Upcoming Event: Football versus Rice on October 24, 2026 at 12 p.m.
12 p.m.
Football
vs. Rice
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
10/18/2026 4:26:00 PM | Football
For the first time in his football career, Leonard Farrow has found a home outside of West Virginia.
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A native from Mount Hope, W.V., he played high school football at Oak Hill. The running back then began his collegiate career at the Division II program Fairmont State, totaling 2,298 yards and 26 touchdowns in three seasons worth of play.
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Following a 2025 campaign in which he was named a DII All-American Honorable Mention, he made the move to Division I and Boca Raton to spend his fifth and final season of eligibility with Florida Atlantic.
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He has quickly made an impact for the 4-2 Owls, most notably on special teams where he became just the second FAU player in program history to take a return a kickoff for a touchdown. To add on to the impressive feat, Farrow did it twice in one game (back-to-back kick returns for a score), to tie a single-game FBS record. His performance through six games has earned him a spot on the midseason Jet Award Watch List, given at the end of the season to the best return specialist in the country.
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I had the chance to catch up with him to learn more about him and his playing career.
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Julia: "You have had a lot of success on the field during your four years at Fairmont State as a Division II honorable mention All-American. Can you talk about what you learned and how it shaped your game?"
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Leonard: "At the Division II level, I felt like I learned a lot about the game in general. The game started to move a lot slower once I got out of my head and started to play football. Football is a kid's game, so we should have fun and play it like that. I feel like as young athletes, we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves instead of just going out there and playing football. So, simplifying the game really slowed it down for me so I could play faster."
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Julia: "Building on your success at Fairmont State, how have you translated your skillset to the Division I level? Have there been any coaches or players here who have helped you with the transition?"
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Leonard: "My speed and strength have definitely translated to the Division I level. I still outrun people and run over them when needed. Coaches here, and especially our running backs coach Coach (Chris) Perkins, have taught me so much about the game. It has helped me in ways I cannot even imagine. Coach (Zach) Kittley is an amazing play-caller, so seeing things from his perspective has really opened my eyes to the game more. There are things at this level that you do not really get at the Division II level, and it has shaped me into the player I am today."
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Julia: "What are the relationships and friendships like in the running back room here? Can you talk about the culture and how you and your teammates support each other both on and off the field?"Â
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Leonard: "Everyone in the running back room is really close, and we hold each other to a high standard. There is never a time when we let a guy slide without giving 100%. Coach Perkins always talks about giving a maximum effort, being tough, and having a good attitude, but we all hold ourselves to the same standards as well. It goes further than football, and I feel like after it ends, we will all be friends for the rest of our lives because they are all my closest guys."
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Julia: "Your education has always been important to you, as you graduated from high school with honors and made the MEC Commissioner's Honor Roll all three years you were eligible to receive the honor. How have you balanced your demands as a student-athlete with academic success?"
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Leonard: "Time management is very important to me. It is important to make time for school, because if you do not have an education, you cannot play football. If I want to play the game I love, then I have to do what requires discipline, which has always been huge for me. My family and especially my parents, have always pushed me and spoken about the importance of getting an education. My parents have always been proud of me for excelling in the classroom as well as on the football field."
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Julia: "Since you are studying exercise science, what are some possible jobs or career paths that you have considered after your playing career ends?"
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Leonard: "Physical therapy is number one on my list. I want to go to grad school either here or back in West Virginia to pursue that. If it does not play out the way me or God intends to, then I want to work in athletic training."
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Julia: "What is your favorite memory or moment as a fan you have witnessed from any sports teams you grew up watching?"
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Leonard: "I do not really watch a lot of sports. But Lamar Jackson has always been my favorite player ever since he played at Louisville. Seeing him get the MVP award was really exciting for me too, especially to see him as the best player in the league. He is a player I look up to, so it was really cool to see."
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Julia: "Now that you have been in South Florida for several months after you spent your whole football career in West Virginia, what has been your favorite thing to do down here?"
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Leonard: "I have made a lot of new friends here, so I like to spend time with them. I really enjoy the beautiful weather and, of course, going to the beach. Driving down the streets and seeing palm trees instead of mountains is a little different, but it is something I have always dreamed of experiencing, so it has been really cool."
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Julia: "What is an unexpected thing that other people typically do not know about you?"
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Leonard: "You cannot do it here, but I really like to snowboard during the winter. When I go back home, I love snowboarding with my friend Logan because we have always done it together. I am also into music, and I like to play the drums and other instruments. Singing is a big thing in my family and my sister sings a lot, so I like to do it too. Going to church is also really important to us."
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A native from Mount Hope, W.V., he played high school football at Oak Hill. The running back then began his collegiate career at the Division II program Fairmont State, totaling 2,298 yards and 26 touchdowns in three seasons worth of play.
Â
Following a 2025 campaign in which he was named a DII All-American Honorable Mention, he made the move to Division I and Boca Raton to spend his fifth and final season of eligibility with Florida Atlantic.
Â
He has quickly made an impact for the 4-2 Owls, most notably on special teams where he became just the second FAU player in program history to take a return a kickoff for a touchdown. To add on to the impressive feat, Farrow did it twice in one game (back-to-back kick returns for a score), to tie a single-game FBS record. His performance through six games has earned him a spot on the midseason Jet Award Watch List, given at the end of the season to the best return specialist in the country.
Â
I had the chance to catch up with him to learn more about him and his playing career.
Â
Julia: "You have had a lot of success on the field during your four years at Fairmont State as a Division II honorable mention All-American. Can you talk about what you learned and how it shaped your game?"
Â
Leonard: "At the Division II level, I felt like I learned a lot about the game in general. The game started to move a lot slower once I got out of my head and started to play football. Football is a kid's game, so we should have fun and play it like that. I feel like as young athletes, we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves instead of just going out there and playing football. So, simplifying the game really slowed it down for me so I could play faster."
Â
Julia: "Building on your success at Fairmont State, how have you translated your skillset to the Division I level? Have there been any coaches or players here who have helped you with the transition?"
Â
Leonard: "My speed and strength have definitely translated to the Division I level. I still outrun people and run over them when needed. Coaches here, and especially our running backs coach Coach (Chris) Perkins, have taught me so much about the game. It has helped me in ways I cannot even imagine. Coach (Zach) Kittley is an amazing play-caller, so seeing things from his perspective has really opened my eyes to the game more. There are things at this level that you do not really get at the Division II level, and it has shaped me into the player I am today."
Â
Julia: "What are the relationships and friendships like in the running back room here? Can you talk about the culture and how you and your teammates support each other both on and off the field?"Â
Â
Leonard: "Everyone in the running back room is really close, and we hold each other to a high standard. There is never a time when we let a guy slide without giving 100%. Coach Perkins always talks about giving a maximum effort, being tough, and having a good attitude, but we all hold ourselves to the same standards as well. It goes further than football, and I feel like after it ends, we will all be friends for the rest of our lives because they are all my closest guys."
Â
Julia: "Your education has always been important to you, as you graduated from high school with honors and made the MEC Commissioner's Honor Roll all three years you were eligible to receive the honor. How have you balanced your demands as a student-athlete with academic success?"
Â
Leonard: "Time management is very important to me. It is important to make time for school, because if you do not have an education, you cannot play football. If I want to play the game I love, then I have to do what requires discipline, which has always been huge for me. My family and especially my parents, have always pushed me and spoken about the importance of getting an education. My parents have always been proud of me for excelling in the classroom as well as on the football field."
Â
Julia: "Since you are studying exercise science, what are some possible jobs or career paths that you have considered after your playing career ends?"
Â
Leonard: "Physical therapy is number one on my list. I want to go to grad school either here or back in West Virginia to pursue that. If it does not play out the way me or God intends to, then I want to work in athletic training."
Â
Julia: "What is your favorite memory or moment as a fan you have witnessed from any sports teams you grew up watching?"
Â
Leonard: "I do not really watch a lot of sports. But Lamar Jackson has always been my favorite player ever since he played at Louisville. Seeing him get the MVP award was really exciting for me too, especially to see him as the best player in the league. He is a player I look up to, so it was really cool to see."
Â
Julia: "Now that you have been in South Florida for several months after you spent your whole football career in West Virginia, what has been your favorite thing to do down here?"
Â
Leonard: "I have made a lot of new friends here, so I like to spend time with them. I really enjoy the beautiful weather and, of course, going to the beach. Driving down the streets and seeing palm trees instead of mountains is a little different, but it is something I have always dreamed of experiencing, so it has been really cool."
Â
Julia: "What is an unexpected thing that other people typically do not know about you?"
Â
Leonard: "You cannot do it here, but I really like to snowboard during the winter. When I go back home, I love snowboarding with my friend Logan because we have always done it together. I am also into music, and I like to play the drums and other instruments. Singing is a big thing in my family and my sister sings a lot, so I like to do it too. Going to church is also really important to us."
Players Mentioned
RB
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