Rutgers Mohamed Sanu for Heisman? More Likely In 2011

If Mohamed Sanu does garner Heisman attention this year, I hope that it is only at the beginning of the season.  Otherwise, the 6’2”, 215 lbs. do-everything sensation may be on the edge of awards discussions for all the wrong reasons.

Sanu can ride high from his phenomenal freshman year, and put in a couple early performances as a national standout.  Being the intelligent and extremely athletic football player that he is, this is almost a given. 

However, if this persists past the opening weeks, his wild success will (in part) be attributable to the lack of progression of his teammates.

Let us take a look into last year: 

Spring practice, 2009 : Rutgers’ receiving corps is in disarray as Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood have both moved on to the NFL.  True freshman Mohamed Sanu, recruited as a safety, wins the starting receiving spot opposite senior Tim Brown.

September 7th, 2009 : Sanu impresses in the opening game against Cincinnati with 10 catches for 101 yards.  It is obvious that this kid is gifted.  Tim Brown looks solid and Tom Savage earns the starting quarterback job. 

Mid-season, 2009 : Brown and Sanu are the only viable receiving options as no one else has stepped forward.  Rutgers’ rushing attack struggles at times and Sanu is called upon to run Wildcat formations with more than a fair amount of success.

End of 2009 season : Rutgers finishes 9-4, winning another mid-level bowl game.  Mohamed Sanu is 2nd on the team in receiving and rushing yards.  Tim Brown graduates, every receiver returning finishes with seven catches or less. 

Allow me to reiterate: SEVEN catches.  That’s the most.  Sanu and Brown had over 50 each.

Stating Sanu's success is not to say that Rutgers does not have other skill position players.  RB De’Antwan Williams was highly-touted prior to opening day, but mostly saw junk minutes throughout the year.  Joe Martinek is a solid back and at least one of their three 2010 recruits should contribute.

At receiver, Freshman Mark Harrison showed flashes during the year and DC Jefferson, switching from quarterback to tight end at the beginning of 2009, is an athletic and physical specimen at 6’6” and 240 lbs.  Both should show marked improvement after spending a full year at their spots.  Further, Rutgers brought in a lot of receivers this recruiting season and, much like the running backs, one of them will step forward.

Sanu is talented and he needs the ball as much as possible.  He’ll get his touches, but the problem with such lopsided stats from 2009 is that not only will defenses be preparing for him, it's that Rutgers may lean on him too much.  Everyone else needs to get involved.  Maybe not for the sake of this year, but for 2011.

Ah, yes, 2011: the real point to Rutgers and Mohamed Sanu putting off that Heisman campaign.  I can see it, and it’s glorious. 

A year and a half from now Rutgers' top-25 recruiting class will be all upper-classmen and ready to make some national noise.  Tom Savage, the seasoned veteran , will finally lead a tough, talented, and experienced group to a BCS game.  All of this will only be a dream if Sanu does far too much in 2010.

The young receivers and running backs need 2010 game experience to become solid contributors in 2011.  They need actual game experience, not the 3rd quarter against Howard game experience.  Only when these players become reliable options can Rutgers hope to win a BCS contest.  And, once there are proven commodities filling up these spots, we can let Sanu explode.

Let’s be honest, Head Coach Greg Schiano found a gem, and it will be easy to see other players struggle early and feel the need to pull that Sanu-trigger.  But, please, don't do it.  Put down your weapon.  Think about the future, the big picture. 

And for you, Mohamed, if Schiano doesn’t understand our plan, explain it to him.  Have a good year, even a great year…but not a Heisman-hopeful year.  Put that off until 2011, let's use this season to make everybody better.