Mike Donnelly
NFLPLAYERS.COM

Juaquin Iglesias wasn’t surprised when the Chicago Bears selected him in the third round (99th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. If anything, he expected it.

“I actually thought the Bears were the No. 1 team that was going to pick me,” said the highly-touted wide receiver out of Oklahoma. “So, I was prepared for it and I had a good feeling from their receivers coach (Darryl Drake) before the draft. I was excited when they called my name and it really assured me of how badly I wanted to go there.”

Iglesias, who became the fifth Sooners player drafted by the Bears in the last six years, has an opportunity that most rookie receivers don’t get to experience. Not only will he have a Pro Bowler in Jay Cutler throwing him the ball, but the Bears also have two spots in its three-receiver formation up for grabs.

Devin Hester, a speedy receiver coming off a career-high 51-catch season in 2008, has the No. 1 job. After Hester, the door is wide open for a group of wideouts lacking significant NFL experience.

Besides Hester, Rashied Davis is the only receiver on the Bears’ roster who recorded at least one catch in the NFL last year. Iglesias, meanwhile, appears poised to contribute right away after starting the past three seasons in a pro-style offense.

A polished route-runner, Iglesias has excellent quickness and an ability to work the middle of the field. Whether he lines up in the slot or split out wide, Iglesias is expected to get every opportunity during training camp and the preseason to earn a starting job.

“They said I have to work for it, but that I have a chance to play on the field just like everybody else,” Iglesias said of the possibility of cracking the starting lineup. “So, I’m excited to get to work. I plan on playing.”

Last season, Iglesias led all Sooners receivers in receptions and yards for the second consecutive year, hauling in 74 passes for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 202 career receptions and 2,821 yards rank second all-time in the school’s annals. He also holds the Oklahoma record for most kickoff return yards in a career with 1,664.

When Iglesias looks back on his collegiate career, he is fully aware of his impressive individual achievements, but he chooses to focus on team accomplishments.

“The thing that sticks out the most from my career is the conference championships we won,” Iglesias said. “We won three in a row. We won a lot of games and we lost some big ones, but we still won a lot of conference championships and got better every year. It was just a lot of fun there, especially last year with our offense being one of the best ever in NCAA history. It was a good ride.”

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Iglesias believes that his experience playing for a major college football program will allow him to quickly get used to the spotlight at the next level.

“The best thing about going to a big program like Oklahoma is it helps you be a professional,” Iglesias said. “It helps you for when you get to this stage because you’re kind of used to the limelight.”

Some NFL analysts already have Iglesias pegged to become this year’s Eddie Royal. Last season, the Denver Broncos wideout became one of Cutler’s favorite targets, setting franchise rookie receiving records for catches (91), yards (980) and touchdowns (five).

If Iglesias wants to enjoy the same success in his first year, he knows that it starts with developing a positive relationship with Cutler.

“Cutler’s a great guy and has great talent on the field,” Iglesias said. “He has a very good arm and you can just see that every time you look at the film or see him playing in a game. I’m excited about it and I’m sure he’s excited about it as well. I’m really excited for us to work together.”