This catch, resulting in a touchdown, was one of Juron Criner's best from his senior year. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE
Former Arizona Wildcats receiver Juron Criner has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl — one more chance to catch passes from Nick Foles.
Those two will be together on the South squad for the Jan. 28 game, marking the first time since 2003 that two UA players will be at the Senior Bowl. The Arizona players in the 2003 game were linebacker Lance Briggs and receiver Bobby Wade.
“Juron is a big target and a guy who can really stretch the field,” Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said in a statement. “We’re excited about watching him team up with Nick one final time here next week at the Senior Bowl.”
The draft projections for Criner have been all over the map, from a late first-rounder to a guy who might not get drafted. Somewhere in between is, of course, reasonable.
As to exactly where, Criner’s time in the 40-yard dash will be critical, as will be his answers related to the personal and family issues that caused him to be away from the team for about a month last summer.
Criner, the Wildcats’ career leader in touchdown receptions with 32, caught 75 passes for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, when he was slowed early following an appendectomy. He ended his career with 209 catches for 2,859 yards.
Foles and Criner are two of 10 Pac-12 players invited to the Senior Bowl, college football’s premier all-star game.
The others are ASU offensive lineman Garth Gerhart, ASU receiver Gerell Robinson, Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks, Cal offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz, Utah offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom, Washington offensive lineman Senio Kelemete, Washington running back Chris Polk and Washington defensive lineman Alameda Ta’amu.