#11 Legedu Naanee | WR
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Position: WR College: Boise State Height: 6-2 Weight: 226 Age: 24 Experience: 2nd season Acquired: Draft '07 Hometown: Portland, Ore. |
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Career StatsLast summer after the Chargers drafted Legedu Naanee (LEG-a-doo Nah-NAY), the BoiseState product spent time at wide receiver, tight end and fullback. What the Bolts quickly learned was that they’d found a player who could make things happen when he had the ball in his hands.
As a rookie, Naanee caught eight passes for 69 yards and contributed on special teams. Although they have a roster full of playmakers, the Chargers hope to get Naanee more involved in the offense this season and let him put his unique skills to use.
Naanee was part of the BoiseState team that captured the nation’s attention and shocked the college football establishment by upsetting the Oklahoma Sooners with a stunning come-from-behind, overtime win in the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Naanee had his hand in the famed “Statue of Liberty Play” on which the Broncos scored the game-winning touchdown. Naanee was the receiver whom Jared Zabransky faked a throw to before handing the ball to running back Ian Johnson.
Naanee began his career at BoiseState as a quarterback and was named Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year following his redshirt year in 2002 and his freshman year in 2003. The Broncos’ coaching staff moved him to wide receiver late in his sophomore season of 2004. By his junior season in ’05, Legedu started all 13 games for the Broncos at wide receiver.
Legedu’s background as a quarterback paid dividends for the Chargers during his rookie season. Prior to playing the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 9 and in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, Naanee went under center and ran the scout team offense. His athleticism helped the Bolts prepare for Titans quarterback Vince Young, who is known for his ability to make plays with his legs. Apparently Naanee did a good acting job. The Chargers beat Tennessee in both contests and only allowed 23 points in the two victories.
Pound-for-pound, Naanee is one of the strongest players ever to play for the Broncos. As a freshman in 2003, he set several weight-lifting records for quarterbacks and as a sophomore in 2004 he set some of the same records for a wide receiver.
Naanee was born in Portland, Oregon, but his father, Agbora, was born in Nigeria in a village outside of Lagos. His first name, Legedu, means “Good is coming” in Nigerian and Naanee is the family surname. Legedu has been to Nigeria twice to visit family members who still live there.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fifth-round pick by Chargers (172) in NFL Draft, April 29, 2007.
2007: Caught first two career passes, both during touchdown drive, in Bolts’ Nov. 4 game at Minnesota…included 17-yard catch on third-and-12 play…had big hand in second-quarter touchdown drive against Indianapolis Nov. 11 with three-yard catch on fourth-and-two play…later added nine-yarder on third-and-two play…made one of biggest catches of season, setting up game-winning fourth-quarter touchdown in Jan. 20 AFC Divisional Playoffs at Indianapolis on 27-yard screen play down to Colts’ 15-yard line…also had huge performance on special teams, leading unit with three unassisted tackles.
COLLEGE: First-team All-Western Athletic Conference choice as senior after leading team in receptions and touchdown catches...caught career-high seven passes for 129 yards and touchdown, his first-career 100-yard game, in Broncos’ BCS bowl-clinching win over Nevada in season finale...also led squad in TD catches as junior...redshirted in 2002...played at Boise State from 2002-06...graduated in December 2006 with degree in business management.
PERSONAL: Born in Portland, Oregon...league offensive player of year as junior and senior at Franklin High School in Portland...earned first-team all-league honors as quarterback and defensive back...team captain who led team to state playoffs as senior...outstanding basketball player earned all-league honors as junior.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fifth-round pick by Chargers (172) in NFL Draft, April 29, 2007.
2007: Caught first two career passes, both during touchdown drive, in Bolts’ Nov. 4 game at Minnesota…included 17-yard catch on third-and-12 play…had big hand in second-quarter touchdown drive against Indianapolis Nov. 11 with three-yard catch on fourth-and-two play…later added nine-yarder on third-and-two play…made one of biggest catches of season, setting up game-winning fourth-quarter touchdown in Jan. 20 AFC Divisional Playoffs at Indianapolis on 27-yard screen play down to Colts’ 15-yard line…also had huge performance on special teams, leading unit with three unassisted tackles.
COLLEGE: First-team All-Western Athletic Conference choice as senior after leading team in receptions and touchdown catches...caught career-high seven passes for 129 yards and touchdown, his first-career 100-yard game, in Broncos’ BCS bowl-clinching win over Nevada in season finale...also led squad in TD catches as junior...redshirted in 2002...played at Boise State from 2002-06...graduated in December 2006 with degree in business management.
PERSONAL: Born in Portland, Oregon...league offensive player of year as junior and senior at Franklin High School in Portland...earned first-team all-league honors as quarterback and defensive back...team captain who led team to state playoffs as senior...outstanding basketball player earned all-league honors as junior.
