Ten years later, Brian Leonard still has a scar on his shin from trying to thrill a Rutgers fan one final time.
During the final two years of a career in which he totaled the third-most all-purpose yards (4,643) in Rutgers history, Leonard became known for his signature move -- the "Leonard Leap" -- of jumping over defensive backs shooting for ankle tackles.
"I remember my last home game against Syracuse, a girl was holding a sign in the stands and I saw it," Leonard told NJ Advance Media. "It said 'One last leap.'
"Midway through the game, I was on the outside (against) a linebacker, not a DB. I tried to jump him. I actually got my first foot over, but my back foot caught his helmet. I tore up my shin pretty good, but it was kind of cool to see all that stuff."
Leonard was announced this week as one of six new inductees into Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame. The class of 2016 will be honored Oct. 15 at the Rutgers-Illinois football game on Homecoming.
"It was a surprise, honestly," said Leonard, who played eight seasons in the NFL after being selected in the second round of the 2007 draft. "It's just a great honor, especially being inducted with the people I'm being inducted with. They are all great representatives of Rutgers. The best times of my career were at Rutgers."
Leonard is fondly remembered by Rutgers fans as the link between the dark days of non-competitiveness and the beginning of annual bowl berths. He redshirted during a one-win season in 2002, starred in 2003-04 and was an upperclassman for the bowl breakthrough in 2005 and the historic 11-win season in 2006.
The New York native also won the 2006 Draddy Trophy (now Campbell Trophy), nicknamed the academic Heisman.
"We changed the program around," Leonard said of former coach Greg Schiano's early recruiting classes. "We went there when it wasn't pretty to go there and we built a solid foundation at Rutgers and turned it into what it is today. We have a bond together, all those guys who turned that program around."
Though he had been doing it since high school, Leonard became famous for his leap during the 2005 season-opener when he scored a highlight-reel touchdown against Illinois. He took it with him to four NFL franchises.
"At first, it wasn't instinctual," Leonard said. "I would tell myself, 'What can I do to stop these guys from going at my ankles?' I said, 'I'm just going to try to jump over somebody.' The first time I did it I ended up scoring a touchdown on that play.
"Ever since then, as time went on, it was more instinctual than anything. When I get on the outside, my first thought is, 'If a corner is coming at me, I'm going to jump over him.'"
The 2005 Illinois game also marked the debut of Rutgers all-time leading rusher Ray Rice -- a significant turning point in Leonard's career.
Leonard quietly moved from halfback to fullback -- becoming a secondary rusher, reliable blocker and dangerous pass-catcher -- to accommodate Rice's growing star.
"That's just what our team was back then," Leonard said. "It was a selfless team. It was team-first. It wasn't about any individual player. At that time Ray came in, I was a good running back and Ray was a great running back.
"It was a no-brainer. It was my job to move to fullback and block for him. It was better for the team and we showed that in how far we went that (next) year, going 11-2 and winning that first bowl game."
Leonard's versatility was never more important than when he lined up in a one-back set on a pivotal third-and-6 in the final three minutes of the 2006 upset of then-No. 3 Louisville.
With the score tied 25-25, the co-captain caught a swing pass and rumbled 26 yards to set up the winning field goal.
"I remember that whole entire game, the atmosphere leading up to the game, the night before fans that were sleeping in tents to get their tickets," Leonard said, still dutifully crediting offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah for the block that cleared his path. "That whole week was just an amazing week at Rutgers."
Several of the Rutgers stars from that landmark win -- the likes of Zuttah, the McCourty twins, Courtney Greene, Ron Girault, Jamaal Westerman and Kevin Malast -- were part of a group text congratulating Leonard on his enshrinement.
The McCourtys already are part of members of Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
"It was the most exciting game of my career, the most memorable game of my career," Leonard said, "and really the game that put Rutgers on the map."
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.