Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 211 pounds
School: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
Bench press (225 pounds): 14 reps
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet
Leonte Carroo 2016 NFL Draft Profile
Getting Leonte Carroo to stay in-state for his college career was huge for Rutgers. He starred at famed New Jersey high school powerhouse Don Bosco Prep and was rated as the 24th best wide receiver prospect in the nation according to Rivals. The Ramsey, NJ native was part of now departed head coach Kyle Flood’s first recruiting class after Greg Schiano left for the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Carroo didn’t catch a single pass as a true freshman. But a year later, he began to see more action in the Scarlet Knights offense. It was then that opposing teams began to see his potential as a big play wide receiver. He led the team with nine touchdown receptions, with eight of those coming in the fourth quarter. He also averaged 17.1 yards per reception, a stat which would increase each of his following seasons in Piscataway.
As a junior, Carroo established himself as one of the Big Ten’s most dynamic receivers in Rutgers’ inaugural year as a conference member. He was one of just three wideouts in the league to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards while adding ten touchdown receptions. His 19.75 yards per catch was second nationally among players with at least 50 receptions. It had some onlookers expecting Carroo to declare for the draft.
He decided to remain at Rutgers for his senior season though. And it did not get off to a good start. Carroo was held out of the first half of the Scarlet Knights’ season opener against Norfolk State for missing curfew. The following week, he was arrested following an alleged domestic incident with his girlfriend. Flood would ultimately suspend Carroo indefinitely. But after charges were dropped a month later, he was reinstated. And despite playing in just eight games, Carroo led all Big Ten receivers with ten touchdown catches. He also finished top ten in the conference with 809 receiving yards while averaging over 20 yards per catch.
Strengths
- prototypical body type for a feature receiver at next level.
- possesses soft hands and rarely drops an accurate ball thrown his way.
- can run a wide variety of routes.
- extremely confident at the catch point when going after contested deep ball throws.
- anticipates defenders pursuit angles very well, giving him a yards after catch component.
- has a subtle cut towards the inside that enables him to get open in tight spaces.
- able to find space in the secondary, making him a nightmare to defend in zone.
Weaknesses
- athleticism doesn’t necessarily jump out in his route running.
- needs to play with freer hips, especially on cuts.
- could be more explosive off the line of scrimmage.
- can get jammed at the point of attack in press coverage.
- relied more on play-action than outright speed to beat opposing corners.
- dealt with a high ankle sprain multiple times during senior season.
- concerns about character after domestic incident last year.
NFL Comparison: Stefon Diggs
Teams with Need at Position: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins
Projection: fourth round
Bottom Line
Leonte Carroo is one of those multi-faceted threats who can beat you in a multitude of ways. Whether it’s his ability to get boatloads of yards after the catch or winning contested deep balls, Carroo has plenty of tools coveted by teams at the next level. While there are legitimate concerns over last September’s domestic incident, sources have indicated he’s handled questions about it well in the interview process. He’s expected to be a middle round selection that will certainly have an opportunity to earn immediate playing time with the right team.
