Montana LB Leonard Overcomes Injury, Eyes Big Season

Meet the Griz is a series that tells the stories of Montana Grizzlies athletes, coaches, and contributors.

Meet the Griz: Linebacker, Missoula Sentinel Grad Geno Leonard

Injuries have hampered Geno Leonard's Griz career. Leonard redshirted in 2021, played in one game in 2022, and then ran into injuries in his redshirt-sophomore and redshirt-junior years.

But Geno is ready to go this year.

"I'm feeling 10," Leonard said on how he feels on a scale of 1-10. "Yeah, it's the best I've felt through the summer, and yeah, everything's feeling good."

First, it was a back injury in the weight room. Then, it was a foot injury, but that's behind Geno now.

That doesn't mean the adversity didn't wear on him.

"Any athlete that goes through any sort of adversity like that, especially with injuries. There's a lot of doubts that you have. I definitely faced those. I think for every injury I've ever had through college."

It's a big deal that Geno is even able to play football again. Whether he plays special teams, starts on defense, or spells in on defense, it's a big deal.

A scary event hit Leonard when he suffered a back injury in the weight room prior to the 2023 season.

"We're lifting, and it wasn't a weight that I couldn't do or anything like that. It was just a random event where, maybe, my core wasn't set the right way, or something like that."

"I just felt tingling down my feet. I put the barbell back in the rack, and let go of it, and the next thing you know, my legs went numb."

The pain subsided for a few months, but came back and ended his 2023 season.

Geno returned to action a season ago, appearing on special teams and a little on defense, including a nice showing in the regular season finale in Bozeman.

Now, Leonard is back with the rest of a talented linebacker corps that pushes one another to their very best.

"It's fierce, but it's all out of the nature of, like, brotherhood," Leonard said on the atmosphere of the linebacker room.

"We're all competitive with each other, and we're fighting for starting spots. I don't think anyone views themself higher than the rest of the group, which is good. I think we know that we need all of us to play."

What's the goal this season, Geno?

"Win every game."

Listen to Leonard on the Montana Radio Program of the Year, The Daily Drive with Ace Sauerwein