Titus Leo: Indianapolis Colts Rookie Files

While Titus Leo initially changed positions to be a team player, the Indianapolis Colts rookie can now credit that change for his opportunity in the NFL.

For many young players, making it to the NFL is all they dream about.

They become obsessed with the dream and will stop at nothing to reach their goal.

But for others, playing in the NFL is not initially on their radar. They play for the love of the game or to get a college scholarship. Some players do not even realize the NFL is a possibility until the opportunity is right in front of them.

This is "Rookie Files," a series on Horseshoe Huddle that gives you the backstory of every rookie for the Indianapolis Colts. Going player by player, we look at their journeys to the NFL and what makes each unique while also detailing how they help the Colts. Next up, Titus Leo, who did not imagine making it to the NFL until a position switch changed the trajectory of his football career.

Is College Football on the Radar?

© Matt Kipp

Leo was born on August 26, 1999, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Leo, along with his three siblings, was raised by his single mother. He credits his mother for molding him into the man he is today.

"My mom is my biggest motivation," Leo told NFL Draft Diamonds. "She took care of four kids and put in a lot of sacrifices over the years for all of us. Her love and dedication as a mother motivates me to be the best that I can."

Leo was a multi-sport athlete growing up. He played football, volleyball, and track. While he found success in all three sports, Leo excelled the most in football.

Leo enrolled at Sheepshead Bay High School and became one of the school's best football players. Leo hardly came off the field for Coach Fred Snyder's squad. He played wide receiver, safety, punter, and kick returner.

Although Leo had become a standout player at Sheepshead Bay, he received very little attention as a recruit. He received zero Division I offers and was not ranked by most recruiting sites. It seemed playing at the next level would not be a reality.

It was not until the middle of his senior year that playing college football was a possibility.

"Truthfully, coming out of high school, I had no aspirations of playing collegiate football until, like, the middle of my senior year when my coaches were like, 'Hey coaches are reaching out. Do you want to play any level of collegiate football?'" Leo revealed to Steeler Depot. "And then I decided to take a shot on it. Went to a few All-Star games out of high school and Wagner College was there. Coach (Custavious) Patterson offered me on the spot based on how I participated in the All-Star game."

While it was only an FCS school, Wagner was the only college to throw an offer Leo's way. Leo committed to the Seahawks and would be playing his college ball close to home in Staten Island.

The Position Change

© Wagner College Athletics

Leo was recruited to Wagner as a wide receiver. However, because of his background on the defensive side of the ball, there was always a chance he could contribute on defense as well.

Leo had yet to see the field at wide receiver as a freshman. He was competing hard in practice but had yet to see an opportunity.

But on the defensive side of the ball, the Seahawks were hurting. Injuries had depleted the team's depth, and the Wagner coaching staff was left searching for answers. The coaches came to Leo, hoping he would be a team player.

"The defense was pretty banged up my freshman year and my head coach – I played both sides of the ball my freshman year as well," Leo recalled. "So, my head coach was like, ‘Hey, do you just want to transition to defense and stick to it?’ I was all for it. Just get on the field and just compete. I was all for it. So, that’s really how the transition worked.”

Leo made the switch from wide receiver to linebacker. It did not take long for Leo to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball, recording 15 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a pick-six within his first three games. Leo was off and running at his new position.

Unfortunately, Leo suffered a knee injury that would limit his season to those three games. He had surgery during the offseason and faced a long road back. It would not be easy, and Leo became discouraged at times.

"I had surgery which was quick and easy.  I was ready to play spring ball. Yet, things weren’t right at the time," Leo admitted. "I wasn’t moving like I used to. I had a voice in my head telling me that I wasn’t ready and made excuses when I wouldn’t win my reps. I was in a bad mental state and wasn’t living up to my own expectations."

Just as things had gotten rolling, Leo would need to overcome this setback both physically and mentally to return to action.

A Successful Switch

© Matt Kipp

The injury was devastating for Leo. He wondered if he would ever return to the player he once was. Luckily for Leo, he had supportive coaches and teammates that helped pull him from the rut and get him back to full strength.

"Our coaches tried speaking with me although I learned the most from my teammate Chris Williams," he said. "Being around him helped elevate my confidence. I trained with him over the summer and developed a competitive nature that has stuck with me since. When fall came around, I worked my way up the depth chart and earned the trust of my coaches. I’ve since taken advantage of every moment I’ve had on the field and haven’t thought twice about the injury I once had."

Back at full strength, Leo entered the starting lineup by the third game of the 2019 season. He registered 68 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in his first year as a starter. Leo had established himself as a pillar for the Seahawks' defense.

Leo's junior season in 2020 was postponed to spring of 2021 due to the pandemic. Even with suspending the season to the spring, Wagner only played in two games. However, Leo's team-leading 15 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles in those games were enough to earn him NEC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-NEC honors.

Because Wagner only had a two-game season, some could say that those honors do not mean as much. Leo would need to back it up next season, which is what he did.

Leo transitioned to a full-time pass rusher in the fall of 2021, racking up a team-leading 71 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Leo earned NEC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-NEC honors for the second year in a row. On top of those accolades, Leo was named a First-Team All-American.

The All-American pass rusher returned for a fifth season at Wagner and continued to put up impressive numbers. As a team captain, Leo totaled 65 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. First Team All-NEC honors were bestowed upon him for the third consecutive season.

After coming to Wagner as a wide receiver, Leo put together one of the most impressive defensive careers in school history. For a player who thought he might not play football at the collegiate level, he now had a chance to play in the NFL.

Leo was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl after the 2022 season and showed off his athletic talents at his pro day. But coming from a smaller school, it was no guarantee he would hear his name called on draft day.

As the sixth round came to a close, Leo was at a small restaurant with his family and agent. When Leo got the call, the Colts and general manager Chris Ballard were on the other end. Indy was ending the wait, taking Leo with the No.211 pick.

How Leo Helps the Colts

© Matt Kipp

As a sixth-round pick from a small school, it may be a little premature to say Leo will play a vital role for the Colts this season. But the Colts are excited about Leo's potential in Gus Bradley's defense.

At 6'3" and 245 pounds with 34-inch arms, Leo fits the body type of the LEO position in the Colts' defense. This role is for undersized, speedy defensive ends with a knack for getting after the quarterback. With 13 sacks and 40 tackles for loss at Wagner, Leo has shown he can be an effective pass rusher.

Leo fires off the snap very quickly and has shown an ability to chase down the ball. He is an explosive player that never takes a play off and has been praised by his coaches for his effort.

But Leo is still very raw as a pass rusher. He tends to rush without a plan and can get held up on blocks. Leo admitted that he still has a long way to go in his development.

"I’m expected to develop as an edge rusher really," Leo said after he was drafted. "As they said, I’m just scratching the surface of my potential. The transition – I played strong side linebacker, I played receiver, safety and EDGE. I’ve only played defensive end and the edge rusher for only 22 games – just two seasons. So, I’m still really a rookie at this position and just developing into it.”

While Leo continues to develop his game, look for him to have an active role on special teams with the Colts. He was responsible for three blocked XPs at Wagner and has experience playing special teams as far back as high school. A core special teams player will likely be his role on the Colts until he can develop as a pass rusher.

As he was walking off the field after his last game at Sheepshead Bay, Leo did not know if he had played his last down of football or not. Now Leo embarks on an NFL career at a new position and new city with endless possibilities in front of him.

It just goes to show that change can be a good thing.

More Rookie Files

• QB Anthony Richardson
• CB JuJu Brents
• WR Josh Downs
• OT Blake Freeland
• DE Adetomiwa Adebawore
• CB Darius Rush
• S Daniel Scott
• TE Will Mallory
• RB Evan Hull
• CB Jaylon Jones
• OT Jake Witt

Want more Colts content? Check out the latest episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!

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