An assault charge against Leonte Carroo was dropped this week, allowing the suspended Rutgers wide receiver to return to the team, but that doesn't mean he won't have to answer to NFL evaluators about the incident and the allegations that stemmed from it.
The Scarlet Knights' senior wide receiver publicly invited the NFL scouting community to dig as deep into his past as they'd like in drawing conclusions about his character.
"I'm just hoping that the NFL scouts and coaches know what type of character I have," Carroo said on Thursday, per the Asbury Park Press. "They can speak to my elementary school teacher, middle school teacher. I've been a really good kid growing up. They can talk to my family and friends. Those people know what type of character I have. Since I've been out, Facebook, any type of social media, people have been making comments and really supporting me. They know what type of guy I am, and hopefully the NFL scouts will know, too."
Carroo was accused of slamming a woman onto a concrete surface outside Rutgers' High Point Solutions Stadium after the Scarlet Knights' September home loss to Washington State. He was charged with assault, but the alleged victim, who has said the two were previously romantically involved, ultimately chose not to pursue the case, resulting in the charge being dismissed and Carroo being reinstated.
Off the field, character issues can cloud a prospect's status for the draft. NFL Media's Lance Zierlein believes former Auburn receiver D'haquille "Duke" Williams, dismissed from his team earlier this week, has done significant damage to his draft stock. It remains to be seen whether Carroo's legal issue will be a sticking point for NFL clubs next spring, when evaluations of prospects are at their most intense.
On the field, the senior now has eight regular-season games left to show scouts his talent. But after pulling in 1,086 receiving yards as a junior last year, he already has plenty of impressive tape for NFL clubs to review.
And if they want to review his history as a citizen, he's welcoming it.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
