Richie Leone
{{Short description|Canadian and American football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image = 2023, 13, Richie Leone.jpg
| caption = Leone with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2023
| current_team = Ottawa Redblacks
| number = 13
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|3|10}}
| birth_place = Roswell, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 211
| college = Houston
| high_school = Roswell (GA)
| undraftedyear = 2014
| pastteams =
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2014}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2015}}–{{CFL Year|2016}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
- Ottawa Redblacks ({{CFL Year|2018}}–{{CFL Year|2019}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Ottawa Redblacks ({{CFL Year|2021}}–present)
| status = Active
| cflstatus = American
| highlights =
- 5× CFL All-Star (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023)
- 2× CFL West All-Star (2015, 2016)
- 4× CFL East All-Star (2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)
- First-team All-C-USA (2012)
| pfr = LeonRi01
| cfl = richie-leone/161073/
}}
Richie Leone (born March 10, 1992) is an American professional football punter for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played collegiate football for the University of Houston. He has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, BC Lions, and Arizona Cardinals.
Early life
Leone played high school football at Roswell High School at the quarterback, punter, and kicker positions.{{cite news|last1=Meoli|first1=Jon|title=Rookie punter trying to seize his chance with Ravens|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2014/08/04/rookie-punter-trying-to-seize-his-chance-with-ravens/|access-date=6 July 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=4 August 2014}} While in high school, he averaged 44.1 yards per kick.{{cite news|last1=Holcomb|first1=Todd|title=Georgia: Mason, Rogers lead all-class all-state team|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/8PXtK_NMEd6UswAcxJTdpg/georgia--mason,-rogers-lead-all-class-all-state-team.htm|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=MaxPreps|date=27 December 2009}}
College career
From 2010 to 2013, Leone played college football for the Houston Cougars as a punter and kicker and started for all four years. He was on the Conference USA first-team in 2012 and the American Athletic Conference second-team in 2013. Leone was also a three-time semi-finalist for the Ray Guy Award.{{cite web|title=Richie Leone|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/richie_leone_586986.html|website=Houston Cougars|accessdate=6 July 2015}} He averaged 43.1 yards on punts and placed the ball within the opponents' 20-yard line on 52.4 percent of attempts during 2013.{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Brian|title=UH punter Leone ready for next stage at NFL draft combine|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2014/02/uh-punter-leone-ready-for-next-stage-at-nfl-draft-combine/#20418101=0|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=Houston Chronicle|date=20 February 2014}} In his senior year, Leone was named a second-team All-American.{{cite news|last1=Shelton|first1=Christopher|title=Leone prepares for final UH kick|url=http://thedailycougar.com/2014/01/04/leone-prepares-final-uh-kick/|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=The Daily Cougar|date=4 January 2014}}
Professional career
= Baltimore Ravens =
Leone was one of five punters invited to the 2014 NFL scouting combine.{{cite news|title=UH punter Richie Leone hoping for NFL chance|url=http://www.khou.com/story/local/2015/05/13/12374748/|accessdate=6 July 2015|publisher=KHOU|date=24 February 2014}} He went undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft, but was signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Ravens on May 12, 2014.{{cite web|title=Ravens Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-17-Undrafted-Free-Agents/058fa495-45d3-487a-883e-63f019d16649|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807071740/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-17-Undrafted-Free-Agents/058fa495-45d3-487a-883e-63f019d16649|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2017|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=May 12, 2014|accessdate=January 28, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Transactions|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/transactions.html|website=Baltimore Ravens|accessdate=6 July 2015}} Leone competed with Sam Koch for the punter position in training camp,{{cite news|last1=Butt|first1=Jason|title=Could Richie Leone push Sam Koch for his job as Ravens punter?|url=http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2014/5/14/5716864/could-richie-leone-push-sam-koch-for-his-job-as-ravens-punter|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=Baltimore Beat Down|date=14 May 2014}} and played in three preseason games.{{cite web|title=Richie Leone|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/richie-leone/dd88a120-23ba-4762-a6de-944c88933d5e/|website=Baltimore Ravens|accessdate=6 July 2015}} He was waived on August 25 before the beginning of the regular season.{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Aaron|title=Ravens make a series of cuts as they trim roster to 75 players|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-cut-linebacker-austin-spitler-source-says-20140825-story.html|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=25 August 2014}}
= BC Lions (first stint)=
Leone was signed by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on October 20, 2014, to their practice roster, but left the team a month later.{{cite web|title=Transactions |url=http://bclions.com/page/2014-transactions |website=BC Lions |accessdate=7 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202200549/http://bclions.com/page/2014-transactions |archivedate=December 2, 2015 }}{{cite news|last1=Beamish|first1=Mike|title=BC Lions kicker, former Maple Ridge resident Paul McCallum officially granted his release|url=http://www.mrtimes.com/sports/bc-lions-kicker-former-maple-ridge-resident-paul-mccallum-officially-granted-his-release-1.1960871|accessdate=7 July 2015|work=Maple Ridge Times|date=7 June 2015}}
= Pittsburgh Steelers =
On January 27, 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Leone to challenge Brad Wing for the starting punter position, but he was released in May.{{cite news|last1=Bryan|first1=Dave|title=Steelers Sign P Richie Leon|url=http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/01/steelers-sign-p-richie-leone/|accessdate=7 July 2015|work=Steelers Depot|date=27 January 2015}}
= BC Lions (second stint) =
Leone returned to the Lions before their training camp as the Lions reportedly searched for a single player to handle punting, kickoffs, and kicking.{{cite news|last1=Beamish|first1=Mike|title=B.C. Lions: Can Leone put the boot to rivals?|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Lions+Leone+boot+rivals/10444728/story.html|accessdate=7 July 2015|work=The Vancouver Sun|date=5 December 2014}} Leone remained on the active roster after the preseason as he fulfilled all three kicking duties. He made his CFL debut against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 4, 2015, where he scored two field goals from 11 and 13 yards as well as an extra point.{{cite news|title=Burris leads Redblacks to victory over B.C. Lions|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/07/04/burris-leads-redblacks-to-victory-over-bc-lions.html|accessdate=7 July 2015|work=The Star|agency=The Canadian Press|date=4 July 2015}} The following game, on July 10, Leone kicked a 56-yard field goal, setting a BC Lions record for longest field goal and tying the game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders 29–29 with 31 seconds remaining; a game which the Lions won in overtime.{{cite news|last1=Beamish|first1=Mike|title=Leone's leg, Lulay's arm lead Lions to "crazy" win over Roughriders|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Leone+Lulay+lead+Lions+crazy+over+Roughriders/11205880/story.html|accessdate=12 July 2015|work=The Vancouver Sun|date=11 July 2015}} As of August 3, 2015, Leone had the highest punt average in the CFL (50.1 yards).{{cite news|last1=MacKenzie|first1=Eric|title=Leone's leg the least of Lions' problems|url=http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2015/08/03/leones-leg-the-least-of-lions-problems|accessdate=5 August 2015|work=Vancouver 24 hrs|date=3 August 2015}} He began his season with 13 consecutive made field goals before missing a 46-yard kick on August 6 in a game against the Edmonton Eskimos.{{cite news|last1=Moddejonge|first1=Gerry|title=Tying kick wasn't a guarantee, says Edmonton Eskimos head coach|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/08/07/tying-kick-wasnt-a-guarantee-says-edmonton-eskimos-head-coach|accessdate=8 August 2015|work=Edmonton Sun|date=7 August 2015}} Leone was named a CFL All-Star as a punter in both the 2015 and 2016 season. Following the 2016 season Leone was granted a release by the Lions so he could sign with an NFL team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/lions-free-agent-leone-to-sign-with-nfl-s-cards-1.643135|title=Lions' free agent Leone to sign with NFL's Cards - Article - TSN|date=2017-01-03|newspaper=TSN|access-date=2017-01-04}}
=Arizona Cardinals (first stint)=
On January 5, 2017, Leone signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.{{cite web|title=Punter Richie Leone, Receiver Aaron Dobson Added|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Punter-Richie-Leone-Receiver-Aaron-Dobson-Added/5c23e7d0-4a8e-4a83-9502-6ecda79e7b26|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=January 5, 2017}} He was waived on September 2, 2017.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Make Moves To Reach 53-Man Roster|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Make-Moves-To-Reach-53-Man-Roster/c2904f51-70b9-4e22-b995-854e40074123|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=September 2, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903022302/https://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Make-Moves-To-Reach-53-Man-Roster/c2904f51-70b9-4e22-b995-854e40074123|archivedate=September 3, 2017|url-status=dead}}
=Ottawa Redblacks (first stint)=
On April 10, 2018, he was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks.{{Cite news |url= https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018/04/10/transactions-april-10-2018/ |title= Transactions April 10 2018 |date= 2018-04-10 |website= OttawaREDBLACKS.com |access-date= 2018-05-05}} He was named an East Division All-Star as a punter at season's end.{{cite web|title=Star Power: 2018 CFL Divisional All-Stars Announced|date=7 November 2018 |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/11/07/star-power-2018-cfl-divisional-stars-announced/|publisher=Canadian Football League|accessdate=2018-11-07}} In the following season, he was named both a divisional and CFL All-Star at punter.{{cite web|title=Stars Aligned: 2019 CFL All-Stars unveiled |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/11/27/stars-aligned-2019-cfl-stars-unveiled/ |publisher=Canadian Football League|date=2019-11-27}}
After the CFL canceled the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Leone opted out of his contract with the Redblacks on August 25, 2020.{{cite news |title=Richie Leone released by Redblacks |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/08/25/richie-leone-released-redblacks/ |website=CFL.ca |date=August 25, 2020 |accessdate=August 26, 2020}}
= Arizona Cardinals (second stint) =
On September 8, 2020, Leone was signed to the Cardinals' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Sign Free Agent Defensive Lineman Angelo Blackson|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-sign-angelo-blackson-richie-leone-jordan-thomas|author=Urban, Darren|website=azcardinals.com|date=September 8, 2020}} He was released on September 15.{{cite web|title=Former CFL K/P Richie Leone released by Cardinals, headed to workout for Ravens|url=https://3downnation.com/2020/09/16/former-cfl-k-p-richie-leone-released-by-cardinals-headed-to-workout-for-ravens/|author=Dunk, Justin|website=3downnation.com|date=September 16, 2020}}
= Ottawa Redblacks (second stint) =
File:2023, 13, Richie Leone (2).jpg
Leone re-signed with the Redblacks on January 26, 2021.{{cite news |title=Redblacks re-sign Leone, Evans, Korte and Coombs |url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2021/01/26/redblacks-re-sign-leone-evans-korte-coombs/ |website=OttawaRedblacks.com |date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021}} Leone had another outstanding season in 2021 with Ottawa, and was named a CFL All-Star for the fourth time in his career.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-15|title=REDBLACKS Leone, Dedmon named CFL All-Stars|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2021/12/15/redblacks-leone-dedmon-named-cfl-stars/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=Ottawa REDBLACKS|language=en}} He was again named a CFL All-Star in 2023.{{cite web|title=Stars of the show: 2023 CFL All-Stars, fan favourite unveiled |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/08/stars-of-the-show-2023-cfl-all-stars-fan-favourite-unveiled/ |publisher=Canadian Football League | date=November 8, 2023}}
=CFL statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||||
| colspan=3 rowspan=2| As of Dec 17, 2021{{cite web|title=Richie Leone|url=http://cfl.ca/roster/show/id/7617|website=CFL.ca|accessdate=16 September 2015}}||colspan=7|Kicking ||colspan=7 rowspan=2|Punting ||rowspan=2|Defense | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan=2|PAT ||colspan=5|FG | |||||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | GP | Att | Made | Att | Made | Pct | Long | Single | No | Yards | Avg | Long | Single | Net | Net Avg | STT |
| {{CFL Year|2015}} | BC | 17 | 38 | 27 | 39 | 30 | 76.9 | 56 | 3 | 119 | 5,893 | 49.5 | 83 | 9 | 4,868 | 40.9 | 4 |
| 2016
|BC |18 |30 |25 |51 |35 |68.6 |52 |7 |97 |4,778 |49.3 |78 |13 |3,581 |36.9 |5 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2018
|OTT |18 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |124 |5,755 |46.4 |65 |5 | | |3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019
|OTT |18 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |132 |6,383 |48.4 |77 |6 |5,204 |39.1 |4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020
| colspan="17" |Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021
|OTT |14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |106 |4,912 |46.3 |67 |0 |4,315 |40.7 |N/A | |||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" |Career
|85 |68 |52 |90 |65 |72.2 |56 |10 |578 |27,721 |48.0 |83 |33 |22,586 |39.1 |16 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Ottawa Redblacks roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leone, Richie}}
Category:Players of American football from Roswell, Georgia
Category:American football placekickers
Category:American football punters
Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Canadian football placekickers
Category:Canadian football punters
Category:Houston Cougars football players
Category:Baltimore Ravens players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players