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Legedu Naanee
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220 | Position:WR
 Player Profile Draft TrackerOther WR
 
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Overview

Sometimes a change of scenery is good. In the case of Legedu Naanee, his change has thrust him right into the NFL Draft picture. A little used quarterback during his first two-plus seasons with the Broncos, Naanee was reluctant to make the change to the receiving unit late in the 2004 season. It took him more than a season to get acclimated to his new role, but he made such an impression as a senior that the league's coaches voted him first-team All-Western Athletic Conference.

Pound-for-pound one of the team's strongest players, Naanee set quarterback position records in the weight room during 2003 spring camp, with lifts of 327 pounds in the power clean, 356 pounds in the hang clean, 520 pounds in the back squat, 305 pounds in the bench press and had a vertical jump of 36 inches in 2004 spring camp.

After he moved to wide receiver full-time in 2005, he set that position's records in the weight room in the power clean (364 pounds), hang clean (374 pounds) and back squat (525 pounds).

A quarterback at Franklin High School, Naanee produced outstanding passing numbers in his final two years. He threw for more than 3,800 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2000 and 2001, while also rushing for more than 600 yards and scoring eight times. Following his junior and senior seasons, he was named his league's Offensive Player of the Year.

The team captain led his team to the first round of the 2001 state playoffs and he would close out his career as a four-year starter. He also received first-team all-league honors on offense and defense after intercepting six passes during his final season. He was also an outstanding basketball player, receiving all-league honors as a junior.

Upon enrolling at Boise State in 2002, the coaching staff decided to redshirt him. He was relegated to just brief action in two games on offense in 2003, but saw action in 10 other contests on special teams, where he registered seven tackles (2 solos). Behind center at quarterback, he completed 1-of-5 passes for 27 yards, ran three times for four yards and caught a 4-yard pass.

Naanee spent most of the 2004 season as a personal protector on the punt unit, seeing almost no action at quarterback. The coaches experimented with him at tight end and receiver late in the year, as he gained 45 yards on four catches (11.2 avg.). He also ran for 79 yards on four carries (19.8 avg.).

In 2005, Naanee shifted to H-back. He started all 13 games and finished second on the team with 34 receptions for 483 yards (14.2 avg.) and six touchdowns. He gained 25 yards on four carries (6.2 avg.) and registered one solo tackle.

As a senior, the first-team All-Western Athletic Conference choice again switched positions, taking over "Z" receiver duties. He ranked third on the team with 35 catches for 541 yards (15.5 avg.) and six touchdowns while starting all 13 games. He also attempted one pass unsuccessfully.

In 49 games at Boise State, Naanee played in 30 contests as a receiver, starting 15 times. He finished with 74 receptions for 1,073 yards (14.5 avg.) and 12 touchdowns. He rushed for 198 yards on 18 carries (11.0 avg.) and completed one of six pass attempts for 27 yards. He also registered eight tackles (three solos).

Analysis

Positives: Has an imposing looking frame that is well-muscled and solidly built, with long arms, thick thighs and calves and only 8 percent body fat … Knows how to use his size to shield defenders from the ball and showed drastic improvement in his burst, stride and route running ability as a senior … Called by the coaching staff the "most gifted player to ever wear a BSU uniform," Naanee set school weight room records as a quarterback and then broke similar records at receiver … Smooth, fluid open-field runner who has the body control, change of direction agility and hand/eye coordination to stretch the defense or drive through tackles to gain additional yardage on short routes … Has picked up the intricacies of playing receiver, as he no longer takes soft angle cuts and knows how to deliver head fakes to fool a lethargic defender … Has improved his burst off the line, showing suddenness (took a rolling start in the past) … Comes off the snap with good hand placement and aggression to beat the press … knows how to sit down in the field's soft areas when playing in the slot … Shows adequate sideline awareness, especially on deep flag routes, and slips into the open spots in the zone with ease … Uses his hands well to push off the opponent and is very hard for a defender to re-route … Big target over the middle with sure hands and presents a mismatch for the smaller defenders when competing for the jump ball … Natural hands catcher who does a nice job of maintaining his acceleration and catching the ball in stride … Has good speed, but lacks a second gear, so he compensates in attempts to get deep with solid double moves … Has the range, leaping ability and body control to adjust to off-target throws … Has the strong leg drive to power through arm tackles … Better cut blocker than one working in-line … Has experience as the punt protector and the stride to get down field and break up the wedge as a gunner on special teams … Maintains concentration on the ball in flight and shows no hesitation going for the pass in a crowd … His quarterback experience is evident with his ability to sense pocket pressure and work back towards the ball … Times his leaps well and does a nice job of setting up and following his blockers on the reverse … Can be used in motion, lined wide, in the slot or in the backfield.

Negatives: Good route runner, but still learning the little techniques, like how to gobble up the cushion, how to deliver head fakes, etc, but showed marked improvement as a senior (just needs patient coaching) … Will still take a false step at times in his route progression … Good crack blocker, but will ease off the line and not be physical when asked to block at the line of scrimmage … Has good timed speed, but lacks a second gear to explode past the defender after the catch (sets them up with double moves instead) …

Has some hip stiffness when trying to plant and drive out of his breaks … Will round his cuts on short routes … Has a strong hand punch, but needs to keep them more active in attempts to beat the press.

Compares To: Maurice Stovall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Like Stovall, Naanee is a big, physical receiver with surprisingly good speed. He looks like he could obliterate defenders as a blocker, but seems passive in that area … He is efficient using double moves to escape after the catch, compensating for a lack of a second gear … With his frame, he won't have problems shielding the ball from defenders … He is still a work in progress, but some position coach is going to find a similar product to Stovall in Naanee.

Injury Report

2005: Bothered by dehydration early in the season and was administered IV's to prevent cramping vs. Idaho (9/4).

2006: Bothered by a hernia in spring drills.

Agility Tests

Campus: 4.55 in the 40-yard dash … 320-pound bench press … 565-pound squat … 374-pound hang clean … 352-pound power clean … 36&3189;-inch vertical jump … 9-foot-10 broad jump … 4.2 20-yard shuttle … 6.73 three-cone drill … 32½-inch arm length … 9½-inch hands … Right-handed.

High School

Attended Franklin (Portland, Ore.) High School, playing football for head coach Tom McCarthy … Produced outstanding passing numbers in his final two years, as he threw for more than 3,800 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2000 and 2001, while also rushing for more than 600 yards and scoring eight times … Following his junior and senior seasons, he was named his league's Offensive Player of the Year … The team captain led his squad to the first round of the 2001 state playoffs and he would close out his career as a four-year starter … Received first-team all-league honors on offense and defense after intercepting six passes during his final season … Was also an outstanding basketball player, receiving all-league honors as a junior.

Personal

General Business Management major … Born Sept. 16, 1983 … Resides in Portland, Ore.

 
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