NAHSTE, you are wrong.
I watched a ton of Gerhart this year. I doubt you watched him much at all.
He is very much like Leonard. One cut, downhill runner. Doesn't have great feet, quickness, or speed. Good strength and balance and tough to bring down because he is a leg churner. Leonard had a good 40 time (4.49) but he's not that fast on the field. I bet Toby will run a 4.5 - 4.6.
Real strong argument there. "I did this, I bet you didn't"
But, as a former white FB, I love seeing my fellow people (no racist) get shine as a "Factor Back" (no Hoge). I watched a ton of Leonard's games in college, and in fact I did watch many of Gerhart's games last year.
While you list some similarities, that does not make them similar backs at all. Leonard was an athletic freak, and even in Cincinnati they use him for his receiving ability out of the backfield and his versatility. He's pretty much a 3rd down back/utility back in the NFL. Could you see Gerhart serving in a similar capacity?
Just because you throw out generic phrases to link them, like "downhill runners" (what good ballcarrier doesn't run down hill I ask?) does not make them similar. Also, what are you watching if you don't think either of these guys has good feet? Leonard was jumping over people, and Gerhart was making guys miss, hitting holes and breaking into the secondary quickly even vs OU's defense in the Sun Bowl.
You have to have quick feet to succeed as a D1 RB. Gerhart didn't just succeed, he excelled, and at some points even dominated. He may not have great top end speed, but he surely has quick feet. At least quick enough to succeed in college.
Whether or not he becomes a legit NFL RB, I don't know. But what I do know, is that no team will ask him to do the things Leonard does for Cincinnati, because that's just not who Toby is.
I'm surprised nobody has thrown out the Jacon Hester comparison yet. Figured that'd be a lock given the way this works.