Alex Leatherwood

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Alex Leatherwood

| image = Alex Leatherwood (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Leatherwood with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021

| current_team =

| number =

| position = Offensive tackle

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|01|05}}

| birth_place = Pensacola, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lb = 312

| high_school = Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

| college = Alabama (2017–2020)

| draftyear = 2021

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 17

| pastteams =

Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2021}})
Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2022}})
Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2024}})*

| status =

| highlights =

2× CFP national champion (2017, 2020)
Outland Trophy (2020)
Jacobs Blocking Trophy (2020)
Unanimous All-American (2020)
2× first-team All-SEC (2019, 2020)
Second-team All-SEC (2018)

| statleague = NFL

| statseason = 2024

| statweek =

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 21

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 17

| pfr = LeatAl00

}}

Alexander Leatherwood (born January 5, 1999) is an American professional football offensive tackle. He played college football at Alabama, where he was two-time CFP national champion and the winner of the Outland and Jacobs Blocking trophies in 2020. Leatherwood was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft but was released after his rookie season.

Early life

Leatherwood was born on January 5, 1999, and grew up in Pensacola, Florida, where he attended Booker T. Washington High School.{{Cite news |last=Houston |first=Bryce |date=September 17, 2019 |title=Alex Leatherwood: 3 things to know about the Alabama football offensive lineman |work=Montgomery Advertiser |url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/2019/09/17/alex-leatherwood-alabama-football-roster-season-schedule-rankings/2276847001/ |access-date=November 7, 2019}} He was named first-team All-Area by the Pensacola News Journal as a junior and senior.{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2017 |title=University of Alabama football class of 2017 |url=https://www.wbrc.com/story/34404593/university-of-alabama-football-class-of-2017/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=WBRC.com}} As a senior, he was named a first-team All-American by Parade and named to the second-team by USA Today and played in the All-America Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Adame |first=Tony |date=January 8, 2018 |title=Leatherwood steps up for Alabama in title game |url=https://www.pnj.com/story/sports/college/alabama/2018/01/08/washingtons-leatherwood-delivers-clutch-alabama/1015809001/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=Pensacola News Journal}} Leatherwood was rated a consensus five-star and top 10 recruit for his class and committed to play college football at the University of Alabama during his junior year.{{Cite web |last=Sinor |first=Wesley |date=January 13, 2019 |title=Pensacola OT Alex Leatherwood is Alabama's 3rd commitment in 2 days |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2015/06/pensacola_ot_alex_leatherwood.html |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=AL.com}}

College career

Leatherwood enrolled at Alabama a semester early and played in seven games as a true freshman. He saw significant playing time in the 2018 CFP National Championship Game, entering the game at left tackle after starter Jonah Williams was injured in the third quarter.{{Cite news |last=Rill |first=Jake |date=January 8, 2018 |title=Alabama LT Jonah Williams exits with injury, goes to medical tent |work=Springfield News-Sun |url=https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/sports/college/alabama-jonah-williams-exits-with-injury-goes-medical-tent/fPhKTJbaJeyK7gbpN3CFxL/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107203433/https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/sports/college/alabama-jonah-williams-exits-with-injury-goes-medical-tent/fPhKTJbaJeyK7gbpN3CFxL/ |url-status=dead }} He was moved to right tackle during spring practice and moved again to right guard during fall training camp, winning the starting job going into his sophomore season.{{Cite web |last=Suttles |first=Aaron |date=July 24, 2018 |title=Alex Leatherwood still searching for role on uncertain Alabama O-line |url=https://theathletic.com/442788/2018/07/24/alabama-offensive-line-questions-alex-leatherwood/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=The Athletic}} He started all 15 of the Crimson Tide's games, giving up 21 pressures, and was named second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) by the league's coaches.{{Cite web |last=Hummer |first=Chris |date=November 7, 2019 |title=Meet Alabama's Alex Leatherwood: Meme lover, QB protector |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Alabama-football-Alex-Leatherwood-profile-class-of-2017-138157158/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=247Sports.com}}{{Cite web |last=Kercheval |first=Ben |date=December 4, 2018 |title=2018 All-SEC Team: Tua Tagovailoa headlines as Alabama leads the way with 12 selections |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2018-all-sec-team-tua-tagovailoa-headlines-as-alabama-leads-the-way-with-12-selections/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=CBSSports.com}}

Leatherwood was moved back to the left tackle position following the season.{{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Charlie |date=October 23, 2019 |title=Alabama's Alex Leatherwood feeling 'back home' at left tackle |url=https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Article/Alabama-Footballs-Alex-Leatherwood-feeling-back-home-at-left-tackle-137388374/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=247Sports.com}} He was named first-team preseason All-SEC and a second-team preseason All-American by Sporting News entering his junior season.{{Cite web |last=Zenitz |first=Matt |date=July 19, 2019 |title=Alabama sets record for preseason first-team All-SEC selections |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/07/alabama-sets-record-for-preseason-first-team-all-sec-selections.html |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=AL.com}} He was placed on the Outland Trophy watchlist midway through the season.{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Hannah |date=October 24, 2019 |title=Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills Jr. named to Outland Trophy watch list |url=https://rolltidewire.usatoday.com/2019/10/24/alex-leatherwood-and-jedrick-wills-jr-named-to-outland-trophy-watch-list/ |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=Roll Tide Wire |publisher=USA Today}} Leatherwood started every game for Alabama and was named first-team All-SEC by the league's coaches and second-team by the media and was named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association.{{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Charlie |date=December 18, 2019 |title=Six Alabama players named to 2019 AFCA Coaches' All-America Team |url=https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Article/Six-Alabama-Football-players-named-to-2019-AFCA-Coaches-All-America-Team-Jerry-Jeudy-Alex-Leatherwood-Raekwon-Davis-Trevon-Diggs-Xavier-McKinney-Jedrick-Wills-140753025/ |access-date=January 2, 2020 |website=247Sports.com}} After considering entering the 2020 NFL Draft, Leatherwood announced that he would return to Alabama for his senior season.{{Cite web |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |date=January 2, 2020 |title=Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood to return to Crimson Tide |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28410336/alabama-ot-alex-leatherwood-return-crimson-tide |access-date=January 2, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}}

As a senior, Leatherwood starting all 13 of Alabama's games as the Crimson Tide won the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship. He was named first-team All-SEC and was the co-winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy along with Alabama center Landon Dickerson. Leatherwood was a unanimous first-team All-America selection and was awarded the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman.{{Cite web |last=Rodak |first=Mike |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Alex Leatherwood is sixth Alabama winner of Outland Trophy |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2021/01/alex-leatherwood-is-sixth-alabama-winner-of-outland-trophy.html |access-date=January 12, 2021 |website=AL.com}}

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 4 3/4

| weight = 312

| dash = 4.99

| ten split = 1.78

| twenty split = 2.94

| shuttle = 4.65

| cone drill = 7.45

| vertical = 34.5

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 10

| bench =

| arm span = 33 7/8

| hand span = 9 1/2

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Alex Leatherwood Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/alex-leatherwood/32004c45-4173-2379-61f9-b62d58f5c85e |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=Alex Leatherwood, Alabama, OT, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1021699&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=September 7, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}{{Cite web |title=Alex Leatherwood 2021 NFL Draft Profile |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/104806 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=insider.espn.com}}

}}

= Las Vegas Raiders =

Leatherwood was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Levi |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Raiders select Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood with 17th pick |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-select-alabama-offensive-lineman-alex-leatherwood-with-17th-pick |access-date=May 7, 2021 |website=Raiders.com}} On May 24, 2021, Leatherwood signed his four-year rookie contract with Las Vegas,{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Ben |date=May 24, 2021 |title=Raiders Sign First-Round OL Alex Leatherwood |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/05/raiders-sign-first-round-ol-alex-leatherwood |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=Pro Football Rumors |language=en-US}} a four-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $14.39 million.{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=July 29, 2021 |title=Alabama Roots: NFL Draft picks sign for $192 million |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2021/07/alabama-roots-nfl-draft-picks-sign-for-192-million.html |access-date=August 31, 2022 |website=AL.com |language=en}} He moved to offensive guard due to struggles at tackle as a rookie and was waived on August 30, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Damien |first=Levi |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Raiders waive former 2021 first-round pick OL Alex Leatherwood |url=https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/30/raiders-waive-2021-top-pick-alex-leatherwood/ |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=Raiders Wire |language=en-US}}

= Chicago Bears =

On August 31, 2022, Leatherwood was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Bears awarded Alex Leatherwood and five other players on waivers |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/31/bears-awarded-alex-leatherwood-and-five-other-players-on-waivers/ |access-date=August 31, 2022 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}} He was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list on September 14, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Barbieri |first=Alyssa |date=September 14, 2022 |title=Bears place Alex Leatherwood on NFI list, re-sign Michael Schofield to active roster |url=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2022/09/14/bears-place-alex-leatherwood-on-nfi-list-re-sign-michael-schofield-to-active-roster/ |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=USAToday.com}} He was activated on October 28.

On August 27, 2023, Leatherwood was released by the Bears.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Bears release Walker; waive Leatherwood, Houy|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-release-walker-waive-leatherwood-houy|author=Mayer, Larry|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=August 27, 2023}}

=Cleveland Browns=

On August 30, 2023, Leatherwood was signed to the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns.{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Browns claim CB Kahlef Hailassie and add 15 to practice squad |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-claim-cb-kahlef-hailassie-and-add-15-to-practice-squad |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com}} His contract expired when the team's season ended January 13, 2024.

=Los Angeles Chargers=

On May 29, 2024, Leatherwood signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2024 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign Tackle Alex Leatherwood |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-tackle-alex-leatherwood |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Chargers.com}} He was released on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-reduce-roster-to-53-players-2024 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Chargers.com}}{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Chargers Claim Hassan Haskins; Sign 15 Players to Practice Squad |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/claim-hassan-haskins-sign-15-players-to-practice-squad-2024 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Chargers.com}} Leatherwood was released by the Chargers on December 10.{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Nikhil |date=December 10, 2024 |title=NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/10/24 |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2024/12/nfl-practice-squad-updates-12-10-24 |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Pro Football Rumors |language=en-US}}

Personal life

In June 2020, Leatherwood wrote a screenplay for a video in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. He appeared in the video along with other Alabama players and their head coach, Nick Saban.{{Cite news |last=Boren |first=Cindy |date=June 30, 2020 |title=Alabama mayor resigns after comments on Crimson Tide's Black Lives Matter video |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/06/30/alabama-mayor-resigns-after-comments-crimson-tides-black-lives-matter-video/ |access-date=January 11, 2021}}