Legedu Naanee

Infobox NFLactive


|caption=
currentteam=San Diego Chargers
currentnumber=11
currentpositionplain=Tight end / Wide receiver
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|9|16
birthplace=Portland, Oregon
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=226
debutyear=2007
debutteam=San Diego Chargers
college=Boise State
draftyear=2007
draftround=5
draftpick=172
pastteams=
* San Diego Chargers (2007-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=8
statlabel2=Receiving Yards
statvalue2=69
statlabel3=Receiving TDs
statvalue3=0
nfl=NAA444955

Legedu Naanee (LEG-a-doo Nah-NAY born September 16, 1983) is an American football Wide Receiver for the San Diego Chargers. He grew up in Portland, Oregon. "Legedu" means "good is coming" in Nigerian [ [http://chargers.com/team/roster/legedu-naanee.htm Chargers.com - Team » Roster » #40 Legedu Naanee | WR / TE ] ] .

Early years

Naanee attended Franklin High School in Portland, Oregon and was a student and a letterman in football and basketball. In football, he was a four-year starter earning awards at QB and DB. In basketball, he won All-League honors as a junior.

College career

Although Naanee received scholarship offers from many Pac-10 and Big-12 schools, such as Oregon and Oregon State, Naanee chose to play college football at Boise State University because they were the only major program to offer him a chance to play quarterback, a position he cherished and played in high school. After future star quarterback Jared Zabransky won the battle to start in 2004, Naanee realized that if he wanted to play, it had to be at another position. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20070816-9999-1s16chargers.html SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers - For Chargers rookie, good comes from new position ] ]

Naanee filled in at receiver and although the transition and failure at quarterback was difficult and heart wrenching, he said being able to "feel like you were part of things and contributing, that went out the window". He remarked, "maybe it was something that was meant to be, for me to go through something like that and then to switch." [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20070816-9999-1s16chargers.html SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers - For Chargers rookie, good comes from new position ] ]

NFL career

2007 NFL Draft

Despite Naanee playing most of his football career at quarterback and not receiver, the Chargers selected Naanee with the 172nd overall selection in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL draft based on his great potential. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20070816-9999-1s16chargers.html SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers - For Chargers rookie, good comes from new position ] ]

("* represents NFL Combine")

an Diego Chargers

Naanee was targeted by Norv Turner to become his F-Back project, much like Delanie Walker and Michael Robinson were when Turner was the Offensive Coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. [ [http://www.49erswebzone.com/content/commentary/view.php?id=467 2006 49ers Draft Review and Analysis ] ] The F-Back is much like the H-back in other offenses in the sense it is a hybrid position (WR/TE/FB) purposely versatile to take advantage of mismatches.

Regarding his versatility, head coach Norv Turner said, "We're going to continue to move him. He's going to be a guy who's versatile enough to move around. That's going to help him be put in position to make some plays." [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20070816-9999-1s16chargers.html SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers - For Chargers rookie, good comes from new position ] ]

References