WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University defensive end Darnell Leslie (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) has been invited to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rookie minicamp, the team announced late Saturday afternoon.
“I'm excited, anxious, nervous but most of all I'm thankful for the opportunity to show what I can do,” said Leslie on Sunday morning. “I'll head down Thursday, I'm all set to fly down there and come back Sunday. From Thursday to Sunday will be all positional drills, film and meetings with coaches.”
Leslie, who is projected at outside linebacker, was a two-time All-Big South selection and finished ranked seventh in sacks despite only playing three seasons. Leslie amassed 152 career tackles, including 35.5 for a loss. He recorded 15 sacks, had four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in his three years. The Quince Orchard High School product missed the entire 2015 season with an injury and redshirted his freshman year, leaving him only three years of eligibility.
The Hawks currently have three players on NFL rosters, tight ends Neal Sterling (Jaguars) and Hakeem Valles (Cardinals) and wide receiver Chris Hogan of the New England Patriots.
Monmouth will open the 16 million Dollar Monmouth Stadium, which is under construction, on September 2, when it hosts Lafayette in the 2017 opener.
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