Click here to view the profile of Leons Kabongo

Leons Kabongo has been in the United States for less than three years. In the two years he has played high school football for Gar-Field’s (Woodbridge, VA) varsity football squad (the first two years he has ever played the game), he has demonstrated outstanding work ethic and talent and, amazingly, earned Cardinal District Defensive Player of the Year this past season as a junior.

“Leons is extremely unique in that he has only been in the country for less than three years,” Gar-Field head coach Joe Mangano said. “He is from the Congo, Africa. His dad came to the United States initially and then brought his family over.

“He never knew anything about football until he came here. He walked in the door one day – he was about 170 pounds – and said he wanted to try out for the team. I said go ahead and get in the weight room. Sure enough, he showed a very determined work ethic. He has a disciplined work ethic. This year, we stuck him at middle linebacker since he was about 190 pounds. He finished the season with 106 tackles including 19 tackles-for-loss. He was named all-Northwest region and second-team all-state. He had 26 tackles in the Petersburg game.”

...