Criner determined to outrun doubts

Hunkie Cooper is more than just Juron Criner's former high school coach.

Cooper helped Criner line up an agent, and he helped arrange for the wide receiver to work out at Michael Johnson Performance near Dallas.

Though Cooper takes the coach-athlete relationship seriously with all of his players, it's a special joy for him to see one of those players on the verge of making it to the game's highest level.

Criner, who starred at Arizona after standing out at Canyon Springs High School, could go as high as the second round in the NFL Draft, which begins with Thursday's first round.

"He could've played Division I basketball, but he chose to go the football route," Cooper said, adding "the NFL will benefit from him, and he will benefit from the NFL."

That doesn't mean questions about Criner don't remain.

National Football Post college scouting director Wes Bunting and Pro Football Weekly draft expert Nolan Nawrocki see Criner (6 feet 3 inches, 224 pounds) as more of a midround pick.

"He isn't the fastest guy," Bunting said. "I don't know if he's quick enough. He's a guy I'd rather have inside than outside trying to get off press coverage. He can make a roster, no doubt."

Said Nawrocki: "Criner to me is more a dime-a-dozen type of receiver. I know he worked out well. I know there are concerns about his makeup and distractions off the field."

Many of those off-field concerns stem from when Criner missed summer workouts before his senior season with the Wildcats, causing rumors to fly something was seriously wrong with him.

Turns out he was caring for his sick mother, who since has recovered.

Criner made himself mostly off limits to the media last season, which probably contributed to the number of questions about his character.

NFL scouts scour over every detail of every prospect, so it's an important issue, but one Criner said was overstated.

"Facts get twisted," Criner said. "When you hear it, you go, 'OK.' That's just the media. You can't worry about it at all."

The speed question, however, won't go away. Criner was timed at 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine.

He trained for six weeks at Johnson's complex in McKinney, Texas. Johnson, an Olympic gold medalist in the 200 and 400 meters, was considered by many the world's fastest man in 1996 after breaking world records in three events.

Criner said he learned at the center to run with a purpose rather than simply running hard in a straight line, something that could translate well in the NFL with its many routes and coverages.

He has shown he can play at a high level, drawing raves for his Senior Bowl practices and, according to Yahoo.com, probably improving his stock.

At Arizona, Criner caught 82 passes for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior and last season hauled in 75 receptions for 956 yards and 11 TDs.

Maybe he will stay in his adopted state and play for the Arizona Cardinals. Criner visited the club, and a player adept at making catches in traffic would seem to be a good fit on a team with speedster Larry Fitzgerald to stretch the field.

Criner has done what he can to prepare for this week, training in Texas, going to the Senior Bowl and the combine and visiting the Cardinals.

"I felt pretty good about it," he said of his efforts. "I put my best foot forward. I have to wait for the phone to ring and have my name called."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.