Darius Leonard wasn't an unknown commodity coming out of Lake View (SC) High School.

Clemson, South Carolina, and North Carolina State were among the schools that showed interest in Leonard -- a prospect who played virtually every skill position at his Class A high school, including quarterback, running back, and wide receiver.

But Leonard weighing in at just 185 pounds was a deterrent for programs interested in him as a linebacker. Undersized for the position, Leonard didn't end up with a single Power Five offer. Leonard, who is now one of the best defenders in college football, was an unwanted commodity.

When asked if being so widely overlooked has fueled him over the past few years, the South Carolina State redshirt senior doesn't hesitate to answer.

"Without a doubt," he says. "I feel like I could've played at that level. I wanted to go to Clemson -- but they fell back and that really made me mad. It put a little something in me that made me want to show them that I could play better than the guys they had."

Instead of Clemson, Leonard made his way to Orangeburg, SC, to join a SC State program that is more than happy to have him as the Bulldogs (2-5) prepare to host Howard (4-3) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on Saturday.

Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough says he knew what his staff had in Leonard early on. It was just a matter of being patient and allowing him to gain weight. And that's exactly what Leonard has done, bulking up over 50 pounds since his freshman year -- thus, becoming a prototypical linebacker in stature with the speed and explosiveness of a safety.

Leonard earned 2016 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and a spot on the first-team All-America defense thanks to a team-leading 124 tackles along with 14 1/2 tackles for a loss and 3 1/2 sacks. He was selected as the league's preseason defensive player of the year prior to the start of this season, but the hype didn't distract him -- it motivated him.

"All of the attention actually pushed me a little bit more to become a better leader and better ballplayer because I knew if I had a spotlight on me it was going to be harder to make plays," he says. "Teams know where I'm at now."

They may know, but they haven't been able to do much about it. Leonard leads SC State in tackles (84), tackles for a loss (six), and sacks (3 1/2) and is even tied for the team lead in interceptions (two). It doesn't take a mathematician to figure out that the reigning defender of the year is on pace to shatter his numbers from last season.

Anyone watching a Bulldogs game tape will quickly realize that No. 10 takes your eyes straight to the ball carrier on seemingly every play -- regardless of the scheme designed to stop him. But, how? How is Leonard able to be so effective when he's the clear focal point of the opposition?

"In high school, I played every position," he reminds us. "So I think like a running back and a wide receiver, and I can read the quarterback's eyes. So, with film study, you just pick up on things -- like what a running back's favorite moves are, just things of that nature. You get an idea of what the guys will do before they do it."

Widely considered a late-round NFL Draft prospect, Leonard flexes his versatility throughout the game -- or, as Pough puts it, "He's athletic as all get-out and he will rock your world. He's the total package."

Don't be surprised if @SCStateAthletic LB Darius Leonard is playing on Sundays soon! He's our @MEACSports PofW after a huge game vs. MSU pic.twitter.com/OV5pFT9QbH

— #CelebrationBowl (@CelebrationBowl) October 9, 2017

Going from an undersized kid who no one wanted to a legitimate NFL-caliber linebacker can't be done on accident, mind you. Leonard's renowned work ethic has carried him to this point in his career.

"All of this is a dream come true," he says. "With all the work I put in, I can see that it's coming into play and people are actually noticing what I'm doing. I was always passed over. I was always told I wasn't big enough or fast enough to play linebacker at the next level."

Yet, here he is, playing the position as well as anyone at the FCS level and knocking on the door of the NFL.

The Bulldogs will play host to Caylin Newton and the Howard Bison on Saturday at 12:30 PM (CT) on FloFootball. Of course, we think you should tune in, but don't take our word for it. Take Leonard's, instead.

"I think it'll be a great game," he says. "They're a good offense and 'Little Cam' is athletic and fast and can see the field a little bit. It'll be a dog fight."

There you have it.