2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting the Most Unheralded Players

With so much talk surrounding guys like Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, Morris Claiborne and Matt Kalil in the 2012 NFL draft among others, there's always quite a few talents that go unnoticed.

Whether it's because of their team, conference, position or 2011 campaign, the most unexpected players are the ones who gain headlines and exposure in the NFL. So, here are five unheralded players who deserve to be heralded.

Chandler Harnish: QB, Northern Illinois

When we talk about players who literally carry a team on their shoulders, Northern Illinois QB Chandler Harnish is the definition of that cliche.

Let's put it this way: Harnish's duality under center for the Huskies simply deserves some of the most credit throughout the world of college football. And he saved his best season for his senior season.

On the year Harnish has accounted for 4,324 total yards (2,924 passing, 1,382 rushing) and 37 total TDs (26 passing, 11 rushing). Chandler has a completion percentage of 62.9 percent, averages 7.5 per rush and has only thrown five interceptions.

You would think even MAC defenses would have been able to slow him down, but twas not the case and Northern Illinois has gone 10-3 with a conference title. Not to mention they have to play 10-2 Arkansas State (Sun Belt champs) in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Sure the competition isn't BCS material, however when your running the show on offense and virtually getting zero help from the defense (allows 31.1 points per game, ranks No. 89), what Harnish has accomplished is unfathomable.

Doug Martin: RB, Boise State

Mainly because Kellen Moore is under center, Boise State isn't known as a rushing team, so RB Doug Martin has gone overlooked.

Add in other prospective RBs such as Alabama's Trent Richardson and Oregon's LaMichael James on top of the Broncos losing once this year, and Martin falls back even further. To that end, it's Martin's ground-and-pound that has complemented Moore quite well.

For a second straight year, Martin has compiled over 1,200 rush yards and has scored at least 14 total TDs each of the last three seasons.

He's clearly been the fail-safe outlet for Boise's offense and became a versatile back in accounting for 28 receptions each of the past two years (combined 593 receiving yards 2010-11).

Martin's also the team's kick returner and has produced 338 yards on 10 returns including one TD this season. So when in the pros, whoever takes a crack at him will be receiving a complete RB in return for the investment.

T.Y. Hilton: WR, Florida International

Along the same lines as Chandler Harnish with Northern Illinois, T.Y. Hilton of Florida International is almost as impressive.

His freshman season in 2008, Hilton gained over 1,000 receiving yards, returned 22 punts for 266 yards, 36 kickoffs for 841 yards and scored 11 total TDs. So as you can see, FIU knew that had one complete football player.

Fast-forward to his senior campaign, and Hilton accounted for 1,038 receiving, 734 returning and 124 rushing yards as well as nine total TDs. He's not a stretch-the-field-type WR, however he can widen it from within the slot and provide as a threat on jet-sweeps, options and reverses.

Include the double-duty ability as a return specialist and someone will find a spot on their roster for T.Y. Worst-case scenario Hilton becomes strictly a return man and is sparingly used as a second slot WR in four-wide situations.

Anyway you slice it though, an NFL franchise will be drafting a dangerous and explosive player.

Matt Daniels: SS, Duke

Okay let's face it, when we think of college football we never think of the Duke Blue Devils. And when we think of the Duke Blue Devils, we never think of college football.

That being said, strong safety Matt Daniels will be a late-round steal for anyone needing to add depth to the secondary. His 2011 season was impressive as Daniels recorded 126 tackles, two picks and forced one fumble.

For his career he forced seven fumbles, picked off four passes and accumulated 325 tackles. As a safety, that's a good number of tackles and forced fumbles so it's clear he was either back deep in Cover 2 or stacked up in the box to stop the run.

In turn, that means he'll need to improve at man coverage but anyone wanting a sure tackler, hard hitter and high-football-IQ player, Matt Daniels can provide those attributes. Obviously he won't get much exposure from Duke, so he will have to have a strong combine and pro day to boost the draft status.

Trenton Robinson: FS, Michigan State

A big part of why the 2011 Michigan State Spartans were ranked No. 12 against the run (allowed 104 per game), No. 12 against the pass (allowed 168 per game) and No. 9 in points allowed (17.5 per game) was because of free safety Trenton Robinson.

Although he comes in undersized at just 5'10" 195 pounds for a safety, it's his ability to walk down and blanket the slot receiver with physical coverage that makes him appealing. And if need be, he can fill on run support while having excellent zone-coverage awareness.

Each of the past two years Robinson has picked off four passes and has collected 208 tackles combined from 2009-2011.

Robinson, more than anything, plays with attitude and it's something that lacks on any defense allowing a lot of rushing or passing yards. There's a reason why Michigan State has gone 21-5 the past two seasons (potentially 22-5 with bowl game this year), and Robinson's contributions make him a fifth-roundish steal.

2012 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)	17. New York Jets: Brandon Thompson, DE (Clemson)
2. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)	18. Tennessee Titans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	19. Cincinnati (From OAK): Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)	20. Dallas Cowboys: Chase Minnifield, CB (UVA)
5. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)	21. New York Giants: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)	22. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)
7. Miami Dolphins: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)	23. Cincinnati Bengals: Jayron Hosley, CB (Virginia Tech)
8. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, QB (Baylor)	24. Denver Broncos: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)
9. Carolina Panthers: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)	25. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (UNC)
10. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, G (Stanford)	26. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)
11. Buffalo Bills: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Nebraska)	27. Cleveland (From ATL): Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)
12. San Diego Chargers: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)	28. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)
13. Philadelphia Eagles: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)	29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio State)
14. Arizona Cardinals: Cordy Glenn, G (Georgia)	30. New England Patriots (From NO): Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)
15. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)	31. New England Patriots: Cam Johnson, DE (UVA)
16. Chicago Bears: Nick Toon, WR (Wisconsin)	32. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

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