[WhiteShoeWillis]

Like most coaches, Barry Alvarez liked to have his teams engage in various team-building activities.

One of his favorites was basketball, and after the games, Alvarez -- then the Wisconsin football coach -- would ask for volunteers from the offense and the defense to compete in a dunk contest.

Alvarez was, to say the least, dubious when he saw 5-8 Jim Leonhard step forward.

"The first time we did it, Jimmy was one of the players representing the defense," Alvarez, now Wisconsin's athletic director, said early Thursday afternoon from his office. "I'm thinking, 'You've got to be kidding me. He can't stuff a basketball.'"

Alvarez, who won three Big Ten championships and three Rose Bowls at Wisconsin from 1990-2005, laughed.

"He stuffed it any way you wanted it stuffed," Alvarez said. "We had guys who were 6-7 out there, former basketball players ... and Jimmy wins the contest."

Jets coach Rex Ryan raved about the safety during a conference call last Friday, and that was after coaching Leonhard for only one season.

Alvarez coached him for four -- from 2001-04 -- and was just as enthusiastic in talking about the former Badger.

Leonhard was a three-sport star at Flambeau High School in Tony, Wis., and was a wishbone quarterback for the football team. The 186-pound Leonhard, who signed a three-year free-agent contract with the Jets on Tuesday, said Wednesday he had offers from several Division II colleges to play football and baseball. Instead, he chose to walk on at Wisconsin.

Alvarez said he was familiar with Leonhard because he had attended the Badgers' summer football camp, but that didn't prepare him for what he saw from the freshman during the first couple of practices.

"He caught our eye right away, as soon as he hit the practice field," Alvarez said. "I said to our secondary coach, 'That little guy out here is involved in every play.'"

Leonhard quickly worked his way into the lineup, starring mostly on special teams his freshman year.

"He was just, from then on, outstanding for us," Alvarez said. "A very intelligent player, always around the ball. And a ballhawk; his ball skills are excellent."

Leonhard recorded a Big Ten record-tying 11 interceptions his sophomore year, which earned him all-conference honors, a rarity for a sophomore. Alvarez laughed again, recalling this oddity.

"He was All-Big Ten before he was on scholarship," Alvarez said.

That was because Wisconsin didn't have an available scholarship until Leonhard's junior season, but the unfortunate circumstance endeared the safety/punt returner to his teammates even more.

"Everyone just really admired and respected him," Alvarez said.

Alvarez, who can count Troy Vincent, Chris Chambers and Lee Evans among the NFL players he coached at Wisconsin, said Leonhard's breakout 2008 season and subsequent big- money contract hasn't been a surprise. Leonhard hasn't created that kind of reaction in Alvarez since that early dunking contest.

"You knew that he had the ability," Alvarez said. "You just didn't know whether he'd get the opportunity because of his size."

Notes & quotes: Bill Callahan, hired before the 2008 season as the Jets' offensive line/assistant head coach and retained by Ryan, coached with Alvarez from 1990-94. Center Nick Mangold, in an appearance during Super Bowl week, specifically mentioned Callahan as helping him make his first Pro Bowl, and other Jets linemen spoke highly of their line coach throughout the season.

"Billy's a grinder," Alvarez said. "He's a student of the game, an excellent teacher. He was my first offensive line coach and, really, he's the one who started our tradition of good linemen. A very good football man, a good football mind. He's going to work tirelessly."

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edit: I just realized this article is from the 5th. I don't remember it being posted, but it probably has seeing as it's 5 days old. Apologies if it's a repost ...

[nyjetsrule]

huh thats a nifty article! Shocking, Leonhard can dunk? thats impressive. I havent seen this posted either WSW, so I think you are in the clear.... Gotta love when people say good things about the little known guys...

[JetD]

I want a Leonhard jersey now.

[doug4563]

Great article, thanks for posting

T.O. likes basketball.. Just helping some T.O. nut turn this into yet another why we screwed up by not picking up TO thread..

[evojoe67]

Originally Posted by nyjetsrule

huh thats a nifty article! Shocking, Leonhard can dunk? thats impressive. I havent seen this posted either WSW, so I think you are in the clear.... Gotta love when people say good things about the little known guys...

Hopfully he's dunking over the goal post after running some interceptions back for TD's.

[NY Sack Exchange7]

Nice! Thanks for posting that, cant wait to see him play!

[Royce Parker]

Seems like they've seriously upgraded the secondary this offseason. It's good to see.