NEW YORK -- Mohamed Sanu is a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. For real this time.
Sanu was the victim of an ugly prank Thursday night when a Rutgers student claiming to be a Bengals official told the wide receiver he was the team's first-round pick in the NFL draft. Sanu and his family celebrated, then watched in shock as the Bengals drafted Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler with the 27th overall pick.
Sanu's ordeal became national news, then ended with some ironic closure when the real Bengals came calling after 10 p.m. ET on Friday to take him in the third round with the 83rd overall pick.
Sanu's agent, Mike McCartney, tweeted about the situation: "I have tremendous respect for (Bengals coach) Marvin Lewis, who called this morning after hearing about the idiotic prank call to lend his support."
Sanu spoke with The Cincinnati Enquirer after his selection, saying his first reaction was, "Thank God."
How did he know he wasn't being pranked again? The call came from Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban, whose number already was in Sanu's phone.
"I said, 'Hey Mo, it's James Urban' " Urban told The Associated Press. " 'You want to be a Bengal -- this time, for real?' "
Sanu's answer was yes. Thank God, indeed.