Here are my top 100 prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft, I have included juniors who could declare early.
1. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford – JR
2. DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina
3. WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina – JR
4. OT Matt Kalil, USC – JR
5. QB Matt Barkley, USC – JR
6. WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State – JR
7. OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford – JR
8. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama – JR
9. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama – JR
10. DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State – JR
11. QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma – JR
12. DE Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina – JR
13. CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina – JR
14. OT Riley Reiff, Iowa – JR
15. LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State – JR
16. CB Cliff Harris, Oregon – JR
17. DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida State – JR
18. CB Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech – JR
19. S Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami (FL) – JR
20. LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College – JR
21. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame – JR
22. DT Marcus Forston, Miami (FL) – JR
23. DT Jared Crick, Nebraska
24. CB Chase Minnifield, Virginia
25. CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
26. LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
27. WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
28. DE Andre Branch, Clemson
29. WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
30. LB Zach Brown, North Carolina
31. LB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama – JR
32. LB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
33. RB LaMichael James, Oregon – JR
34. RB Knile Davis, Arkansas - JR
35. S Mark Barron, Alabama
36. QB Nick Foles, Arizona
37. DE Devin Taylor, South Carolina – JR
38. OT Nate Potter, Boise State
39. OT Matt Reynolds, BYU
40. WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
41. OT Mike Adams, Ohio State
42. OL Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
43. TE Michael Egnew, Missouri
44. CB Janoris Jenkins, TBD (Ex-Florida)
45. QB Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
46. OL Mike Brewster, Ohio State
47. WR Juron Criner, Arizona
48. DE Vinny Curry, Marshall
49. LB Nigel Bradham, Florida State
50. S Kenny Tate, Maryland
51. DT Kheeston Randall, Texas
52. DE Vince Browne, Northwestern
53. CB Shaun Prater, Iowa
54. DT Billy Winn, Boise State
55. CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia
56. DT Tydreke Powell, North Carolina
57. WR Greg Childs, Arkansas
58. DE Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
59. CB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt
60. RB Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M
61. LB Tank Carder, TCU
62. LB Keenan Robinson, Texas
63. QB G.J. Kinne, Tulsa
64. LB Jerry Franklin, Arkansas
65. S Delano Howell, Stanford
66. DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
67. RB Dan Herron, Ohio State
68. OT Andrew Datko, Florida State
69. LB Sean Spence, Miami (FL)
70. DT Jaye Howard, Florida
71. DE Jacquies Smith, Missouri
72. WR Chris Owusu, Stanford
73. QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
74. DE Jake Bequette, Arkansas
75. QB Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
76. TE George Bryan, North Carolina State
77. TE David Paulson, Oregon
78. WR DeVier Posey, Ohio State
79. OT Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
80. OL Ryan Miller, Colorado
81. LB Adrian Robinson, Temple
82. OL Cordy Glenn, Georgia
83. RB Montel Harris, Boston College
84. RB Tauren Poole, Tennessee
85. LB Lavonte David, Nebraska
86. DE Frank Alexander, Oklahoma
87. WR Dwight Jones, North Carolina
88. LB Danny Trevathan, Kentucky
89. TE Coby Fleener, Stanford
90. TE Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafeyette
91. RB Doug Martin, Boise State
92. S Lance Mitchell, Oregon State
93. RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
94. CB Coryell Judie, Texas A&M
95. LB Chris Galippo, USC
96. DT Mike Martin, Michigan
97. WR Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech
98. CB Donnie Fletcher, Boston College
99. DT Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati
100. DE Cam Johnson, Virginia
1. Michael Egnew, Missouri – Egnew has good hands and that is shown by his 90 catches last season. He has good size at close to 6-6 240 pounds, and is a decent but not great blocker. He is a good overall athlete and can stretch the defense but needs to show better run after the catch so that he is a big threat when he gets his hands on the ball.
2. George Bryan, North Carolina State – Bryan has shown stead improvement over his college career and has shown that he can be a threat in the passing game as well as being a good overall blocker. He is a good but not great overall athlete.
3. David Paulson, Oregon – Paulson has great ability to stretch the field and does a good job going down the middle of the defense causing miss-matches. Look for him this season to be involved in the passing game. He could improve some his blocking techniques but does a decent job there.
4. Coby Fleener, Stanford – Fleener is a hard nose football player and is good all around tight end. He had his coming out party in the Orange Bowl in where he caught 6 passes for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns. Watch out for him to have a big season this year.
5. Ladarius Green, UL-Lafayette – Green is an impressive athlete with great size at 6-6 230 pounds. He is a big time threat in the passing game and cause miss-matches all over the field. He is a decent but not a dominate blocker at the point of attack.
6. Anthony Miller, California – Miller is much more a blocker then a pass catcher but has the ability to improve in that area. He needs to improve on his route running but has the size and the athleticism to play at the next level.
7. Rhett Ellison, USC – Ellison is a good overall tight end who can be a force in the run game as a blocker and then be a sure handed receiver when called on. He is what he is the question is how much more upside does he have as a tight end.
8. Brian Linthicum, Michigan State – Linthicum only had 18 catches last season but expect more this year as he has very good hands and shows the ability to get down field. He had an off the field issue this winter at a bar that caused him to miss some of spring football but should be the starter at tight end when Michigan State opens it season.
9. Kavario Middleton, Montana – Middleton was dismissed from the University of Washington and end up at Montana he is a big, physical tight end at around 6-5 255 pounds who has soft hands and good feet. The rumor on why he was dismissed from Washington was a failed drug test so that is something the NFL teams will look into further.
10. Evan Rodriguez, Temple – Rodriguez should be a bigger factor in the passing game this season and should move up people draft boards. He is a good blocker at the point of attack and help the running game out in this way.
11. Kevin Koger, Michigan
12. Deangelo Peterson, LSU
13. Josh Chichester, Louisville
14. Blake Ayles, Miami (FL)
15. Ryan Deehan, Colorado
16. David Duran, Coastal Carolina
17. Danny Noble, Toledo
18. James Hanna, Oklahoma
19. Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt
20. Eric Lair, Minnesota
1. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma - Many thought that Broyles would have came out early this season and been a mid to late first round pick, but decided to come back for his senior season. Broyles is a good route runner and very good after the catch. He has good but not great speed but can be used in the return game as well.
2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame – Floyd right now is suspended from Notre Dame because of a DUI, but most think he will be allowed back to the team. Floyd is a big, physical wide receiver with good hands. The question will be his long speed, but has the ability to be a number one wide receiver in the NFL.
3. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M – Fuller father played in the NFL, and he has a NFL body and just look the part as a number one receiver in the NFL. He is a very good athlete who can go up and get the football in traffic and has good hands. He needs to show the ability to run better routes and that will come with time.
4. Juron Criner, Arizona – Criner is just a big time play maker who has good size and jumping ability who will fight for the ball when it is in the air. Doesn’t have great long speed but is effective in getting separation.
5. Greg Childs, Arkansas – Childs suffered a torn patella tendon last season and is working his way back and hopeful can come back to full strength to start the season. I like his ball skills, but needs to show some better skills running after the catch, because he has size and ability to be a number one in the NFL.
6. Chris Owusu, Stanford – Owusu needs to stay healthy because if he can, he will be a big time receiver and kick returner this year and really help his draft stock. If you put on the Arizona tape from last season you can see he has all the skills to be a big time receiver at the next level.
7. DeVier Posey, Ohio State – Posey will be suspended for the first five games of the season for violating NCAA rules. He is a good athlete and sometime uses his athleticism to get open more then running sharp clean routes. Does a nice job running after the catch and has the ability to be a big time playmaker.
8. Dwight Jones, North Carolina – Jones really come out of no where last season because North Carolina lost Greg Little to a NCAA suspension and he made the most of his opportunity. He is a good athlete but is very raw running routes and needs to improve on that, but has the ability to take over a game like he did last year against Florida State where he caught 8 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in a win.
9. Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech - Boykins is a big, physical wide receiver who does a good job catching the ball with his hands. He is a good receiver after the catch because of his strength. He needs to show more consistence in running routes.
10. Marvin McNutt, Iowa – McNutt really thought about coming out early for this years draft but made the right decision going back to school and working on his route running skills. He is a good overall athlete and good in the red zone but can become even a better wide receiver when he polishes up some of his skills.
11. Jermaine Kearse, Washington
12. Marquis Maze, Alabama
13. Nick Toon, Wisconsin
14. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
15. Lance Lewis, East Carolina
16. Jordan White, Western Michigan
17. Dyrell Roberts, Virginia Tech
18. Chris Rainey, Florida
19. Bert Reed, Florida State
20. Rishard Matthews, Nevada
21. Brad Starks, West Virginia
22. Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
23. Marvin Jones, Cal
24. Damarlo Belcher, Indiana
25. Chris Summers, Liberty
26. Norman White, Villanova
27. James Rodgers, Oregon State
28. BJ Cunningham, Michigan State
29. Travis Benjamin, Miami (FL)
30. Kendall Wright, Baylor
1. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M – Gray really come on at the end of the season and rushed for 7 straight 100 yard games. He has the ability to run inside and outside and can catch the football out of the backfield. He had an outstanding game last year against Texas where he rushed for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns in a win. Can really help himself with another big season this year.
2. Dan Herron, Ohio State – Herron is a good between the tackle type runner who runs down hill. He doesn’t have a ton of make you miss in his game but is an effective runner who will move the changes. He will be suspended for the first five games of the season for violating NCAA rules, so that could be an issue.
3. Montel Harris, Boston College – Harris has been a very good running back for Boston College since we was a freshman. He injured his knee late last season that forced him to miss the final two games which included the bowl game. He is a good open field running who has the ability to make defenders miss. He needs to show a better ability of running inside but is a very talented back.
4. Tauren Poole, Tennessee – Poole had a break-out season last year rushing for 1,034 yards and 11 touchdowns and his first two seasons at Tennessee he rushed for a total of 171 yards. He also showed that he could catch the football out of the backfield catching 22 passes. Poole has good size at 5-11 215 pounds and is effective running inside or outside.
5. Doug Martin, Boise State - Martin might be a little short but he is a very powerful running back who has good speed to go with his power. With Boise State two big time wide receivers leaving for the NFL, this season even more will be asked of Martin in Boise State offense and he will show that he can carry the load.
6. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati – Pead has break away speed and rushed for over 1,000 yards last season despite missing 2 games. He needs to use his blocker more and set them up better and if he does that he will become a more effective running back. He has all the natural ability and could have a break out season this year.
7. Brandon Bolden, Mississippi – Bolden averaged 6 yards a carry and scored 14 touchdowns and also caught 32 passes for 344 yards and another 3 touchdowns. Bolden needs to show that he can be more of a consistent runner as he would have some great games running the football and then would disappear in others.
8. Jeff Demps, Florida - Demps most likely is the fast player in college football right now and you just have to find different ways to get his hands on the football because he can make plays. Only carried the ball 92 times last year but lead Florida in rushing with 551 yards. Will not be a full time running back in the NFL but will be a good weapon to have for your offense.
9. Jason Ford, Illinois – Ford’s ranking is much more of a projection then based on past performance since Mikel Leshoure who was a 2nd round pick by the Detroit Lions in this years draft was the workhouse and got most of the carries for Illinois. But in Ford’s limited touches last years he was able to make the most of them and he is big physical running back that should have a break out season this year.
10. Marc Tyler, USC – Tyler is a hard working, hard nose, physical down hill running back but lacks great break away speed. With the NFL going to more two back running backs he will fit great with a team that already has a quicker running back that is looking for a down hill running back.
11. Bryce Beall, Houston
12. Adonis Thomas, Toledo
13. Lennon Creer, Louisiana Tech
14. Caleb King, Georgia
15. Jermaine Thomas, Florida State
16. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State
17. Enrique Davis, Mississippi
18. Lance Dunbar, North Texas
19. Victor Anderson, Louisville
20. D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State
Here are my top senior quarterbacks for the 2012 NFL Draft.
1. Nick Foles, Arizona – Foles has great size and last season completed 67 percent of his passes, he is a good overall athlete. He needs to improve on some of his decisions when he forces passes into coverage and threw an interception in every game he played last year expect 3 games, and threw 3 interceptions in the Alamo Bowl. He has some of the same physical tools as Blaine Gabbert who was a first round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
2. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State – Lindley has all the physical tools to make all the throws in the NFL, but what concerns me is that he has never completed over 60 percent of his passes in any season and the last two season has combined to throw 30 interceptions. He did show improvement from his sophomore season to this junior season and he should be better this season as a senior.
3. G.J. Kinne, Tulsa – Kinne is a great overall athlete and has lead Tulsa in both passing and rushing for the past two seasons. He is a transfer from Texas and has all the physical tools to be a NFL quarterback, some are going to question the level of competition he has faced, but gets to open up this season against Oklahoma.
4. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M – Tannehill is a former wide receiver who started the last seven games at quarterback so he is a little raw but has all the physical tools to play at the next level. He has some good talent around him in wide receiver Jeff Fuller and running back Cyrus Gray and could really help himself this season.
5. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State – Cousins is a good solid quarterback who is a leader and an accurate passer. The questions are does he have enough physical gifts to be a big time NFL quarterback prospects, right now the jury is still out on that.
6. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State – Weeden is a good quarterback who has a strong arm and threw for over 4,000 yards last year but will be 28 years old when the 2012 NFL Draft comes around and that will cause some concerns.
7. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State – Pryor is a better overall athlete then he is a quarterback right now and has started since he was a freshman and has been a very successful helping Ohio State win games. He improved as a passer last season and will need to again show that this season after he serves his five-game suspension.
8. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois – Harnish is a quarterback that I think will surprise some people this season and be a sleeper in next years draft. He is a good overall athlete who can make all the throws and move around the pocket and make plays with his legs. People are going to questions him playing in the MAC so will have to go out and have another outstanding season.
9. Case Keenum, Houston – People might be right when saying that Keenum is a system quarterback but to put up back-to-back seasons of over 5,000 yards passing and 44 touchdowns is impressive and we will see how he comes back from his injury that cost him most of last season.
10. Dominique Davis, East Carolina - Davis is someone to watch this season, he started his career at Boston College and played some as a red-shirt freshman there even starting the 2008 ACC Championship Game against Virginia Tech where he threw for 263 yards. Last season Davis threw for 3,967 yards and 37 touchdowns, he completed 64 percent of his passes and rushed for 141 yards and 9 touchdowns.
11. John Brantley, Florida
12. Jordan Jefferson, LSU
13. Kellen Moore, Boise State
14. B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga
15. Michael Paulus, William & Mary
16. Matt Scott, Arizona
17. Brian Reader, Idaho
18. Austin Davis, Southern Mississippi
19. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina
20. Casey Therriault, Jackson State
