2012 NFL Draft: Kendall Wright’s Injury Provides Opportunity for Juron Criner and Other Receivers to Shine at Senior Bowl

Monday, January 23, 2012

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By Bob Evans
Senior Writer

Very few players have shot up draft boards the way Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright has since the mid-way point of the 2011 season. After opening up the year as a projected fourth-round pick, Wright put up big numbers to find his way into the first round of many mock drafts.

After being selected for the 2012 Senior Bowl, many people thought this would be just one more chance for the 5’11” and 190 pound speedster to cement his first-round draft stock, despite concerns about his size. However, it was announced Sunday afternoon that the 22-year old would not take part in the game due to a foot/ankle injury that bothered him toward the end of the season.

Wright is the second big-name receiver to drop out of the Senior Bowl, as fellow first round projection Michael Floyd of Notre Dame backed out for unspecified reasons. While it is a big blow to the game to lose two prospects of this magnitude, their absence opens up a big opportunity for a number of other receivers in attendance.

At the forefront of those players is Arizona wide receiver Juron Criner (6’4”, 215 pounds), who caught 75 passes for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011. Criner has the athletic ability to develop into a premier receiver in the NFL; however, his speed concerns (projected to run a 4.5-4.6 40-yard dash) are keeping him from cracking the top two rounds of the draft.

Criner underwent appendectomy surgery during the second week of the 2011 season, yet he missed just the Oklahoma State game. People forgot about him due to how bad the Wildcats were, but he definitely has the upside to be a big-play receiver in the NFL; especially after reeling in 82 catches for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns his junior season.

Another receiver who will have a chance to shine is North Carolina wideout Dwight Jones. Jones was really a non-factor his first two years at North Carolina, but came on his last two seasons. He amassed 147 receptions, 2,142 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2010 and 2011.

Jones was a dominant force in 2011, racking up 1,196 yards and 12 touchdowns for a Tar Heel program marred in turmoil. At 6’4” and 224 pounds he has elite size for the NFL; however, like Criner he has speed concerns. He is projected to be a second or third-round pick as of now, but a big performance as a featured receiver at the Senior Bowl could help his stock.

The final receiver who will have a chance to shine with the absence of Wright and Floyd is Ohio State’s DeVier Posey. Posey’s senior season was ruined by two suspensions for violating team rules. The first was because of his connection with “tattoo gate” and the second from accepting extra money for work he performed with an Ohio State booster.

Thanks to these suspensions, Posey played in just three games for the inept Buckeyes in his senior season. While the red flag concerns are there with Posey, NFL scouts cannot forget his production the two seasons prior. He racked up 113 receptions, 1,676 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns as one of Terrelle Pryor’s favorite target.

At 6’2” and 213 pounds, Posey is certainly smaller than both Criner and Jones. However, he is a much more accomplished route runner and has an ability to find holes in the defense. He also has excellent body control and can make big plays. He is much faster than people think, as he held track records in high school and will likely run in the 4.4 range at the combine.

All three of these receivers have been vaulted into a featured role at the Senior Bowl with the absence of Wright and Floyd. Jones and Criner are bigger, more dominant receivers; while Posey is the type of player who could vault his draft stock thanks to his big play ability.

These are three wide receivers to keep an eye on at the Senior Bowl, especially since a big game could be the difference between a fourth and second-round selection for each of them.


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