Name: Gage Leonard

Nickname: 12 Gage

Year: Senior
 
Position:  Snipe


Height: 5'9


Weight: 185
 
Hometown:  Chatsworth, Ga.


High School:  Calhoun 


Major: Political Science
 
What other schools offered you and what was it about Navy that made you come here?  Navy was my only offer.


What would you tell somebody that is considering coming to Navy to play football?  Choosing to play football at the Naval Academy has been the best decision of my life. The friendships you build, the experiences you will have and the personal growth you experience are unlike anything else. If you want to compete at the highest level alongside teammates who become lifelong friends, come play ball at Navy.


If you could play another position, what position would you play and why?  LB. I would love to take Coleman Cauley's starting spot.

If you could choose any opponent for Navy to play that is currently not on the schedule, who would you choose and why?  Georgia. A night game at Sanford Stadium. I grew up going to Georgia games. This would be an amazing opportunity for our team.


Favorite class at the Naval Academy and why?  Maritime Warfare has been my favorite class at the Naval Academy. I really enjoyed learning how to wargame and think strategically in real-world scenarios. Shoutout to Lt. Craig for making the class engaging and challenging every day.


Favorite teacher at the Naval Academy?   Lt. Craig


Favorite form of social media and why?  Instagram. It's an easy way to keep up with friends, family and sports.


Favorite person to follow on social media and why?   Navy Barstool. I like seeing our account trash talk Army and Air Force

If you could have dinner with any 4 people that are currently at the Naval Academy who would you choose and why?  Our Superintendent, Lieutenant General Borgschulte, Dr. Hogue, Professor Francisco Hernandez Olivares and Lt. Barber. All of these people listed have either given me great advice or helped me academically.


Favorite sport to follow at the Naval Academy outside of football and why?  Rugby. I have many friends on the team and enjoy watching the physicality of the game.


What song is playing on your headphones in the locker room right before taking the field?  America Remains


What is your dream vacation?   I would love to do a red stag hunt in New Zealand.


Favorite Coach Newberry Quote:  "Doctor Berry"


Who will be the surprise player on offense in 2026?  Charles Robinson


Who will be the surprise player on defense in 2026?  Aiden Lyczek


Who is the toughest player on the Navy football team? Hoke Smith


What player epitomizes Navy Football?  Rayne Fry


Who will be the Most Valuable Player on offense in 2026?  Vic Listorti


Who will be the Most Valuable Player on defense in 2026?  Coleman Cauley


What are you most looking forward to in 2026?  I am looking forward to the hot and humid summer workouts. This is where our team grows through suffering, hard work and competition. I am excited for one more opportunity to play the game I love with my best friends.


Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know?  I played the trumpet in 7^th grade.


 If there was a movie about your life what would it be called and who would play you?  I asked my mom and she said "Dennis The Menace" for some reason. Mark Wahlberg.


If you could play another sport at the Naval Academy, what would it be? Rugby


Who is your favorite Navy athlete to watch outside of football? Dalton Sand (rugby)


What does it mean to wear "Navy" across your chest? Wearing "Navy" across my chest reminds me that I am a part of something much greater than myself. It is an honor and a privilege knowing many people have gone before me wearing our uniform and done great things for our country. I wear the uniform with an immense amount of pride.


What leadership lesson has football taught you? The most important leadership lesson football has taught me is that a team's success is not defined by talent, scheme, or size. It comes down to preparation, discipline and consistency. It has also taught me that leadership means putting the team first, no matter the circumstances. Leadership is selfless and the best teams are those that have guys playing for one another rather than themselves.


Which upperclassman impacted you the most when you arrived? Turner Stepp


What's one quality every successful midshipman needs? Discipline


Which teammate would make the best Commandant? Alex McCalop


Which teammate would make the best Superintendent? Alex McCalop


Who talks the most trash in practice? Hoke Smith


Which player would make the best coach someday? Hoke Smith


Who has the best game-day energy? Gavin Noe


Favorite road stadium you've played in? Gillette Stadium


Favorite uniform combination? White on White


Which current NFL player do you model your game after? Eli Heidenreich!


What's one thing fans should watch for from your position group this year? How physical our position group is given our size. At the snipe position, we are almost all undersized so it requires a certain mentality and level of physicality to be successful. We take pride in blocking just as much as scoring touchdowns.


What's your favorite part of game day? Looking around the locker room seeing all of my guys prepared, focused and ready to execute.


Who's the funniest teammate? Terrence McCauley

Name two players that you think are future team captains?  MarcAnthony Parker and Michael Barrow