Leigh Torrence is a talented cornerback who provided excellent depth in the secondary and was a key member of the special teams unit in 2007. He saw significant action in the defensive backfield when starting cornerback Carlos Rogers sustained a knee injury. Torrence had 33 tackles (24 solo), his first career sack and 14 special teams tackles (10 solo) last season.
NFL Acquisition: Originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers on April 29, 2005.
How Acquired: Signed by the Washington Redskins as a free agent on December 27, 2006
Pro:
Played in 26 career games with one start
Totaled 34 career tackles (25 solo), one sack and 18 special teams stops
Has played with the Atlanta Falcons (2005) and the Washington Redskins (2006 and 2007)
2007 Season:
Played in all 16 regular-season games for the first time in his career
Finished the season with a career-high in tackles (33), solo tackles (24), sacks (1) and special teams stops (14)
Had a career-best six tackles and one special teams stop in his first career start at the New York Giants (12/16)
Recorded his first career sack at Minnesota (12/23) when he took down Vikings’ quarterback Tarvaris Jackson for an eight-yard loss
Appeared in first career playoff game against Seattle (1/5) and finished with a team-best three special teams stops, two tackles and one pass deflection
2006 Season:
Spent training camp with the Atlanta Falcons before being released (9/3)
Signed with the Washington Redskins (12/27)
Was inactive for the final regular season game vs. New York Giants (12/30)
2005 Season:
Released by the Green Bay Packers prior to the start of the regular season (9/3)
Appeared in 10 regular-season games with the Atlanta Falcons
Signed by Atlanta (9/4) (inactive vs. Philadelphia (9/12) and at Seattle (9/18))
Released by Atlanta (9/20) and was re-signed to the Falcons’ practice squad (9/21)
Signed to Atlanta’s active roster (10/11) where he remained the rest of the season
Made his NFL debut against New Orleans (10/16) and saw action in the secondary for the first time against the New York Jets (10/24)
Attended Stanford University where he was a four-year letterman in football and a two-year letterman in track
Totaled 11 interceptions over his four year career
Led all cornerbacks with 64 tackles and 11 passes defensed in 2003 and was named first-team Academic All-Pac 10
Competed in the 100, 200 and 4x100 meter relay for the Cardinal from 2001-02
Attended Marist High School in Georgia where he lettered in football, track and tennis
Named to the All-Dixie Team in football
Captured the state tennis title as a freshman and sophomore
Participated in numerous Redskins’ community events during the 2007 season: visited with children at the Children’s National Medical Center, Hometown Huddle event, 1st Down for Fitness, Harris-Teeter Redskins Harvest Feast and Randle El Warms Up Washington’s Youth
Participated in a weekly boxing class during the offseason at Redskins Park
Graduated with majors in political science and American-American Studies
Served as a Capitol Hill intern for Representative Sanford D. Bishop Jr., of Georgia
Participated in a segment on NBC’s Today show called Race to the Altar this past offseason - as a groomsman in a wedding for his childhood friend, Darnell, who was married on national television in Rockefeller Plaza in New York
