Oklahoma wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias is one of the top-rated receivers in
the 2009 NFL Draft, and he showed why he deserves that status at the Senior Bowl
as he snared six passes for 90 yards against some of the best defenders in the
country.
At 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, Iglesias is a physical receiver who rarely gets
manhandled coming off the line. And he's a confident player who eagerly welcomes
the opportunity to make catches across the middle, providing him with
opportunities to tack on more yards after the catch.
The Sooners receiver finished his senior campaign with a team-leading 74
catches for 1,150 yards, 15.5 yards-per-catch, and 10 touchdowns. He also
averaged 23.8 yards per kickoff return on 20 attempts.
Although he was preparing for this week's NFL Scouting Combine at Competitive
Edge Sports in Atlanta, Iglesias took a few minutes to talk with me about his
college career and his offseason training.
Ed Thompson: Was there a specific point when you finally felt like you were clicking and had
turned the corner at Oklahoma?
Juaquin Iglesias: I would say the end of my sophomore year. When I got there, my freshman
and sophomore year, I did well—and I felt like I did better in my sophomore year
than the year before. But I wasn't helping us win that much. I think by the end
of my junior year, a lot of us buckled down and talked about winning
championships, and I think our game showed it.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images |
Thompson: What do you think you did differently your junior year that you weren't
doing before?
Iglesias: I think it was the hard work I put into it, the time and effort, the way
I prepared. I woke up in the morning and everything about me changed. I really
wanted to help the team win and be about the team.
Thompson: One of your impressive attributes is your ability to get yards after the
catch. Do you see yourself as someone who can make an immediate impact in the
slot?
Iglesias: Yeah, I think I can be one of those guys who can get on the field and help
out wherever I am needed. Whether that's outside or inside, I'm just going to try
to make that immediate impact wherever I am.
Thompson: You finished third all-time at Oklahoma in all-purpose yards. That should
play well with NFL teams who are looking to boost their special teams.
Iglesias: I think the return game and special teams helps get you on the field. My ability to return the ball and make yards after the catch is one thing
that can help me. Teams are looking at everything that can help you and hurt
you at the next level, and that's one of the things I take pride in and I think
are some of the best parts of my game. I run after the catch, I've got good vision, and I
know where to run and where not to run.
Scout.com subscribers can click here to read the rest of this interview with Juaquin Iglesias in which he talks about his Combine preparations, some NFL teams that talked to him at the Senior Bowl, and more.
Click here to learn more about Juaquin Iglesias.
A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, Ed Thompson's player interviews and NFL features
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