2014 NFL Draft Profile: Tennessee State tight end A.C. Leonard

Howie Roseman has a solid track record when it comes to finding depth in the late rounds of the draft. The Eagles may already have a load of offensive talent on the roster, but they may be able to add even more on Day 3 in May. Tennessee State's A.C. Leonard could be a fit at tight end for Chip Kelly and Co.

College Career

Leonard was the No. 5 tight end in the country in 2011 by Rivals.com when committed to Florida, which he chose over Nebraska, Central Florida and Florida International. Leonard played in nine games (four starts) as a true freshman and caught eight passes for 99 yards. He got into an altercation with his girlfriend in 2012 and was charged with misdemeanor battery. He then was cited a few months later for driving with a suspended license. These two incidents forced him off the team.

He transferred for Tennessee State and was immediately a productive piece of their offense. He was named second team FSC All-American and first team All-OVC in his first year with the Tigers. He played in 10 games (eight starts) and caught 51 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns. In 2013, Leonard was again a second team FCS All-American and second team All-OVC selection. He played in 12 games (six starts) and collected five receiving touchdowns.

Combine Numbers

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 252 lbs

Arm Length: 33"

Hands: 9 1/4"

40: 4.50 seconds (1st among TEs in 2014)

Bench: 20 reps

Vertical Jump: 34.0 inches (3rd among TEs in 2014)

Broad Jump: 128.0 inches (1st among TEs in 2014)

Strengths

Leonard is a strong athlete with speed and burst. He has very good hands and will make catches with relative ease. He is tough to bring down after the catch and churns out yards with defenders attached. He has the ability to play outside and will create mismatches against cornerbacks. He is a willing blocker.

Weaknesses

Leonard lacks strength despite his frame. He tends get lost when blocking for the run and can get taken out of the play by bigger defensive lineman. While he is terrific with the ball in his hands, the way he runs with the ball is frightening (it is similar to Bryce Brown as a rookie). He has an off-the-field history that makes you question his maturity and his overall character. He played against inferior competition on a weekly basis at the FCS level.

Eagles Outlook

The Eagles want high character players, so on the surface this does not seem like a great fit. However, it has been two years since Leonard had character incidents and he may have matured during his time at Tennessee State. The Eagles could add him to the roster and make him the backup "move" tight end to Zach Ertz. He is likely to be available in the sixth or seventh round of May's draft.

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