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Good Works Team: FSU OL Richie Leonard IV honored for helping youths, cancer patients

On3 imageby: Ira Schoffel7 hours agoiraschoffel
On3 image
Florida State senior offensive lineman Richie Leonard. (Gene Williams/Warchant)

At the time, Richie Leonard IV thought he was mostly just getting football guidance. But as he looks back now, the Florida State offensive lineman realizes he was learning so much more.

As an aspiring young athlete in his hometown of Cocoa, Fla., Leonard was mentored by the likes of current Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, Houston Texans safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Jamel Dean.

Now, he tries to pay it forward by hosting a free youth football clinic in Cocoa each summer.

“All three of those guys are in the NFL right now,” Leonard said. “And when I was younger, they definitely reached out and poured into me.”

On Tuesday, Leonard was one of 11 FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) players named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for their community service. The Florida State lineman was recognized for hosting his annual youth camp, providing support to cancer patients, participating in a Fellowship Christian Athletes mission trip and other charitable activities.

The Seminoles’ starting left guard is the ninth Florida State player to receive that recognition and the third under head coach Mike Norvell.

“I think it’s something that was instilled in me from a young age,” Leonard said of his outreach efforts. “I come from a long line of people that give back to their community.”

He pointed out that it’s also one of the three core principles of Norvell’s Florida State program: “Service, Sacrifice and Respect.”

Leonard started his free summer camps two years ago and has welcomed over 600 participants. Through the events, he also has raised money through sponsorships and made a $5,000 donation to Cocoa High’s football program.

“Being where I’m from, it’s a real small town,” Leonard said. “Football is big there, but outside of that, there’s not much going on. So definitely, I think that’s really important (to give back).”

In October, Leonard will coordinate another project that is very close to his heart. Three years ago, his mother, Prishonda, underwent chemotherapy treatments at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Now, he is planning to go back to support other patients going through that journey.

“My mom went through her breast cancer battle in my earlier years of college,” Leonard said. “So I saw how rough that can be on people, and I couldn’t imagine someone having to go through that without a support system. So later this season in our bye week in October, I’m going down to the Moffitt Cancer Center and giving out care packages to cancer patients there.”

The senior lineman credited Florida State’s coaches and support staff with helping him carve out time for each of his projects.

Leonard also participates in several children’s outreach efforts in Tallahassee and Cocoa, and he helps sponsor an AAU basketball team. In May, he went to Argentina as part of an FCA trip to spread awareness about American football.

“It was a great opportunity to be able to go down there and grow the game in a different place,” Leonard said. “It was just a wonderful experience all around.”

According to Florida State, Leonard is the ninth FSU player selected to the Good Works Team. Previous selections included Dillan Gibbons in 2022, Camren McDonald in 2021, Mavin Saunders in 2017, Alec Eberle in 2016, Christian Ponder in 2010, Sam Cowart in 1996, Wayne Messam in 1995 and Corey Fuller in 1992.

All 11 players selected for the team are now finalists for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is considered college football’s premier award for community service. Fans can vote for Leonard to be the Wuerffel Trophy winner and the Good Works Team captain at ESPN.com/Allstate through Nov. 10.

FSU’s Dillan Gibbons won the Wuerffel Trophy in 2022.

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