Is Leonte Caroo the best player in rutgers modern history?

[kennyschiano]

Is Leonte Caroo the best player in rutgers modern history (modern = beginning with Schiano)?

I can't remember a player being so undefendable (if that is a word). Everyone knows he's getting the ball - since the Nova days to the now Laviano days. It is unbelievable how he continues to dominate and get results.

 

[ClassOf02]

Yes, I believe so.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Sanu.
Coleman when he was healthy.

 

[kennyschiano]

Sanu.
Coleman when he was healthy.

coleman had hands like rocks. maybe sanu because he was in the ciarocca era and the wildknight hell - i just can't believe the difference with caroo in the game.

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

Yes - in terms of impacting a game with his pure ability at critical times, he stands alone. Rice was a dominant, bona fide AA player, but Caroo is simply in a class by himself. Though, pound for pound (he weighed 139 when he arrived) , in terms of long plays and touchdowns per touches, the clear winner is Tim Brown - one of my all time favorites.

 

[RU31trap]

I thought Kenny Britt was a better all around athlete and Ray Rice was simply the BEST Rutgers athlete ever!

 

[cig04]

wasn't there a guy named Ray Rice?

 

[RUchip]

Carroo is the best WR in RU history. Better than Sanu, Britt, Underwood, Brown

 

[Knight Ed]

I have Carroo as the third best receiver behind Britt and Sanu,

 

[newell138]

Yes, I believe so.

How quickly we forget about Sanu, even when teams knew we were going to him he made the catches

 

[PhilaPhans]

Anthony Davis
Ray Rice

What makes Leonte so interesting is that it doesn't seem like he has crazy 4.3 speed. He doesn't have 6'4 size. Etc. So I don't know if that'll dock his draftability in the early rounds (in addition to his off-the-field "matters").

 

[straighttalkexpress]

Sanu was awesome. I never saw him drop a pass. His catch at Syracuse, while sliding the opposite way, was amazing

 

[SouthJerseyRU]

Anthony Davis
Ray Rice

What makes Leonte so interesting is that it doesn't seem like he has crazy 4.3 speed. He doesn't have 6'4 size. Etc. So I don't know if that'll dock his draftability in the early rounds (in addition to his off-the-field "matters").

Came into this thread to say Davis. Davis dominated and was arguably the best offensive lineman in the country his 3rd year.

 

[ScarletDave]

If you took Sanu out of games, even Ray Rice, we still had the playmakers to win games I feel. But Carroo, it's not just talent, it's the ability to literally change games on his own, that makes him the GOAT.

 

[RBNY87]

You would think that after 4 years, people would learn to spell his name correctly, Carroo not Caroo. Ray Rice was the best Rutgers player in the modern era.

 

[G- RUnit]

Votes for Leonard for best all around for all four years with nary a controversy,

 

[saran]

If Ray Rice had returned for a senior year, and gotten around his yearly average of 1700 yards, he would have got the record for NCAA D1 all-time career rushing leader. Rice got all his yards, and 50 TDs (49 rushing) running against defenses that were 100% geared to stopping him. Opposing teams always said their first goal was "stopping Rice" (but they couldn't) Not even Carroo has had to deal with that kind of scenario.

 

[scottydont]

Ray Rice made the Pro Bowl three times and was a Super Bowl champion as well. 50 TDs and 5000+ rushing yards in three years? Not much doubt he's the best player we've ever had.

 

[jellyman]

If Ray Rice had returned for a senior year, and gotten around his yearly average of 1700 yards, he would have got the record for NCAA D1 all-time career rushing leader. Rice got all his yards, and 50 TDs (49 rushing) running against defenses that were 100% geared to stopping him. Opposing teams always said their first goal was "stopping Rice" (but they couldn't) Not even Carroo has had to deal with that kind of scenario.

This.

And Anthony Davis, as one of the 5 best OL in the country while he was at RU.

Sanu was amazing, and played on a team with literally NO OTHER play-makers, including at QB. Was triple covered almost every play, yet still caught over 100 passes his last season. Plus he was the entire RU offense as a Sophomore when he ran the Wildcat offense so often for RU.

People forget that Eric Foster was a 1st team All American his last 2 seasons.

Khaseem Greene won the Big East/AAC Defensive Player of the Year TWO times in a row (though he was only "Co-" as a Junior).

Coleman could not be covered his Sophomore year, when he was healthy - but that was his only great year ... Carroo is better, by a margin. Britt was GREAT, but I think Carroo may be passing him, if he has not already.

Leonard is a different beast: More a leader and an inspiration than Carroo, and the best FB in the country his Senior year, but Rice was the better running back, and barring injury, Carroo willpass Leonard as the better college player. Leonard would have been better if he had a better OL blocking for him his 1st 2 years ... but he needed a good OL.

I would still put Davis and Rice ahead of Carroo, though maybe by the end of the season I might be persuaded otherwise. And I would put Foster, Greene and Britt on similar or close level.

One last name: Where to slot Battaglia? An absolute beast at TE.

 

[RUsSKii]

It's too early to have this conversation, since Carroo still has a half-season left to play.
As of right now? I'd put his overall body of work in the top three or four receivers of the Rutgers modern era (from about 2000 on, with Sanu & Britt, and Tim Brown honorable mention for explosive plays)
As far as overall playmaker, game changer, and compared to peers on other CFB teams, he could crack the top 5 of the Rutgers modern era, but I wouldn't place him ahead of Ray Rice or Anthony Davis for the time being.
Brian Leonard unquestionably leads in terms of pure team leadership & inspiration, mirrored by Eric Foster on the defensive side.

 

[PaKnight]

This.

And Anthony Davis, as one of the 5 best OL in the country while he was at RU.

Sanu was amazing, and played on a team with literally NO OTHER play-makers, including at QB. Was triple covered almost every play, yet still caught over 100 passes his last season. Plus he was the entire RU offense as a Sophomore when he ran the Wildcat offense so often for RU.

People forget that Eric Foster was a 1st team All American his last 2 seasons.

Khaseem Greene won the Big East/AAC Defensive Player of the Year TWO times in a row (though he was only "Co-" as a Junior).

Coleman could not be covered his Sophomore year, when he was healthy - but that was his only great year ... Carroo is better, by a margin. Britt was GREAT, but I think Carroo may be passing him, if he has not already.

Leonard is a different beast: More a leader and an inspiration than Carroo, and the best FB in the country his Senior year, but Rice was the better running back, and barring injury, Carroo willpass Leonard as the better college player. Leonard would have been better if he had a better OL blocking for him his 1st 2 years ... but he needed a good OL.

I would still put Davis and Rice ahead of Carroo, though maybe by the end of the season I might be persuaded otherwise. And I would put Foster, Greene and Britt on similar or close level.

One last name: Where to slot Battaglia? An absolute beast at TE.

The OP did say starting with Schiano.

 

[Abro1975]

Wow , RU modern history starts with Schiano? Damn, I'm old lol.

 

[BuggsyRU]

Is Leonte Caroo the best player in rutgers modern history (modern = beginning with Schiano)?

I can't remember a player being so undefendable (if that is a word). Everyone knows he's getting the ball - since the Nova days to the now Laviano days. It is unbelievable how he continues to dominate and get results.

YES! Leonte is that "man" amongst boys.

One caveat would be Britt. Who knows just how dominant he would have been in his senior year.

 

[BoogieKnight]

Different players. Love Sanu but Carroo is a bigger downfield threat while Mo was about as good a possession receiver you could possibly have.

I'd say Rice, then Carroo then Leonard. Just like Carroo, Leonard did things on the football field that made you say "wow". To the guy who said Coleman...what games were you watching?!?! Sure he was tall with good straight line speed but he had average to below average hands and was kind of stiff from an athletic standpoint.

Best WR's I've seen at RU since 1997 (my frosh year):

1. Carroo - Combination of downfield threat and possession receiver with great hands. TD machine.
2. Sanu - Dominant, RELIABLE possession WR with excellent hands.
3. Britt - Big, physical and a tremendous downfield threat but I didn't completely trust his hands.
4. Timmy Brown - all he did was make big plays. From WVU 2006, the Texas Bowl to the UConn game in 2009. The kid was just electric.
5. Tres Moses - A curious choice to many I'm sure but to me the kid was a smaller, slower version of Sanu and played a prominent role in the rise of the program from 2003-2005. He caught A LOT of footballs for us. The kid was a total "gamer" and muffed punt @ UCONN in 2003 aside, was extremely clutch as a WR. My most vivid memories of the MSU game in 2004 was Ryan Neil's TD and Moses moving the sticks to ice the game in the 4th quarter.

Honorable mention: Tiquan Underwood and Shawn Tucker.

 

[BoroKnight]

I don't like the idea that "modern" football history started with Schiano. You could date it to going with I-A at the time of the split. That seems "modern" to me.

And I still might go with Carroo even then, although Battaglia and Rice have to be in the conversation.

 

[RU2055]

Leonte is a special player and will probably go down as the best RU WR ever. I think he will become a star in the NFL.

Considering we wasted his freshman year and he got hurt his sophomore year (got pushed to the wall against SMU) and was out for most of the season, it is amazing the stats he has been able to put up in a Rutgers uniform. Last year was really his coming out party, so to speak. And against B1G competition no less.

 

[BoogieKnight]

I don't like the idea that "modern" football history started with Schiano. You could date it to going with I-A at the time of the split. That seems "modern" to me.

And I still might go with Carroo even then, although Battaglia and Rice have to be in the conversation.

Oh if you are going back to our start in 1-A football (roughly 1980) I'd say Rice, Battaglia and Carroo hands down. What hurts Anthony Davis was that he stayed only 3 seasons. IMO he needed that 4th year to solidify his place in RU football history (keep the NFL career out of this, we are talking about Rutgers Football). In my personal opinion, while not as dominant as AD, Zuttah may have been our most important OL. He was talented, versatile and started for 4 years. I know Rice was only a 3-year guy but the work he put in made it seem like 4 lol.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

Sanu was the best Safteywidereceiverkickreturnerwildcatqb ever!

 

[ScarletKnightRider]

If he keeps up the pace, then yes he definitely gives Ray a serious run for his money. Carroo absolutely STYLES on Big Ten secondaries like it's nothing. If we had handled ttfp, WSU and he never got suspended, we'd be hearing early Hiesman whispers following the IU game. This dude missed 2.5 games this season and is still top 10 in TD's in the country. As good as he is, I think he is even better than many people give him credit for. He has what it takes to be a fantasy stud.

Sanu might have been the best pure athlete, but Carroo might actually be the best player in modern RU history.

 

[Ruthinking]

We need to see the next 7 games before declaring Carroo the best. For now, it's definitely Ray Rice. (Brian Leonard will always be my favorite however!!)

 

[lighty]

Sanu could catch anything even when they knew we were throwing to him, but Carroo is a far bigger threat for long TDs imo. He not only makes the catches, but is a more dangerous receiver.

Sanu was probably the best possession wide receiver in RU history. Carroo is the biggest scoring threat. And Britt was probably the hardest to bring down.

 

[shields]

Carroo, Rice and Davis. Going back though Marco and Stowe on list. Stowe had 27 tackles in a game once.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Sanu could catch anything even when they knew we were throwing to him...

That's the key right there - this video against USF is a fine example of that:

 

[Will Scarlet]

We need to see the next 7 games before declaring Carroo the best. For now, it's definitely Ray Rice. (Brian Leonard will always be my favorite however!!)

+1. Carroo is already our best all-around WR, ever. Sanu is a close second. It's almost like apples and oranges. If Carroo finishes solid, he might be the best of the modern era, if not ever. But, in the absence of rock star QBs (McMahon was the best IMHO), we've never had an offensive player so consistently dominating as Rice. Our best offenses of the modern era were entirely-centered on Rice's ability.

Still, nobody was more fun to watch than Leonard. He was the complete package, power runner, excellent blocker, great hands, not only a YAC, but "yards after attempted tackle," master, of course, freakish athletic ability and, most importantly, other than Legrand and Robeson, our most inspirational player, ever.

Leonard came back for his senior year, as a legit Heisman candidate, only to forego the yards and high-profile touchdowns necessary for accolades by virtue of serving as a lead blocker and decoy for Rice simply because it fostered the most potent offense. My favorite off-field moment ever was Leonard leading the student section, sword in hand, in the singing of the alma mater after whipping Syracuse in the final regular game of the season.

 

[saran]

Sanu could catch anything even when they knew we were throwing to him, but Carroo is a far bigger threat for long TDs imo. He not only makes the catches, but is a more dangerous receiver.

Sanu was probably the best possession wide receiver in RU history. Carroo is the biggest scoring threat. And Britt was probably the hardest to bring down.

Britt had only 2 red zone TDs - and he usually trapped the ball with his body. Sanu had legit flypaper hands. Most importantly Sanu mugged DBs. One DB in red zone would lose a jump ball to Sanu 90% of the time. Two DBs only had a 30% chance. Sanu's blocks were killer. Opposing players used to blow-up near him. Its too bad Sanu played when RU had one of worst OLs in D1 history (they do have season sacks allowed record after all.

People forget Sanu got stuck running the TE routes because RU had to keep the TE (DC Jeff) in to block. Sanu had around 20 red zone TDs. I'm sorry he went to Cincy because (like the Browns) they are usually a marginal team (owners dont like to pay) that doesn't really make the best sandbox to develop in. To me its crazy Sanu isn't used in red zone more. Five games in and Sanu doesn't have a TD yet. That's Cincy for you.

 

[PaKnight]

Britt had only 2 red zone TDs - and he usually trapped the ball with his body. Sanu had legit flypaper hands. Most importantly Sanu mugged DBs. One DB in red zone would lose a jump ball to Sanu 90% of the time. Two DBs only had a 30% chance. Sanu's blocks were killer. Opposing players used to blow-up near him. Its too bad Sanu played when RU had one of worst OLs in D1 history (they do have season sacks allowed record after all.

People forget Sanu got stuck running the TE routes because RU had to keep the TE (DC Jeff) in to block. Sanu had around 20 red zone TDs. I'm sorry he went to Cincy because (like the Browns) they are usually a marginal team (owners dont like to pay) that doesn't really make the best sandbox to develop in. To me its crazy Sanu isn't used in red zone more. Five games in and Sanu doesn't have a TD yet. That's Cincy for you.

Cincy is 5 and 0.

 

[miket007]

I got RR than Britt ahead of Caroo who i have a hard time putting over Sanu a player who did what he did never playing the wr position, KB would've been more dominant if he had a qb who could toss the rock

 

[Pils86]

I remember being in the stands for that Sanu catch and throwing my hands up and saying dammit while I turned away. My son sreamed he caught it and I couldn't believe it. The ball was way behind him and low, unbelievable catch and if not made the game was over but we went on to win. I see on the replay we had no timeouts at the end of the game, I don't remember if they were use correctly or wasted.

 

[saran]

Cincy is 5 and 0.

Yes - and they were good last year and the year before that - until they hit the playoffs and then its pffffft.
As Cincy players get good the owners often let them go instead of paying. Cincy flirts with being good but rarely crosses the line since Boomer days.

 

[Abro1975]

Kenny Britt RU highlights :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWUpOVHKK-U