Ryan Dunleavy

Staff writer

PISCATAWAY – Before Leonte Carroo put himself on the NFL radar in 2014 with the first of back-to-back seasons of 10 touchdown catches, a wide receiver was making spectacular plays during Rutgers football training camp.

His name was Andre Patton.

“If Andre didn’t get hurt during training camp, he probably was going to have a better year than I did,” the uber-confident Carroo said modestly. “I’m admitting that. He was having a better training camp than anyone I’ve seen since Brandon Coleman was there. He was dominating. He has it in him.”

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Patton missed the first four games of that season with a bruised kidney as Carroo blossomed into a First-Team All-Big Ten honoree. Carroo made a school-record 29 career touchdown receptions in his final 31 games before his selection in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

The big shoes Carroo left behind are Patton’s to fill – especially with fellow true senior Janarion Grant playing a hybrid slot and H-back role where he is unlikely to face the opposing team’s top cornerback.

“I really try not to pay too much mind to that,” Patton said. “I try to go play my game and get better every day. If you keep all that stuff in your mind, sometimes that can distract you.”

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Patton might have the perfect temperament for replacing Carroo considering that he often seemed to resent implications that he was the No. 2 receiver last season. He also got a taste of life as the focal point of pass defenses during the four games that Carroo missed last season.

“He needs to expect that,” wide receivers coach Jafar Williams said, “and really how you prepare for that is your preparation during the week and making sure you know everything about your opponent. Physically, he has the tools. He needs to continue to lead, and he’s been doing that.”

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Patton was one of 12 players “Knighted” – deemed game-ready by the coaching staff – during training camp. Vance Matthews was the only other wide receiver.

“It meant a lot to be able to show the coaches and all the staff that I’m capable of coming out and competing every day,” Patton said, “and pushing all my brothers to do the same.”

Whether or not he is capable of producing a dominant season like Carroo, Coleman and fellow Rutgers greats-turned-pros Mohamed Sanu, Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood is unknown.

Patton has 57 catches for 704 yards and five touchdowns in his career. Three of those scores came in the final two games of the 2014 season as again he looked on the verge of a breakout.

“I’ve seen Andre completely take over games,” said Carroo, who had five career three-touchdown games, four more than any player in school history.

“He’s a physical, strong receiver. His speed will creep up on you. He has a lot of confidence. He works really hard. He is a guy that deserves to be the next great receiver at Rutgers.”

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As the move from a pro-style to a spread offense, Grant’s creatively conceived 13 touches and Carlton Agudosi’s 55-yard touchdown catch stole headlines at the Scarlet-White Game last month, Patton quietly made nine catches for 112 yards.

“Things are really opened up for us,” Patton said. “Not only were we in pro-style with the one receiver and mostly blocking, it’s a running offense. A spread you are just throwing the ball, throwing the ball, so of course I like that.”

The spread isn’t a cure-all.

In the games without Carroo last season, Patton totaled 11 catches for 130 yards. More importantly, it was clear that he was the next-most comfortable target for quarterback Chris Laviano – though the separation from defenders wasn’t there like is expected from a top weapon.

Credit Patton for recognizing and trying to address the flaw.

“I’m working on my hands, my speed and my separation,” he said. “I feel like those things are going to be real key this year.”

Carroo believes Patton's time has arrived.

“He just has to play with the same technique that he always plays with and work as hard as he’s been working," Carroo said. "That’s a guy I have a lot of confidence in as a No. 1 receiver.”

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleavy@gannettnj.com