2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Prospects Are Rising and Falling After Their Pro Day

The NFL Combine is the national showcase for incoming rookies, where prospects can strut their stuff in front of a national cable audience. They can make a name for themselves or lose some money depending on their performance.

Pro days are a good way to bounce back from a poor combine showing, or to showcase their stuff if they did not participate at the combine. Here are 13 prospects who either helped or hurt themselves at their respective pro days.

Kendall Wright

Pro Day: March 21

Kendall Wright's stock was soaring going into the NFL Combine. Some scouts and draftniks were saying he would light up the event and surpass Justin Blackmon as the top receiver in the draft.

Then, he ran two ill-fated 40-yard-dashes.

Some scouts expected him to crack the 4.3s in Indianapolis. Unofficially, he ran in the 4.45 range, but an official 4.61 time put a black mark on his combine performance. The reality is, he performed well in the positional drills and 40 times, but a poor 40 time dogged him almost immediately.

The talented receiver bounced back and performed well at his pro day, particularly in the one event he really missed on at the combine. He posted 4.41 and 4.46 times in the 40, which were in line with his unofficial times back in February, at once quashing the notion he lacks speed.

Wright remains entrenched in the first round, perhaps in the top half if there is a run on receivers. Though scouts probably did not ding him too much for his combine performance, he is certainly back on the rise in the public's eye.

Stock: Rebounding

Orson Charles

Pro Day: March 5

Once regarded as the top tight end prospect in this draft by some, Charles' stock has been sinking since the combine. His pro day results did not help.

In fairness, poor weather was a big part of his 4.75-second 40-yard dash. In whatever way the 20-30-mile-per-hour wind gusts were affecting his times, that is not a good number for him.

Sprint numbers alone should not dictate a player's value, but Charles is already undersized for a tight end at 6'2". His biggest value sink, though, will likely be his arrest for suspicion of DUI.

It seems that Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen have left the former Bulldog in the dust, and he may even fall further come draft day. He is a fringe second-rounder at this point.

Stock: Plummeting

Kevin Zeitler

Pro Day: March 8

Despite a good Senior Bowl, Zeitler remained largely off the radar through the combine. After a good pro day, however, he is being talked about as a fringe first-rounder.

NFL scout Russ Lande writes from Wisconsin's pro day: 

"

Zeitler is a better prospect than (former Badgers teammate) John Moffitt, who started as a rookie for the Seahawks (in 2011),” one NFL personnel insider told Sporting News, adding that Zeitler “should start in the NFL for eight to 10 years.

"

Zeitler should probably fall into the second round come draft day, but that is still well above where his stock resided back in January.

Stock: Rising

Stephen Hill

Pro Day: March 6

Against all odds with a spread option offense, Georgia Tech has become a wide receiver factory. Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas and now Stephen Hill are freakish athletes at the position that hail from the Atlanta school.

The former Yellow Jacket raised eyebrows with an official 4.36-second 40-yard dash, the second fastest time at the entire combine. That is quite fast for a 6'3", 205-pound receiver.

He chose to stand on that number at his pro day, but did well in positional drills, catching all 12 passes. The talented receiver is trying to speed his way into the first round after his highly rush-oriented offense limited him to just 28 catches last season, albeit for an eye-popping 29.3 yards per catch.

Hill was a dark horse first-rounder going into the combine and appears to be a lock at this point. The Browns, Broncos, Texans and 49ers are all potential landing spots for Hill.

Stock: Peaking

Whitney Mercilus

Pro Day: March 6

The standout Illinois product is a curious case considering he had just two sacks prior to exploding with 16 during his final season in college. He continues to impress during draft season, solidifying himself as a top pass-rushing prospect.

Mercilus wowed at the combine, running a 4.63 40 and putting up 27 225-pound reps. He stood on those numbers at his pro day, but where he really shined is during linebacker drills.

He strictly played defensive end in college, but Mercilus performed well enough in drills that some scouts saying he could line up as a 3-4 rush linebacker. 

There may be questions about being a one-hit wonder, but the talented pass-rusher looks like he has cemented himself somewhere in the first round with a good pro day.

Stock: Peaking

Nick Foles

Pro Day: March 20

Another pro day marred by bad weather, and another prospect falling down draft boards.

The former Arizona quarterback had a good Senior Bowl week and game, but his pro day may have brought his draft stock back to square one.

According to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, some scouts were not shy:

"

"[Foles] was terrible. He couldn't throw a spiral. Obviously, the weather conditions played a part in that but in reality, it only accentuated that he couldn't throw a spiral."

"

Rang is quick to point out that Foles earned a draftable grade on "good enough" tape and his Senior Bowl performance, and there is plenty of quarterback need in the NFL, whether it is as a starter or backup.

With other quarterbacks gaining on him, Foles' poor pro day may have landed him in the back end of the draft.

Stock: Falling

Justin Blackmon

Pro Day: March 9

Blackmon's draft stock sagged a bit after the combine. He chose not to participate in the 40-yard-dash, though he looked good in positional drills. As with Kendall Wright, though, his 40 time--or lack thereof, in this case--brought up some questions.

He answered those questions at his pro day, where he ran in the mid 4.4s. He had been expected to run in the 4.5 range at the combine. His tape tells the rest of the tale.

The 6'1", 207-pound receiver does not have the measurables of a Calvin Johnson or Brandon Marshall, but he solidified his place at the top of this year's class with a good pro day. The Browns, Rams, Jaguars and Dolphins are all in the mix to snag the former Cowboy.

Stock: Rising

Vinny Curry

Pro Day: March 14

Vinny Curry had a monster Senior Bowl, but his draft stock remained stuck due to concerns about him being a situational defensive end.

His combine performance deflated his stock a bit as he ran a pedestrian 4.98 40-yard dash with a 32-inch vertical leap and no bench press. It seemed he was destined to remain in the middle of the second round.

Until his pro day.

Curry was back to his dominating form at Marhsall's pro day, running a 4.64 40, benching 225 pounds 28 times, and reaching 35 inches on his vertical leap. Not only are all those big improvements from the Combine, but those are great measurables for the athletic pass-rusher.

The Marshall product might be sniffing the back end of the first round.

Stock: Peaking

Russell Wilson

Pro Day: March 8

The former Badger needed a boost after a poor Senior Bowl showing.

Height issues have dogged Wilson during draft season, and they will likely keep him from being drafted very high in the end.

At just under 5'11", Wilson simply does not possess the size a quarterback typically needs to succeed in the NFL. There have been exceptions, yes, but it will be tough for the talented quarterback to overcome that obstacle.

Still, Wilson did not have to contend with seeing over a big offensive line at his pro day. This is, perhaps, one reason why only four of 65 passes hit the ground during his workout. That is impressive any way you slice it. 

Despite height concerns, Wilson may be the fifth or sixth quarterback taken in the draft. That would likely put him somewhere in the fourth or fifth round.

Stock: Rising

Greg Childs

Pro Day: March 6

Childs had all but fallen off the draft map until his pro day.

The former Razorback possesses great size for the position at 6'3" and 217 pounds. He was injured in the fall, which may have contributed to a poor combine, where he ran a pedestrian 4.55. 

At his pro day, however, he blazed with a 4.41, albeit on a fast track. That is not far off from Stephen Hill's time of 4.36, and the two receivers are about the same size.

His stock was at an all-time low after the combine, but a receiver with that combination of size and speed is going to attract a lot of attention.

Stock: Rising

Fletcher Cox

Pro Day: March 8

The big defensive lineman lit the combine on fire. He ran a 4.79 40 yard dash, lifted 30 reps at 225 pounds, and had a 103-inch broad jump. His 6'4", 298-pound frame complete an impressive set of measurables.

All he had to do was have a good pro day, and that he did, according to NFL.com's Gil Brandt: 

"

A total of 18 teams were on hand Thursday to watch Mississippi State’s pro day, where the performance of DT Fletcher Cox likely cemented his status as a late first-round pick.

The defensive line coaches for the Steelers and Chiefs were on hand, as well as Packers director of college scouting John Dorsey, who usually shows up at a workout when there’s a prospect he’s interested in.

"

Once considered a fringe first-rounder, Cox may find himself in the top 10 on draft day.

Stock: Holding

Cliff Harris

Pro Day: March 18

As a player who was once considered a potential first-round prospect, Cliff Harris has lost himself a lot of money in recent months.

After getting thrown off the team for multiple run-ins with the law, Harris needed a good pro day to get his draft stock back on track. He failed to do so.

Here is what Gil Brandt of NFL.com had to say about Harris: 

"

Harris had 4.66 and 4.65 40-yard dash times, a 34-inch vertical jump, 9-10 broad jump, 4.30 short shuttle, 7.11 three-cone drill and 17 strength lifts. He was average in his position workout and could go undrafted.

"

The former Duck had some life in the late rounds as a potential flier, but as Mr. Brandt points out, he very well could be in the undrafted free agent pool when all is said and done.

Stock: Plummeting

Mohamed Sanu

Pro Day: March 21

Mohamed Sanu was one of the combine's bigger disappointments, running a 4.68 40-yard dash.

His pro day was a stark difference. He surprised many with twin times of 4.41 and 4.43 in the 40, albeit on a fast track. 

Sanu set a Big East record with 115 catches. Mike Mayock described Sanu as a possession receiver who lacks straight-line speed. Showing off some speed really has his draft stock making a comeback.

The Rutgers product was considered a fringe first-round pick before the combine, but even his great pro day will not get him back to that level. He should still be considered a high second-round prospect, however.

Stock: Rebounding