Juron Criner, Senior, Wide Receiver, Arizona
Overview:
Juron Criner did not come out of high school as a superstar recruit. He has had to work his way up, but he did it pretty quickly. Even as a freshman when Criner only caught seven passes, he showed his big play ability. As a sophomore in 2009, the Las Vegas, Nevada native turned into a major receiving threat for Arizona. Criner ranked second on the team with 45 receptions and led the Wildcats with 581 yards and nine touchdowns.
As a junior, Criner went from a star in Arizona to the best receiver in the Pac-10. He was a consensus All-Pac-10 honoree and ended the season with 82 receptions for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Final Projection:
Criner could have headed to the NFL after his junior season, but opted to stick around for one more year. Gaining some more experience and working on the nuisances of his game should help his draft stock. With another explosive season, Criner could be one of the best receivers in the class of 2012. At 6-4 and 210 pounds and enough speed and strength to get past opposing corners, Criner has all the tools necessary to have a fine NFL career.
1/5/12 Update:
Criner, like Arizona, fell off the national radar after a horrid 2011 campaign. However, the receiver still had a good year, catching 75 passes for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns. Those numbers may not have been as good as they were in 2010, but it does not change the fact that Criner is a solid receiver who will show off his skills to NFL scouts between now and draft day and likely end up in the second round.
See all NFL Draft Profiles and Rankings
