Georgia vs. LSU: The Top 2012 NFL Draft Talent on Both Teams

Danny FlynnDec 1, 2011

No. 1 LSU will head up to Atlanta for one final battle before the Tigers can make the trip down to New Orleans for the BCS National Championship game.

The SEC championship game is the stage and the No. 14 Georgia Bulldogs are the opponent, but at this point, it may not matter where and who the Tigers are playing. They know that they're just one game away from getting a shot for the ultimate prize.

Don't expect them to take their foot off the gas now.

Even if LSU will likely make it into the BCS championship game regardless of the outcome on Saturday, the game should definitely still be worth tuning in for, if for no other reason than to get a look at some of the tremendous talent that will be on the field at the Georgia Dome.

To get you prepared, here's a look at the 10 eligible prospects for the 2012 NFL draft that you need to watch in the SEC championship game.

To check out where all the prospects stack up with the rest of this year's class, check out my 2012 NFL Draft: Top 100 Prospects list.

1. CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

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When Patrick Peterson entered his name into the 2011 NFL draft, some LSU fans panicked and wondered how the Tigers were going to replace such a rare talent, but Morris Claiborne has stepped his game up and managed to perform at the same level Peterson did last season.

This year, Claiborne has been one of the cornerstones of LSU's dominant defense. Although he’s not as flashy as fellow corner Tyrann Mathieu, you can just tell from one look at the physically gifted 6’1’’, 185-pound junior that he’s the real deal.

Although he could still stand to refine some of his basic technique and footwork, Claiborne has the explosive speed and incredible length to mirror and shadow any receiver he goes up against.

Physically, you can’t build them much better than Morris Claiborne.

2. WR Rueben Randle, LSU

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Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery are the clear-cut two best underclassmen wide receivers, but outside of them, no other junior receiver gets talked about too much.

There’s a second tier of guys like Rutgers’ Mohamed Sanu, Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill, Oregon State’s Markus Wheaton and Toledo’s Eric Page that have made some noise, but the only junior receiver that can truly make a case to be up there with Blackmon and Jeffery is LSU’s Rueben Randle.

Randle, a former 5-star recruit, struggled to live up to his high school hype in his first two seasons, but now that he’s gotten some more consistent play at quarterback, he’s starting to reach his enormous potential.

Randle has caught 48 passes for 889 yards and hauled in eight touchdowns.

The 6’4’’, 205-pound junior has an NFL body and a combo of size, hands and speed that will really intrigue scouts.

3. TE Orson Charles, Georgia

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Clemson’s Dwayne Allen is the top tight end prospect in college football, but Georgia’s Orson Charles isn’t far behind.

With plenty of speed and agility packed into a 6’3’’, 245-pound frame, Charles is truly a wide receiver in a tight end’s body.

The junior has been one of QB Aaron Murray’s favorite targets this season, hauling in a team-leading 40 passes for 530 yards and five touchdowns.

Charles could develop into a first-round prospect if he decides to return to Georgia, but if he decides to go pro after this season, the athletic junior will probably come off the board some time on Day 2.

4. DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU

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This year’s Aldon Smith?

I know it’s a little too early to start calling LSU’s physical freak Barkevious Mingo a top-10 pick, but you have to have liked what you saw out of the young redshirt sophomore this year.

The 6’5’’, 240-pound Mingo has been an animal this season, and he’s starting to gain a reputation as one of college football’s top pass-rushers. He’s notched seven sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.

Mingo has the perfect makeup to be a big-time rush linebacker in a 3-4 system in the NFL.

5. OT Cordy Glenn, Georgia

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Surprisingly, everybody seems to consider Cordy Glenn a first-round offensive line prospect. I'm surprised because from what I’ve personally seen out of Glenn, I just don’t get it.

The 350-plus-pound senior is overweight and slow, and he hasn’t been overly impressive at left tackle this season.

Good, yes. First-round good, I don’t think so.

Glenn has a tendency to whiff on blocks, fall off blocks, and get flat-out beat off the snap.

I know a lot of people think he’ll be an offensive guard in the NFL given his size and his lack of quickness, but I think the best place for him would be as a primarily road-grading right tackle.

I expect Glenn to come off the board some time on Day 2 (how high will depend on his conditioning in postseason workouts), but I think the first-round is still pushing it.

6. QB Aaron Murray, Georgia

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Aaron Murray may only be a redshirt sophomore, but he’s already caught people's attention as an NFL prospect, as he led Georgia to 10 straight victories to finish off the season this year.

Murray isn’t going to overwhelm anyone with his slight 6’1’’, 210-pound build, but if you can overlook his lack of size, you’ll see a borderline great quarterback prospect.

Murray is a true offensive leader, and he’s got all the quarterback traits—accuracy, arm strength, pocket presence, intelligence and vision—that scouts are looking for.

7. LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia

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There are plenty of intriguing 3-4 rush linebacker prospects this year, such as Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, USC's Nick Perry, West Virginia's Bruce Irvin and Oklahoma's Ronnell Lewis, but one future 3-4 linebacker prospect to keep an eye on is Georgia's Jarvis Jones.

Jones leads the SEC with 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Even though he's only a redshirt sophomore, he might have to think about leaving Georgia early if he gets a high grade from the draft advisory board.

Jones is the type of disruptive defensive force that could really cause headaches for the LSU offense on Saturday.

8. DT Michael Brockers, LSU

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Michael Brockers is only a redshirt sophomore, but he already has the look of a future defensive line star.

Brockers has been an absolute monster in the middle of LSU’s tenacious defense, and he's a big reason why teams just can't run the ball against the Tigers.

The 6’6’’, 305-pound terror has racked up 7.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this season, but those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Brockers has eaten up double-team after double-team this year, and it’s freed up the other talented members of the LSU front seven to make plays.

If Brockers returns to Baton Rouge for his redshirt junior year, he’ll go into next season being hailed as one of the top defensive line prospects in the country.

9. CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia

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This year, we got a little taste of what Georgia CB Brandon Boykin can do on the offensive side of the football, as Boykin had five rushes and five catches for a combined 181 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Boykin's versatility will be appreciated by scouts, but make no mistake about it, he'll make his living on the defensive side of the ball in the NFL.

The 5'10'', 185-pound senior is one of the fastest and most athletic defensive backs in the country, and he uses his speed to his advantage in pass coverage.

Boykin has starting potential and the look of a quality Day 2 pick.

10. TE Deangelo Peterson, LSU

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Deangelo Peterson is another player who fits the “receiver in a tight end's body” mold.

There’s no questioning what Peterson specializes in, and that’s being a weapon in the passing game.

Whether that involves being a decoy and opening up the seam or making a crucial catch in the end zone, the 6’4’’, 235-pound senior can do it all.

Peterson may only have 17 catches on the season, but he’s still done enough to show scouts that he can certainly make an impact as a strictly receiving tight end in the NFL.