Don’t Forget About Me: Ohio State WR Dane Sanzenbacher Should Find a Home Quickly

Stuck in limbo throughout this whole lockout process are the undrafted rookies who can’t get access to team playbooks, and really, these are the only guys who have to both put their degrees to use right away but also stay in shape while they hope to make an NFL roster sooner rather than later.

One of those guys is Academic All Big 10 performer three years running (08-10), Ohio State wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher. I knew Sanzenbacher was a good player being that I am a Big Ten fan, but I never really realized how many big plays this guy made until they put a magnifying glass on him (of sorts) during the Terrelle Pryor ESPN special with Jon Gruden.

Simply put, the fact that this kid went undrafted was a mistake, but that will just be even more motivation for him as he embarks on the next part of his football career. As a senior, Sanzenbacher had 55 receptions for 948 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is a valuable player in so many ways, and he really saved the game against Arkansas to help Ohio State win the Sugar Bowl when he recovered a fumble in the end zone.

At about 6’0″ 185 pounds, Sanzenbacher is not a physically imposing receiver. He doesn’t have elite level speed and he’s not strong enough to get consistent separation from defensive backs. Still, he was one of the most productive receivers in a tough conference, and he’s got what you like to call the “It” factor.

Sanzenbacher is a hard worker who always is there to clean up a play. He is the type of guy that you will see making that tackle on special teams, hitting the ball out of the end zone to put a punt on the one yard line, or recovering a fumble and picking up the mistakes of his other teammates. Not only that, but he can catch a football.

He has great hands and is a fantastic route runner, and his intelligence makes him an even better football player. He is not afraid to make the tough catch, and he always finds a way to get open when his quarterback needs it most. Not only that, but Sanzenbacher is a world-class competitor. He will throw his body out there for a tough catch, and he takes pride in making opportunities for his other teammates.

As Jon Gruden described him, Sanzenbacher is “reliable” in every sense of the word, and he epitomizes what it means to be an NFL football player. He has the heart to make an impact, and whatever team winds up signing him is getting some kind of gem.