Mohamed Sanu #6, wide Receiver, Rutgers. 6'2" 215 lbs.
The Ravens have come out an said they will be looking for help at the receiver position. It is unclear if they will focus on finding someone in the draft or free agency. One intriguing wide out that could be available at the end of the first round is Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu.
Sanu will finish his career as Rutgers' and the BIG EAST's leader in all time career receptions with 210. In 2011 alone Sanu hauled in 115 passes for 1,206. The 115 receptions were a school and BIG EAST record and the 1,206 receiving yards places him third in team history. Most impressively 69 of those receptions were first downs, good enough for fourth in the nation.
It probably goes without saying that Mohamed Sanu was Rutgers' offensive MVP this season. He was also named the Maxwell Award Club Tri-State Player Of The Year. The only two other Scarlet Knights to win this award were Kenny Britt and your very own Ray Rice.
Here is what CBS Sports Rob Rang has to say about Sanu in his player analysis for the draft.
Release: Too big and strong for most defenders at this level to test him in press coverage. Good hand placement and upper body strength to fight off the jam when he gets it and is a threat to beat the defender over the top due to good acceleration and better straight-line speed than he's often credited with possessing. Eats up the cushion, showing better agility and precision as a route-runner than most receivers with his bulk.
Hands: Sanu has several outstanding qualities but none more impressive than his natural receiving skills. Possesses very reliable hands and a wide catch radius due to his long arms, impressive flexibility, and hand-eye coordination. Extends and plucks the ball away from his frame when he senses the defender near. Quickly secures the ball and carries it tight to his frame. Very good jump-ball candidate due to strong leaping skills, long arms and timing.
Route running: Quick burst off the line of scrimmage perhaps masking a lack of elite straight-line speed. Has enough speed to challenge vertically. Throttles down quickly, sinks his hips and has good burst left and right to generate separation on underneath routes. Used from a variety of positions, lining up inside in the slot, outside and put in motion. Courageous over the middle, often pulling away on drag routes and quick posts.
After the catch: Exciting blend of size, strength and speed once the ball is in his hands. Strong receiver capable of ripping free of arm tackles and shucking off defenders with a stiff-arm. Lacks elite lateral agility to make defenders miss in tight quarters, but has good flexibility, balance and vision to weave through the defense. Rushed for 653 yards and nine touchdowns over his career and isn't opposed to cutting back inside amidst the big bodies if he sees a lane. Some question about his true timed speed but has an explosive burst to accelerate through gaps and separate.
Blocking: Takes his role as a blocker seriously. Shows good strength and very good effort blocking down field, locking up the corner and working to seal his opponent from the action. Often sent in motion so he can provide a crack back block on an unsuspecting defensive end and looks to peel back and knock out the trailing defender when a teammate has a chance for a big play.
Intangibles: A selfless player who head coach Greg Schiano raved about when Sanu announced that he was leaving early. "He's meant a ton to this program", Schiano said. "He's the guy who does everything. He'll be very hard to replace. I don't know if you ever replace him. You'll just have to have a few guys do his thing." Played all three years he was at Rutgers but will turn 23 early in his rookie season due to the fact that he turned 19 a week before his senior season of high school football began and he was ruled ineligible …
--Rob Rang
To me he seems to be a Greg Little type of player with better hands. Kind of like a younger, bigger, faster Anquan Boldin... Mixed with a little Hakeem Nicks. Yeah, that's it I'll take two please.