SOUTH BRUNSWICK: SBHS’s Sanu leads Bengals over Falcons

By Ed Birch, Special Writer
   ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Mohamed Sanu, star football player from South Brunswick High School and Rutgers University, scored the first touchdown of his NFL career last Thursday evening, helping the Cincinnati Bengals in a 24-19 come from behind victory on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.
   With the Bengals down 13-10 early in the third quarter, second string Bengals quarterback Bruce Gradkowski called for a right sideline pass to the rookie wide receiver, a third round draft pick.
   Sanu was wide open and scored on the 12-yard route for his first NFL touchdown.
   That play, coupled with a successful point-after attempt by kicker Mike Nugent gave the Bengals a 17-13 lead which they were able to hold in the 24-19 victory.
   ”It felt very sweet to score in an NFL game,” Sanu said in a telephone interview this week. “This is what I have worked most of my life for, and I have fulfilled my dream at this point in my life.”
   The touchdown against the Falcons was “a biggie” according to Sanu, who started the pre-season as a member of the punt return coverage team in his first professional game against the New York Jets.
   ”Quarterback Bruce (Gradkowski) had a great read off the defense and placed the ball right on the mark for the route,” Sanu said. “Not everybody gets to perform in the NFL.”
   Sanu said he has been working very hard getting used to playing professional ball and adapting to the way his team, the Bengals, do things.
   ”I am here to help Head Coach (Marvin) Lewis in any way that I can this year,” Sanu said. “I have been working very hard getting accustomed to the NFL and (the) Bengals’ way of operating.”
   Sanu said playing with the pros is very different from high school and college football.
   ”There are a lot more eyes watching and assisting me in everything that I do for the Bengals,” Sanu said. “The best part of all of this, is that I am actually getting paid for what I love to do.”
   When asked about what it felt like 24 hours after scoring his first NFL touchdown, Sanu said that he is keeping that game ball by his side.
   ”I was given the ball that I caught for the touchdown, and I have not let go of it since, including at breakfast this morning,” Sanu said.
   Bengals Wide Receivers Coach James Urban, a six-year veteran of the Philadelphia Eagles football organization before joining the Bengals, said he feels Sanu will be a star for that team as time goes on.
   ”Mo is very crafty. He has a great knack for sticking his foot in the ground and using his big body to get in between the defender and the ball. He has great hands too,” Coach Urban said. “Put these things together, and you get 115 catches.”
   Sanu played quarterback, safety, wide receiver, and punter during his three seasons playing for the SBHS Vikings. He was ruled ineligible to play in his senior year due to his reaching age 19 prior to the season.
   He then majored in Labor Studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and demonstrated his prowess as wide receiver for the Scarlet Knights football team.
   New Vikings Head Football Coach Joseph Goerge said he was very excited that Sanu had such a good performance on national television.
   ”His fine catch not only gave the Bengals the lead for the rest of the evening, it put our (South Brunswick) Vikings Football Program in front of the sports fans throughout the country,” Coach Goerge said. “We know that there will be more and better things to come from him.”
   Sanu said he wanted to express his thanks to all South Brunswick football fans for their continued support since his signing with the Bengals.
   ”Believe me, there is much love coming from Bengals #12 to Vikings Land,” Sanu said.
   The Bengals will next host the Green Bay Packers Aug. 23 in its third pre-season game.