Ryan Dunleavy

Staff writer

Against the warnings he received to expect the unexpected in the NFL Draft, Leonte Carroo kept privately telling his confidants that he had a good feeling about the Miami Dolphins.

Turns out the former Rutgers football star can trust his instincts.

Carroo was selected Friday night in the third round with the No. 86 overall pick by the Dolphins, who made a major investment by trading three draft picks to the Minnesota Vikings to move to up and snag their coveted target.

“I felt a mutual connection when I went on the visit,” Carroo told Gannett New Jersey.

“I felt like those guys weren’t pulling my leg. The wide receivers coach looked me right in the eye and said, ‘I want you. I like your physicality. I like the way you play. You are a lot different than a lot of receivers in this draft. I’m going to do everything I can to get you, but I’m not sure how this is going to play out.’"

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It was a long wait for the supremely confident Carroo, who made it known that he believed he was the best receiver in the draft after setting the Rutgers record with 29 career touchdowns in 31 games as a receiver. He played special teams only – a bonus for his NFL resume – as a freshman.

“I was starting to get really anxious, especially toward the beginning of that second round once I saw three receivers get picked,” the Edison native said.

“I was like, ‘Whoa, I know I’m better than these guys and they got picked before me.’ So I was a little shaken up, but I stayed patient, I stayed with my family, my agent, and then I got the call.”

The wait was even more agonizing for former Rutgers stars who went undrafted.

Left tackle Keith Lumpkin (Buffalo Bills) and linebackers Quentin Gause (Eagles) and Steve Longa (Seattle Seahawks) signed priority free agent deals shortly after the draft ended and will head to rookie mini-camp. Halfback Savon Huggins has a tryout with the Green Bay Packers.

Bedlam broke out in the Carroo household when Dolphins coach Adam Gase called around 10:45 p.m. with news of the trade. Carroo said he was following the draft on the NFL Mobile phone app and noticed the teams occupying the next few spots already had picked a receiver.

“It’s kind of crazy when you see the phone ringing,” Carroo said. “I made sure my friends or anyone didn’t call me. You see a random number that you don’t have saved pop up and you are like, ‘Everybody be quiet.’ Sure enough, it was the Miami Dolphins.”

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Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is a 4,000-yard passer who has never missed a start during his four-year NFL career. Tannehill needs weapons to complement star Jarvis Landry, who had 110 catches last season while no other returning receiver had more than 27.

“Like I told Miami on the phone,” Carroo said, “I’m going in to learn from those guys, but I’m also going in to compete and play as fast as I can."

Carroo will report to Miami on Thursday for rookie mini-camp.

“He’ll compete for playing time right away,” general manager Chris Grier said. “This guy checked a lot of boxes for size, speed, toughness, competitiveness. We’re really thrilled to add him.”

Carroo was the ninth receiver drafted. He is projected to receive a four-year contract in the ballpark of $3.1 million with a $700,000 signing bonus, according to spotrac.com.

“I’m not going to lie: I cried like a baby,” Carroo said. “Thirty minutes of just crying for all the sacrifice and hard work and everything paying off. With everything I went through this past year, it was really exciting.”

Carroo’s senior season was derailed by a two-game suspension after his arrest for simple assault under domestic violence. The charge was later dropped.

The 6-foot, 213-pounder with the 4.5 time in the 40-yard dash returned with back-to-back three-touchdown games but suffered a high ankle sprain Oct. 17. He finished with 39 catches for 809 yards and led the nation with 4.11 yards per route, according to Pro Football Focus.

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The injury – which gained 100 percent clearance earlier this month – cost him two games, the Senior Bowl and Rutgers Pro Day and limited his participation at the NFL Combine.

“It’s rewarding, but I’m done yet,” Carroo said. “I’m just getting started. I’m just excited I was able to do what not many kids are able to do. Being that I did have such a rough year, for the Dolphins to believe in me and believe in my character, that’s the most important thing for me.

“All these teams know that I’m a great football player. Whatever teams missed out on me in the first and second rounds and beginning of the third round, I’m glad Miami took a chance on me.”

Carroo’s second career NFL game will be against the New England Patriots – with three Rutgers products in the secondary – and he will return to New Jersey to face the Jets on Dec. 17. He visited the Dolphins, Jets, Patriots, Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints before the draft.

“It’s just an exciting time for me and my family,” he said. "(Saturday) I have to get back to work.”

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleavy@gannettnj.com