NFL Combine 2012: Underrated Wide Receivers to Keep an Eye On

There's no real competition at the NFL scouting combine. In essence, it's a place where athletic young men do athletic things for the cameras and a few renowned scouts.

The best athletes always draw a crowd, especially when it comes to the wide receivers. They can run, they can jump and they can catch, and watching them do these things is a surprisingly good form of entertainment.

We know all about the big guys. All eyes are going to be on Justin Blackmon, Alshon Jeffery, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright and so on and so on. They're all invited, and odds are they won't disappoint.

But it's not all about them. There are five under-the-radar receivers who are going to be worth watching at the combine.

Joe Adams, Arkansas

Joe Adams is well-known in SEC territory, but most other fans are probably more aware of his teammate, Jarius Wright. His blinding speed helped him haul in 66 catches for more than 1,100 yards in 2011.

Adams wasn't quite as productive this past season, but there's nothing Wright can do that Adams can't. Adams is just as fast as Wright, maybe even faster.

Adams is also coming into the combine fresh off a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl. He caught eight passes for 133 yards, leading all Senior Bowl receivers in receptions and yards.

Presently, Adams isn't viewed as much more than a speedy specialist, who are always in good supply in the NFL draft. But if he performs well at the combine, his draft stock could start to rise.

Juron Criner, Arizona

Juron Criner is pretty big for a wide receiver at 6'2" and 220 pounds, but he's not a huge wide receiver and he's not particularly fast either. He's not going to wow anybody with his athleticism.

What makes Criner effective is his ability to catch every ball that's thrown his way. He anticipates and adjusts as well as any receiver in the draft class, and he has well-above-average agility for a guy his size.

Criner's not going to get much of a chance to show off his pass-catching skills, but I'd keep an eye on him when it comes to agility drills. You're going to be impressed with how well he moves.

If all goes well for Criner, he could move into third- or maybe even second-round territory.

Dwight Jones, North Carolina

Dwight Jones will be looking for redemption at the combine, as he really didn't perform well at the Senior Bowl. He was a little overwhelmed.

Nevertheless, Jones' measurables make him an intriguing prospect. He's 6'4" and roughly 225 pounds, and he has very long arms. He's going to draw a few extra looks before he even takes part in any drills.

Jones didn't show it off at the Senior Bowl, but he has plenty of athleticism. Jones will run the 40-yard dash in the 4.5 range, which is pretty good for a guy his size. He should also show off impressive strength at the bench press.

Jones is not going to move into first-round territory at the combine, but he might move up to early-third or late-second territory.

Marvin Jones, Cal

I won't lie, this is a sentimental pick. I'm a sucker for fellow Cal alums.

However, Jones is no slouch. He didn't put up big numbers at Cal, but neither would you if you had the likes of Kevin Riley and Zach Maynard throwing to you.

Jones is another guy who opened eyes at the Senior Bowl. He didn't go all that great in the game itself, but he drew rave reviews for his work in the practices leading up to the game. He was even profiled in The New York Times.

Jones is pretty tall at 6'3", but he's not particularly heavy. He gets by with solid route-running and sneaky-good athleticism.

You're going to catch a glimpse of that athleticism at the combine. Jones won't wow anybody in any one drill, but he'll perform well in all of them. He's going to be a good pick-up for a team in the middle rounds.

Brian Quick, Appalachian State

Brian Quick comes from a background as a basketball player, but alas, one's future in basketball is pretty limited if one is only 6'4."

However, Quick is the perfect size for a wide receiver. He's certainly tall enough, and he checks in at roughly 220 pounds. Wes Bunting of the National Football Post wrote a report about Quick back in November, saying he was impressed with Quick's coordination and pass-catching abilities. 

Quick won't impress with his time in the 40-yard dash, but he's one of these guys who builds momentum as he goes along. One second he'll be in front of the defense, and the next second he'll be behind it.

At the combine, Quick will attempt to show he's faster than his reputation suggests, and he'll also try to show off his leaping ability. If all goes well, scouts will conclude that he'll be worth drafting because of his capacity to catch passes over defenders.

If that's the case, Quick could move into second-round territory.