With blazing speed, experience and a Hail Mary under his belt, JuanCarlos Santana is poised to have an amazing final season for the Golden Hurricane.

He's hoping for a season that could boost Tulsa into the top 25 and eventually make Santana an NFL receiver.

A 6-foot, 180-pound sixth-year senior from Katy HS in the Houston area, Santana has lofty goals for himself and TU.

"I want first round for myself. I want TU to be at the top of the conference, undefeated. I want it all," Santana said.

Before anyone doubts Santana, consider that he ran a 4.4 forty when he was last timed, which was in high school.

"I'm shooting for a 4.3 this year at the combine, maybe 4.29," Santana said. "I feel like the speed helps me to make it difficult to guard me."

When asked what his strengths are, Santana says, "My route running, attached to my speed."

Santana is on the preseason Earl Campbell Tyler Rose list, an award that goes to the top offensive player in Division I football with Texas ties who exhibits integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity.

Continuing to improve every year, Santana had his best season as a Golden Hurricane in 2021, finishing with 51 catches for 689 yards and 3 TD's (13.5 yards per catch) while playing in all 13 games. In 2020 Santana had 34 catches for 544 yards and 4 TD's (16.0 ypc) in all 9 games.

Santana has 104 catches for 1,466 yards and 8 touchdowns in 35 career games. His first year of real playing time came in 2019 when he had 19 catches for 233 yards (13.2 ypc) and a touchdown.

Because of some injuries to receivers last season, including losing mainstay Keylon Stokes (9th all-time at TU with 2,550 yards) for most of the season, Santana had to move around to different receiver spots last year, such as outside and the slot.