching at home and there with him that night, stood and shouted, screamed and cried. That was the way he wanted it. He wants everyone to be a part of his journey and experience the dream that he had like most of us as a child. But he still wanted to share more.
A month before the draft, Leonard already had plans of wanting to come back to the community to celebrate especially with the kids of Dodge County. He contacted one of his former coaches and said let’s make something happen. Coach Fordham began developing a plan and delivered it to Leonard. Pastor Tyler Kirkley and Lakeside Assembly, which strives for community outreach and fellowship, accepted the offer to host and set up his event. Local businesses stepped forward and private donations were given to help with security as crowds of people arrived to take a picture and receive an autograph from the hometown son.
NFL combine activities were set up for the kids to participate in and even a small football field stayed busy with games as the life flight helicopter landed for display. Leonard watched as kids ran through the bags and were timed in the 40 yard dash as local camera crews caught the action. He made his way over to Georgia canopy and sat for over 3 hours making sure to sign every autograph he was asked for and take every picture with those that requested one because simply, that is who he is.
As the day come to a conclusion the Lakeside Assembly leadership team brought Leonard and his family into the sanctuary. Pastor Kirkley thanked Leonard for his character and compassion for his community and presented him with a personalized Bible to carry with him on his journey through the NFL and life. As with everything we do, a prayer concluded the day with his family and the Lakeside team.
Dodge County should be proud. This is a story that you helped raise. Good things do happen and dreams do come true. Our community works, our school systems work. We can raise kids to fulfill dreams and this is a message that Leonard Floyd wants to relay back to his community. He will continue to give back because that is who he is, but he wants you to continue to bless those that come behind him and know that we are and can do something right.
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