'Relentless' Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo prepping for Senior Bowl, NFL scouting combine

Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo is bringing his New Jersey attitude and proven track record of success to the NFL.

The Edison, N.J. native and former blue-chip recruit from Don Bosco Prep was an All-Big third-team selection last season who was named the Scarlet Knights' Most Valuable Player and Offensive Most Valuable Player. Carroo led the team with 39 catches, 809 yards and 10 touchdowns last season to lead the Big Ten Conference in touchdown receptions.

"I'll bring a relentless, hard-working attitude to the NFL with a playing style that's dynamic and will fit into any teams' scheme and do my job and do what the coaches ask me to do," Carroo told National Football Post. "It's a dream come true."

As a junior, Carroo was a third-team All-Big Ten Conference selection who caught 55 passes for 1,086 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's the first Rutgers player to be All-Big Ten Conference in consecutive years, was a team captain and is Rutgers' all-time leader for touchdown catches. The 6-foot, 210-pounder is training at IMG Sports Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and hopes to run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at the NFL scouting combine in February. Carroo is working with former NFL receiver and receivers coach Henry Ellard and catching passes from Texas Christian quarterback Trevone Boykin. "I'm pretty excited about the process," said Carroo, who's represented by veteran NFL agent Robert Roche. "I'm just letting everything play out. I've been here going into my fourth week. I love it here, especially the way they prepare you from a physical and mental standpoint, the way they take care of your body and prepare you for all phases of the game." His next stop is the Senior Bowl all-star game later this month in Mobile, Ala. "I'll be ready," Carroo said. "I know I'll crush the Senior Bowl. I'm definitely excited to show the scouts how physical and fast I am as a wide receiver along with my knowledge of the game and understanding of defenses. I want to show how quick I am and learn and pick up on the offenses." Carroo is accustomed to assimilating to new offensive philosophies. At Rutgers, Carroo had four different offensive coordinators in four years. "I adjusted to four different pro-style offenses," Carroo said. "I had a lot of languages to catch onto. Going through the coaching changes and trying to build relationships within one year definitely helps me for the NFL. You've got to be ready to be coached by anyone. I'm willing to take coaching." Carroo's former Rutgers teammates include New England Patriots defensive backs Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon. Patriots coach Bill Belichick tends to like bringing in prospects from Rutgers. "Definitely, he's drafted a bunch of them," Carroo said. "I'm friends with those guys and Devin McCourty. I have a great relationship with all of those guys. New England and Bill Belichick are big on guys that do their job. They remind me a lot of myself. Out of high school, the New Jersey native decided to remain home after considering scholarship offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin, Florida, Miami, Cal, Boston College and Connecticut. "Being from New Jersey, you learn about things like fighting through adversity," Carroo said. "New Jersey is definitely a place I look at and am proud to say I'm from. There are a lot of tough people from New Jersey. I love being from New Jersey. That's why I decided to remain at home." Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.