Rookie receiver hoping to stand out in crowd

While the Chicago Bears are nearing the end of their eighth year of training camp at Olivet Nazarene University, one wide receiver in his first professional season is making a push for playing time.

Juaquin Iglesias, a third-round draft pick from the University of Oklahoma, is looking to make enough plays to force the Bears to put him on the field.

Iglesias

He made a splash in his first professional game on Saturday against Buffalo, catching a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brett Basanez in the fourth quarter.

“A lot of dreams came true,” Iglesias said, “especially getting my first catch and my first touchdown. I know it’s just a preseason game, but still, as a little kid, you just dream of putting that uniform on and being out there and competing. That’s what I’ve been looking forward to all my life.”

The touchdown catch is a nice way to begin his career, but he knows there’s still work to do before he can be an impact receiver for quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense, like he was in Oklahoma. He led the Sooners in receptions in 2007 and 2008 with 68 and 74, respectively.

“The main thing I need to focus on is learning the offense, getting familiar with the offense as best as I can,” Iglesias said. “The better I understand the offense, the more plays I could probably make in there.”

He will have to make an adjustment to the speed of the professional game, but head coach Lovie Smith believes it will be a minor one coming from a Division I program like Oklahoma.

“I think there’s a difference (coming to the NFL),” Smith said. “But some of the major programs like Oklahoma, Florida, the perennial top teams, they have speed guys, too. Probably one through 53, there’s a difference, but he’s played against speed guys.”

Iglesias echoed the same sentiments.

“I feel like they were flying around at Oklahoma, too,” Iglesias said. “Here you have to understand a lot more and think about a lot more.”

It appears Devin Hester will go into the season as the Bears’ No. 1 receiver while Earl Bennett will likely be the second wideout, but Smith likes what he sees in Iglesias.

“He’s a rookie trying to earn his stripes right now,” Smith said. “It’s one preseason game and we have a long ways to go, but we like what he’s done so far.”