Alex Leatherwood
refer to caption
Leatherwood with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1999-01-05) January 5, 1999 (age 25)
Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:312 lb (142 kg)
Career information
High school:Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)
College:Alabama (2017–2020)
Position:Offensive tackle
NFL draft:2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:21
Games started:17
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Alexander Leatherwood (born January 5, 1999) is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. 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 years

Leatherwood was born on January 5, 1999, and grew up in Pensacola, Florida, where he attended Booker T. Washington High School.[1] He was named first-team All-Area by the Pensacola News Journal as a junior and senior.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7][8]

Leatherwood was moved back to the left tackle position following the season.[9] He was named first-team preseason All-SEC and a second-team preseason All-American by Sporting News entering his junior season.[10] He was placed on the Outland Trophy watchlist midway through the season.[11] 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.[12] After considering entering the 2020 NFL Draft, Leatherwood announced that he would return to Alabama for his senior season.[13]

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.[14]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 4+3⁄4 in
(1.95 m) 		312 lb
(142 kg) 		33+7⁄8 in
(0.86 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.99 s 1.78 s 2.94 s 4.65 s 7.45 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)
All values from Pro Day[15][16][17]

Las Vegas Raiders

Leatherwood was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.[18] On May 24, 2021, Leatherwood signed his four-year rookie contract with Las Vegas,[19] a four-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $14.39 million.[20] He moved to offensive guard due to struggles at tackle as a rookie and was waived on August 30, 2022.[21]

Chicago Bears

On August 31, 2022, Leatherwood was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears.[22] He was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list on September 14, 2022.[23] He was activated on October 28.

On August 27, 2023, Leatherwood was released by the Bears.[24]

Cleveland Browns

On August 30, 2023, Leatherwood was signed to the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns.[25] His contract expired when the team's season ended January 13, 2024.

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.[26]

References

  1. ^ Houston, Bryce (September 17, 2019). "Alex Leatherwood: 3 things to know about the Alabama football offensive lineman". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "University of Alabama football class of 2017". WBRC.com. February 1, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Adame, Tony (January 8, 2018). "Leatherwood steps up for Alabama in title game". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  4. ^ Sinor, Wesley (January 13, 2019). "Pensacola OT Alex Leatherwood is Alabama's 3rd commitment in 2 days". AL.com. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  5. ^ Rill, Jake (January 8, 2018). "Alabama LT Jonah Williams exits with injury, goes to medical tent". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  6. ^ Suttles, Aaron (July 24, 2018). "Alex Leatherwood still searching for role on uncertain Alabama O-line". The Athletic. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  7. ^ Hummer, Chris (November 7, 2019). "Meet Alabama's Alex Leatherwood: Meme lover, QB protector". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Kercheval, Ben (December 4, 2018). "2018 All-SEC Team: Tua Tagovailoa headlines as Alabama leads the way with 12 selections". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  9. ^ Potter, Charlie (October 23, 2019). "Alabama's Alex Leatherwood feeling 'back home' at left tackle". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Zenitz, Matt (July 19, 2019). "Alabama sets record for preseason first-team All-SEC selections". AL.com. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Stephens, Hannah (October 24, 2019). "Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills Jr. named to Outland Trophy watch list". Roll Tide Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Potter, Charlie (December 18, 2019). "Six Alabama players named to 2019 AFCA Coaches' All-America Team". 247Sports.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  13. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (January 2, 2020). "Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood to return to Crimson Tide". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  14. ^ Rodak, Mike (January 7, 2021). "Alex Leatherwood is sixth Alabama winner of Outland Trophy". AL.com. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  15. ^ "Alex Leatherwood Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "Alex Leatherwood, Alabama, OT, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "Alex Leatherwood 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Edwards, Levi (April 29, 2021). "Raiders select Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood with 17th pick". Raiders.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  19. ^ Levine, Ben (May 24, 2021). "Raiders Sign First-Round OL Alex Leatherwood". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  20. ^ Inabinett, Mark (July 29, 2021). "Alabama Roots: NFL Draft picks sign for $192 million". AL.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  21. ^ Damien, Levi (August 30, 2022). "Raiders waive former 2021 first-round pick OL Alex Leatherwood". Raiders Wire. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  22. ^ Smith, Michael David (August 31, 2022). "Bears awarded Alex Leatherwood and five other players on waivers". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  23. ^ Barbieri, Alyssa (September 14, 2022). "Bears place Alex Leatherwood on NFI list, re-sign Michael Schofield to active roster". USAToday.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  24. ^ Mayer, Larry (August 27, 2023). "Roster Moves: Bears release Walker; waive Leatherwood, Houy". ChicagoBears.com.
  25. ^ "Browns claim CB Kahlef Hailassie and add 15 to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 30, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  26. ^ Boren, Cindy (June 30, 2020). "Alabama mayor resigns after comments on Crimson Tide's Black Lives Matter video". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 11, 2021.

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