Under the Radar: Defensive Prospects for 2012 NFL Draft

DE Cam Johnson, Virginia - Johnson last season led Virginia in both tackles for loss with 14.5 and sacks with 6.5 and had 53 total tackles. He has good size at 6-4 265 and is a good overall athlete played both wide receiver and defensive back in high school, as well as playing basketball.


DT Devon Still, Penn State - Still led Penn State last season in tackles for loss with 10 and sacks with 4 and also had 39 total tackles. He has good size at 6-5 311 pounds and show good quickness as well. He also has good blood lines as his is the couisn of former NFL player Levon Kirkland of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well Art Still who played for the Kansas City Chiefs.


OLB Dexter Heyman, Louisville - Heyman is a good overall athlete who has the ability to make plays all over the field. Look for him to be a bigger playmaker in Louisville defense this season.


ILB Carmen Messina, New Mexico - Messina has been one of the most productive linebackers over his career at New Mexico but doesn't get a lot of national attention because he plays in the Mountain West conference. Last season he again led the team in tackles with 116 and had 6 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He should have another productive season as a senior and with his size and athletic ability be someone people are talking about with the 2012 NFL Draft comes around.


CB Trumaine Johnson, Montana - Johnson has great size for a cornerback at around 6-3 and 200 pounds. He has started since he was a true freshman. He is an overall great athlete and in high school he started at quarterback as a senior and as a junior started at wide receiver and played defensive back in high school as well all conference player in basketball.


S Jakar Hamilton, Georgia - Hamilton only made 5 starts last season for Georgia but he also all the athletic ability to be a big time player at safety in the SEC as a senior. Look for him to be a big time playmaker for Georgia this season.