Vegas WR blowing up

Not much was known about wide receiver Juron Criner (6-4, 200, 4.6) from North Las Vegas (Nev.) Canyon Springs when Rivals.com first saw him at the NIKE Camp held in Los Angeles last April. He had a very impressive performance that day and based on his season thus far, Criner has proven that what Rivals.com saw that day wasn't a fluke.

"A year ago Juron was a basketball player playing football," Canyon Springs coach Matt Jenkins said. "Now he's a football player who moonlights as a basketball player.

"Juron's offers are the same as they were before," Jenkins said. "But that is soon to change.

Criner has four offers at the moment from Nevada, UNLV, Utah and Wyoming.

"Nebraska was out here three weeks ago specifically to see Juron," Jenkins said. "Coach Ted Gilmore told me his top end speed is much better than a year ago.

"Last year on film he would get tracked down by a guy. Now he is running away from the opposition.

"Juron doesn't have any visits yet, but Arizona and Nevada are going to be setting up visits shortly. Kansas State could be offering soon while Oregon, Oregon State and Washington are also in the mix.

"Juron is having a monster season," Jenkins said. "He leads the state in receiving yards and scoring.

In six games, Criner has 31 receptions for 768 yards and 15 touchdowns. He averages 24.8 yards per catch. He also has scored eight extra points for a total of 106 points on the season. He averages scoring 16.3 points a game as a wide receiver. He also has 44 rushing yards and averages 14.8 yards per rush.

"Juron is super competitive," Jenkins said. "He doesn't get outworked or out jumped for the ball. If it is in the air he owns it.

Criner was selected to the Rivals.com Nevada Top 15 team for the class of 2008 landing as the Silver State's No. 6 prospect at any position.