Cardinals to take a look at AZ college players
Apr 2, 2012, 3:29 PM | Updated: 4:41 pm
The Arizona Cardinals are considering drafting local
collegiate talent in the upcoming NFL Draft.
According
to ProFootballTalk, several players have scheduled
either private workouts and/or visits to the Cardinals
facility leading up to the draft. Two of them are local
products: ASU cornerback Omar Bolden and Arizona wide
receiver Juron Criner.
Bolden, who missed the entire 2011 season due to a knee
injury, is currently projected as a third round selection.
The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder possesses the physical presence
that defensive coordinator Ray Horton covets. Bolden also
offers value as a kick returner, after enjoying success at
ASU in that capacity. Bolden averaged 30.8 yards on 17
kick returns during his Sun Devil career. The Cardinals
may have interest, if Bolden falls a little further down
the draft board.
Criner, a wide receiver who hails from the University of
Arizona, has emerged as a threat in the red zone. The
6’3″, 224-pound senior caught 75 passes for 956 yards
during his senior season in Tucson and set a new standard
for career touchdown catches by a Wildcat with 32. Criner
doesn’t have the best wheels, but his size and blocking
skills have him projecting to be taken in the third or
fourth rounds.
While the Cardinals have a certain affinity for players
from Arizona universities, they have also scheduled
workouts with Old Dominion defensive tackle Ronnie
Cameron, Virginia defensive end Matt Conrath, Bethune-
Cookman linebacker Ryan Davis, Virginia Tech cornerback
Jayron Hosley and Illinois safety Tavon Wilson.
