Darius Leonard is a star the Colts need

The second year player out of South Carolina State has already exceeded all expectations after being drafted in the second round. He is exactly what the Colts need.

Darius Leonard is the best player on the Colts. This is no longer a debatable topic. Once Andrew Luck retired, Leonard immediately got the bump to the title of the team’s best player. He is the star that the Colts need on the defensive side of the ball.

Leonard has done ridiculous things in his career already. As a rookie, he led the league in tackles and was named as a First Team All-Pro. This year he has 92 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 interceptions (including one he took back on Sunday 81  yards for a touchdown), 6 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles.

The man is a monster all over the field. He clearly made it a point to work on his pass coverage in the offseason, and it has mightily improved. Leonard is the only person on the defense that the Colts can count on to make big plays on a consistent basis.

One of the biggest reasons he is the star that they need is because he plays defense. When was the last time the Colts had a star on defense? Bob Sanders? Does he even qualify? Most of their star power has been on the offensive side of the ball in recent years.

This team needs a defensive star right in the middle of the defense. Leonard is that man. Chris Ballard can build the rest of the defense around him to best complement his skills. Doing that will lead the Colts to being a defensive team instead of just a team that can score.

Leonard is still only in his second year. He will continue to get better. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFL as they try to gameplan for him. He will be a stud for a long time.