Mohamed Sanu
 Sanu with the Falcons in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 12 – Atlanta Falcons | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1989-08-22) August 22, 1989 New Brunswick, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | South Brunswick (Monmouth Junction, New Jersey) | ||||||||||||||||
| College: | Rutgers | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 3 / Pick: 83 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2018 | |||||||||||||||||
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Mohamed Sanu Sr. (born August 22, 1989) is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft and played college football at Rutgers.
Contents
1 Early life
2 College career
2.1 Statistics
3 Professional career
3.1 Cincinnati Bengals
3.2 Atlanta Falcons
4 Career statistics
5 Personal stock offering
6 Personal life
7 References
8 External links
Early life
Originally from Sayreville, New Jersey, Sanu was born to a Muslim family and also lived in his parents' native Sierra Leone as a child.[1] Sanu returned to the United States and lived in Dayton, New Jersey, where he eventually starred at South Brunswick High School as a triple-option quarterback before enrolling at Rutgers University in 2009.[2] In his final season at South Brunswick High School, Sanu led the Vikings to their first playoff berth in nearly 40 years, including three rushing touchdowns of at least 80 yards against Edison High School.[3] He was ruled ineligible to play during his senior year, due to exceeding NJSIAA's age restriction; he graduated from high school six months early and enrolled at Rutgers University in January 2009.[4]
In track & field, Sanu was one of the state's top performers in the jumping events. At the 2008 NJSIAA Sectional Championships, he placed 2nd in the triple jump (14.08 m) and 3rd in the long jump (6.43 meters). He also competed as a sprinter, recording personal-best times of 6.94 seconds in the 55 metres and 24.28 seconds in the 200 meters at the 2008 Merli Invitational.[5] He is a fan of soccer, and supports West Ham United.[6]
College career
As a true freshman, Sanu had 51 receptions for 639 yards and three touchdowns, and ran 62 times for 346 yards and five touchdowns out of the Wildcat formation.[7] Sanu was the first-ever true freshman to start at wide receiver for Rutgers under coach Greg Schiano, and he won Most Valuable Player honors at the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl. In 2010, Sanu was a consensus preseason All-Big East wide receiver. In 2011, against North Carolina, he tied a Big East record with 13 receptions.[8] The next week, he broke his own record by catching 16 passes.[9] In 2011, Sanu broke the Big East single-season reception record with 115 receptions for 1,206 yards, a record previously held by Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald.[10]
In his three seasons at Rutgers, Sanu caught 210 passes for 2,263 yards and 19 touchdowns, and gained 3,019 all-purpose yards. He also completed eight of 18 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns.[11]
Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Games | Rec | Yds | Avg | TDs | Att | Yds | Avg | Tds | Tch | Yds | Avg | Tds |
| 2009 | Rutgers | 13 | 51 | 639 | 12.5 | 3 | 62 | 346 | 5.6 | 5 | 113 | 985 | 8.7 | 8 |
| 2010 | Rutgers | 12 | 44 | 418 | 9.5 | 2 | 59 | 309 | 5.2 | 4 | 103 | 727 | 7.1 | 6 |
| 2011 | Rutgers | 13 | 115 | 1206 | 10.5 | 7 | 4 | −2 | −0.5 | 0 | 119 | 1204 | 10.1 | 7 |
| Total | 38 | 210 | 2263 | 10.8 | 12 | 125 | 653 | 5.2 | 9 | 335 | 2916 | 8.7 | 21 | |
Professional career
| Ht | Wt | 40-yard dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20-ss | 3-cone | Vert jump | Broad | BP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 211 lb (96 kg) | 4.44 s | 1.59 s | 2.62 s | 4.21 s | 6.88 s | 36 in (0.91 m) | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) | 19 reps | |||
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Sanu in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Sanu was the 12th wide receiver drafted in 2012. During the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Sanu received a prank phone call from somebody pretending to be Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown, informing him that the Bengals were going to use their 27th overall pick on him.[12]
 Bengals draft Mohamed Sanu 83rd overall |
On June 11, 2012, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Sanu to a four-year, $2.71 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $563,252.[13][14]
Mohamed Sanu in 2012
On September 23, 2012, against the Washington Redskins, Sanu came in as the wildcat quarterback out of a shotgun formation for the Bengals on the first play from scrimmage of the game, and threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to A. J. Green, giving Sanu his first touchdown pass before his first NFL reception.[15] The pass also gave Sanu a perfect 158.3 passer rating for the game. He was also the first Bengals wide receiver ever to throw a touchdown pass. Sanu had his first touchdown catch during Week 10 against the New York Giants. He finished the game with four receptions for 47 yards.[16] In Week 12, against the Oakland Raiders, he had five receptions for 29 yards and two touchdowns in the 34–10 victory for his first career game with multiple touchdowns.[17] On November 30, 2012, it was announced that Sanu had season-ending surgery to repair a stress fracture.[18]
Sanu with the Bengals in 2013
Sanu played in all 16 games of the 2013 NFL season finishing with 47 receptions, 455 yards, and 2 touchdowns.[19][20] The Bengals finished with an 11–5 record and won the AFC North.[21] In the Wild Card Round against the San Diego Chargers, he had a 13-yard reception in his playoff debut, a 27–10 loss.[22]
In the 2014 NFL season, Sanu played a much bigger role in the Bengals offense due to injuries to receivers A. J. Green and Marvin Jones. He recorded two 100-yard games in 2014.[23] In Week 2, Sanu recorded a career-long 76-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Andy Dalton in the 24–10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.[24] In Week 3, Sanu threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to his quarterback, Andy Dalton in a 33–7 victory over the Tennessee Titans.[25] It was Sanu's fourth completion of his career on four passing attempts as well as being his second touchdown pass of his career. In Week 6, against the Carolina Panthers, he had a career-high 10 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown in the 37–37 tie.[26] In Week 8, against the Baltimore Ravens, he had five receptions for a career-high 125 yards in the 27–24 victory.[27] The Bengals returned to the playoffs with a 10–5–1 record.[28] In the Wild Card Round against the Indianapolis Colts, he had three receptions for 31 receiving yards on seven targets in the 26–10 loss.[29]
In the 2015 NFL season, Sanu had 33 receptions for 394 yards.[30] In Week 9, against the Cleveland Browns, he scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 25-yard reverse.[31] The Bengals finished with a 12–4 record and won the AFC North.[32] In the Wild Card Round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had three receptions for 17 receiving yards in the 18–16 loss.[33]
Atlanta Falcons
Sanu and Josh Norman in a game against the Washington Redskins in 2018
On March 10, 2016, Sanu signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[34] In his Falcons debut in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had five receptions for 80 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion in the 31–24 loss.[35] He had 59 receptions for 653 yards and four touchdowns in his first year in Atlanta.[36] The Falcons won the NFC South and reached the playoffs with an 11–5 record.[37] In the Divisional Round against the Seattle Seahawks, he finished with four receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown in the 36–20 victory.[38] In the NFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers, he finished with five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown in the final NFL Game in the Georgia Dome.[39] The Falcons reached Super Bowl LI, playing against the New England Patriots. During the Super Bowl, Sanu had two receptions for 25 yards in the 34–28 overtime defeat against the Patriots.[40][41][42]
In Week 2 of the 2017 NFL season, against the Green Bay Packers, Sanu had a season-high 85 receiving yards in the 34–23 victory.[43] In Week 12, Sanu threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Julio Jones in a 34–20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[44] Overall, in the 2017 season, Sanu finished with 67 receptions for 703 yards and five touchdowns.[45] The Falcons finished with a 10–6 record and qualified for the playoffs.[46] In the Wild Card Round, he finished with four receptions for 75 yards in the 26–13 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.[47] In the Divisional Round, he had three receptions for 50 yards in the 15–10 loss to the eventual Super Bowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles.[48]
After a relatively slow start to the 2018 season, Sanu had six receptions for 111 yards in the 37–36 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4.[49] During Week 17 of the 2018 season, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sanu threw a five-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Matt Ryan, the fourth passing touchdown of his career.[50] Sanu finished the 2018 season with a 66 receptions, four touchdowns, and a career-high 838 receiving yards.[51]
Career statistics
| Season | Team | Games | Receiving | Passing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | TD | Rating | FUM | Lost | ||
2012 | Cincinnati Bengals | 9 | 3 | 16 | 154 | 9.6 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 | 158.3 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | Cincinnati Bengals | 16 | 14 | 47 | 455 | 9.7 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0 | 118.7 | 1 | 1 |
2014 | Cincinnati Bengals | 16 | 13 | 56 | 790 | 14.1 | 76 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 100% | 1 | 158.3 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | Cincinnati Bengals | 16 | 4 | 33 | 394 | 11.9 | 52 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 |
2016 | Atlanta Falcons | 15 | 15 | 59 | 653 | 11.1 | 59 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
2017 | Atlanta Falcons | 15 | 15 | 67 | 703 | 10.5 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 | 158.3 | 1 | 0 |
2018 | Atlanta Falcons | 16 | 16 | 66 | 838 | 12.7 | 44 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 95.8 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 103 | 80 | 344 | 3,987 | 11.6 | 76 | 24 | 7 | 8 | 87.5% | 4 | 158.3 | 6 | 4 | |
Personal stock offering
It was reported that Sanu would offer stock tracking his future income via a venture with Fantex, Inc. as part of a new financial instrument being sold by Fantex. Sanu offered Fantex a 10% share of future earnings from his brand. Fantex securitized the contract and offered shares of a publicly traded tracking stock.[52]
In November 2014, the IPO was completed, in which 164,300 shares were sold, valued at $10 per share.[53]
Personal life
During the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Sanu was pranked called on draft day by a teenager who informed him he had been drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. When the pick was officially announced, Sanu and his family and friends realized his name was not called. However, he still ended up being drafted by the Bengals in the third round.[54]
References
^ "Freshman Mohamed Sanu does a lot of everything for Rutgers Scarlet Knights". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
^ Pelzman, J. P. "Falcons' Sanu still giving back to South Brunswick". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
^ Morrison, Jay. "Bio for Bengals’ third-round pick Mohamed Sanu" Archived February 22, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Dayton Daily News, April 27, 2012. Accessed March 29, 2013. "In his final season at South Brunswick, Sanu led the Vikings to their first playoff berth in nearly forty years, including three rushing touchdowns of at least 80 yards vs. Edison High School."
^ Allinder, Jimmy. "Sanu leaving his mark on Rutgers football", Sentinel, October 13, 2010. Accessed March 29, 2013. "Sanu is hoping for more of the same success that enabled his high school team to finish 9–2 in 2008, his final season. Because he turned 19 in his senior year, the NJSIAA declared him ineligible to play that year."
^ "Mohamed Sanu – Stats". NJ MileSplit.
^ Gibson, Sean (March 14, 2016). "Why did this NFL star propose to his girlfriend during the Capital One Cup final?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
^ "Mohamed Sanu 2009 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Rutgers at North Carolina Box Score, September 10, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Ohio at Rutgers Box Score, September 24, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ Caldwell, Dave (November 18, 2011). "Rutgers's Sanu, Converted to a Receiver, Is Breaking Records". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
^ "Mohamed Sanu Career Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Mohamed Sanu laughs off draft day prank". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Mohamed Sanu signs with Bengals, agent says". nfl.com. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Spotrac.com: Mohamed Sanu contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Redskins – September 23rd, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "New York Giants at Cincinnati Bengals – November 11th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Oakland Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals – November 25th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ Brown, Clifton (November 30, 2012). "Bengals WR Mohamed Sanu to have foot surgery, likely out for season". Sporting News. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
^ Hanzus, Dan. "Mohamed Sanu's season could end with stress fracture". NFL.com. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
^ Katzowitz, Josh. "Bengals place WR Mohamed Sanu (foot) on IR". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
^ "2013 Cincinnati Bengals Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
^ "Wild Card – San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals – January 5th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
^ "Mohamed Sanu 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals – September 14th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "Tennessee Titans at Cincinnati Bengals – September 21st, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals – October 12th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals – October 26th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "2014 Cincinnati Bengals Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
^ "Wild Card – Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – January 4th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
^ "Mohamed Sanu 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – November 5th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "2015 Cincinnati Bengals Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
^ "Wild Card – Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals – January 9th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
^ "Falcons Agree to Terms With WR Sanu". Atlanta Falcons. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017.
^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – September 11th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "Mohamed Sanu 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "2016 Atlanta Falcons Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "Divisional Round – Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons – January 14th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "NFC Championship – Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons – January 22nd, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "2016 Atlanta Falcons Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
^ "Super Bowl LI – New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons – February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
^ Chadiha, Jeffri. "Falcons' historic collapse leads to Patriots' fifth Super Bowl win". NFL. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
^ "Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons – September 17th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – November 26th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
^ "Mohamed Sanu 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "2017 Atlanta Falcons Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "Wild Card – Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams – January 6th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "Divisional Round – Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles – January 13th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^ "Bengals get win in final seconds – The Tribune". The Tribune. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
^ "Falcons Highlights: Matt Ryan catches TD from Mohamed Sanu on Atlanta special". Falcons Wire. December 30, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
^ "Mohamed Sanu 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
^ "Company selling stock in Mohamed Sanu for $10". SI.com.
^ "Stock In Bengals WR Mohamed Sanu Is On The Rise". Forbes.
^ "Bengals' Sanu laughs off draft-day prank call". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · Pro-Football-Reference
Media related to Mohamed Sanu at Wikimedia Commons- Atlanta Falcons bio
Media related to Mohamed Sanu at Wikimedia Commons