Tulsa World: Iglesias ready for underdog role again

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Iglesias ready for underdog role again
Two-star recruit out of high school says he's used to it.

Juaquin Iglesias ended his college career second in OU history in career catches (202) and receiving yards (2,861). MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World file

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 4/25/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 4/25/2009 3:48 AM

NORMAN — One scouting service ranks Juaquin Iglesias as the 18th-best wide receiver in this weekend's NFL draft.

For the record, that's behind three prospects from North Carolina, one from South Carolina, one who had 130 fewer collegiate catches and one who played only quarterback in college.

That's fine with Iglesias. In fact, being an underdog has become something of a creature comfort. Almost an afterthought in the Sooners' 2005 recruiting class out of Killeen, Texas, the two-star recruit was the next-to-last Sooner verbal commitment prior to signing day.

Four years later, Iglesias ended his OU career ranked second in school history in career catches (202), career receiving yards (2,861) and third in career receiving touchdowns (19). As a senior, he set the school record for catches in a single game (12 against Kansas) and ended his final season with 74 catches (second-best ever at OU) for 1,150 yards (also second) and 10 TDs (fourth).

"It's the same mentality going in (to the draft)," Iglesias said. "When I first stepped out here to try to compete (at OU), I felt like I was at the bottom. No matter what they tell me now, I feel like I'm still going to be at the bottom and I'm going to try to work my way back to the top. I feel like I got a lot accomplished here, but I still could have been better. Same thing in the NFL."

Iglesias may not be the ideal prototype professional wide receiver. His frame (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) isn't imposing. His speed (4.54 seconds) and agility (34.5 inches in the vertical jump, 9-feet, 8-inches in the broad jump) rank in the lower half of wideouts who worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine.

But Iglesias seems to succeed with other, less measurable assets.

"I think the biggest thing Juaquin has is production. He's got four years of being a productive player," said OU receivers coach Jay Norvell, who coached NFL wideouts for six seasons in Indianapolis and Oakland.

"He's really consistent, and he's really strong with the ball and he's really smart. Receivers are kind of hard to project in the NFL. I mean, there's guys that are fast, there's guys that are long and pretty and all that, but when it comes down to it, guys who are smart and guys who can catch and guys who are productive are the guys that end up playing."

Iglesias moved into the starting lineup early in his freshman season. Coach Bob Stoops said then that Iglesias had a "suddenness" about him that reminded him of Mark Clayton — who, incidentally, ranks first in OU history in career catches, yards and TDs and has had a nice pro career with the Baltimore Ravens.

"Iglesias did have the one drop in the national championship game," said draft analyst Mel Kiper, "but overall, great hands, understands the position, came through in the clutch with a lot of big catches at Oklahoma. He's the kind of kid you look at and you like the way he plays. That's the bottom line with Iglesias. You like the way he plays."

While scouts may prefer the downfield pass-catching potential of 17 others over Iglesias, they know with him they're getting a complete football player. Kiper lauded his toughness and elusiveness catching passes over the middle. Norvell, who worked with Iglesias for two seasons, appreciated his blocking.

Iglesias stood out as both a playmaker and as a laborer at the Senior Bowl in January. Then, most agreed, he helped himself with solid numbers at the February combine. Then came an impressive pass-catching display at his pro day in March.

"At the Senior Bowl, I just showed how I'm going to make plays," he said. "No matter how fast you think that guy is or whatever, I'm going to go out there and try to make plays. I've never really paid attention to speed. It's totally different, different coverages in the game. It's just how you play football."

After Iglesias' pro day workout, Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress — the league's only head coach in attendance that day — offered up Iglesias as one of a handful of players he was evaluating.

"Iglesias," Childress said, "is obviously a good player."

There's another aspect of Iglesias' game that could mean a long NFL shelf life: special teams. Iglesias racked up 4,646 career all-purpose yards, third all-time at OU behind Joe Washington and Quentin Griffin. His 1,664 career kickoff return yards is an OU record. So is his career average of 26.4 yards per return.

"If you're not in the first round, that's how most receivers make their name," Iglesias said. "If I don't go in the first round, if I go in the fifth round, I'm going to try to get on the field the best way and the fastest way I can. If special teams is it, I'm willing to play."

Juaquin tall

Former Oklahoma receiver Juaquin Iglesias ranks second in oU history in career receptions and receiving yards and fourth in career TD catches. He also ranks first in kickoff return yards and kickoff return average (26.4) and is third in career all-purpose yards.

Year	Receiving	Kick Ret	Punt Ret	Rushing	All-Purpose
2005	19-290-2	0-0	0-0	1-9-0	20-299-2
2006	41-514-2	14-363-1	0-0	2-6-0	57-883-3
2007	68-907-5	29-826-0	3-13-0	8-87-1	108-1,833-6
2008	74-1,150-10	20-475-0	2-(-1)-0	1-7-0	97-1,631-10
Totals	202-2,861-19	63-1,664-1	5-14-0	12-109-1	282-4,646-21

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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