2012 NFL Mock Draft: Shining a Light on Players Stuck Under the Radar

Under-the-radar draft prospects often become the best NFL players. 

You know, the guys without frequent spots on SportsCenter who are slated by the "draft" experts to be selected outside the top 10 or maybe sometime after the first round. 

It happens every year. 

Who are those guys in the 2012 draft class? 

Time to bring them to the forefront. 

Devon Still, DT Penn State Nittany Lions

Devon Still is the best defensive tackle in this year's class, but with all the media outlets focused on the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State, the beefy run-plugger's tremendous shadow was somewhat of an afterthought. 

At 6'5'' and 310 pounds, Still is a menacing tackle prospect, mainly because of his height. 

He can play in the 3-4 or 4-3 at the next level because of his brute strength and quickness to penetrate between the guard and center if he's placed on the inside. 

We aren't looking at the next Ndamukong Suh or Vince Wilfork here, but he has the potential to be a solid interior defensive lineman who can make steady contributions at the next level. 

Kendall Wright, WR Baylor Bears

Robert Griffin III is clearly Baylor's premier prospect. 

The guy's got it all as a quarterback. 

But the next time you see one of his highlight mashups on SportsCenter, check the receiver that's catching most of the passes. 

Kendall Wright. 

Without this guy, Griffin III doesn't win the Heisman Trophy. 

The 5'10'', 190-pound burner erupted with 101 catches for 1,572 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

While it's likely he won't be lined up on the outside in the NFL, he'll be a tremendous slot option because of his straight-line speed. 

A slightly bigger DeSean Jackson. 

Chris Polk, RB Washington Huskies

Many have pegged Alabama's Trent Richardson and Lamar Miller of the University of Miami as the top two backs in the 2012 class. 

While both are great prospects, Washington's Chris Polk must not be ignored. 

At 5'11'', 225 pounds, Polk possesses a rare combination of feature back size and scat-back shiftiness that makes him an intriguing NFL prospect. 

His injury past will worry some teams (knee surgery before 2011 season), but he was extremely productive in his last three seasons in Seattle. 

Polk rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of those years, averaged over five yards per rush and scored 20 touchdowns on the ground in his last two campaigns. 

I love his ability to run between the tackles and make defenders miss with elite agility and acceleration once he gets to the second level. 

However, if he needs to lower his head, he doesn't shy away. 

I see some Marshawn Lynch and LaDainian Tomlinson characteristics in Polk. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck	17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller
2. St. Louis Rams: Alshon Jeffery	18. Seattle Seahawks: Landry Jones
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil	19. Denver Broncos: Dwight Jones
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon	20. Cleveland Browns: Cordy Glenn
5. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson	21. New York Giants: Janoris Jenkins
6. Kansas City Chiefs: Vontaze Burfict	22. New York Jets: Alameda Ta'Amu
7. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III	23. Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Minnifield
8. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne	24. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore
9. Buffalo Bills: Zach Brown	25. Houston Texans: Jerel Worthy
10. Miami Dolphins: David DeCastro	26. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly
11. Arizona Cardinals: Johnathan Martin	27. Detroit Lions: Alfonzo Dennard
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Kirkpatrick	28. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw
13. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd	29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams
14. San Diego Chargers: Riley Reiff	30. San Francisco 49ers: Devon Still
15. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram	31. New England Patriots: Quinton Coples
16. Philadelphia Eagles: Dont'a Hightower	32. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Jenkins