2012 NFL Mock Draft: 5 Underrated Prospects Who Will Shoot Up Big Boards

With the 2011 NFL regular season nearly over, struggling franchises will soon shift their focus from making the playoffs to retooling for 2012.

Meanwhile college football bowl season provides fans and NFL scouts alike with the opportunity to gain a closer look at some of the best draft prospects in the nation.

Baylor's Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III had a decent outing in the Valero Alamo Bowl against the Washington Huskies, but his lack of explosive numbers have likely solidified Stanford's Andrew Luck as the No. 1 overall pick.

Outside of those two dynamic passers, several prospects have started their ascent to the top of draft big boards across the sports world. 

Players like South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery and North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins have the talent and resume to soar on draft day this April.

Join Bleacher Report as we project all 32 first-round NFL draft picks and highlight five prospects that will boost their stock in the coming weeks and months. 

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-13): Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB

The prototypical NFL quarterback, Stanford's Andrew Luck is too consistently efficient to pass up for the Colts, who have an uncertain future under center.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-13): Matt Kalil, USC, OT

The Rams need to keep quarterback of the future Sam Bradford upright, and Matt Kalil is their best option to do that.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-12): Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB

Morris Claiborne's play-making ability makes him a can't-miss talent for the wretched Vikings' pass defense this off-season.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11): Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR

If you find it challenging to name one of Jacksonville's wide receivers, you're not alone. the Jags could use some explosion to help develop Blaine Gabbert under center. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11): Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, CB

The Buccaneers need a boost on defense to turn around their eight-game losing streak. Unfortunately the help won't come until next April when they draft Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick.

6. Cleveland Browns (4-11): Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

He could have easily been the Heisman Trophy winner this season, but Richardson's greatness will not go unnoticed. Peyton Hillis may not be long for Cleveland, so enter Alabama's Trent Richardson. 

7. Washington Redskins (5-10): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

With Andrew Luck off the board early, and virtually no steady starter under center in DC, Heisman winner Robert Griffin III seems destined to be a Redskins next season.

8. Miami Dolphins (5-10): Landry Jones, Oklahoma, QB

Oklahoma's Landry Jones is not a top 10 prospect, but the Dolphins' need at quarterback absolutely cannot go unattended to. Jones was a prolific passer in college, so there is promise for a future in South Beach.

9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

Kansas City could use some protection for the injury-prone Matt Cassel, and Iowa's fundamentally sound offensive tackle Riley Reiff would provide that and then some. 

Reiff is climbing up draft big boards everywhere, and could jump even higher with a solid outing against Oklahoma in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 30. 

The 6'6", 300-pound senior has ideal NFL size and athleticism to be a factor in the running game. Outside of USC's Matt Kalil, no other offensive line prospect shows as much upside and promise as Reiff on the outside edge.

10. Carolina Panthers (6-9): Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE

Cam Newton has the Panthers' offense on schedule to compete for a Super Bowl, but the defense could use a lift. UNC's Quinton Coples would bolster Carolina's pass rush in 2012.

11. Buffalo Bills (6-9): Jonathan Martin, Stanford, OT

Martin was a huge reason Andrew Luck was so successful at Stanford over the years, and he could very well take his 6'6", 304-pound frame to Buffalo to help Fred Jackson and Ryan Fitzpatrick get the Bills into the playoffs next season.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (7-8): Devon Still, Penn State, DT

Devon Still is a monster in the middle and has been a rare bright spot this season for a reeling Penn State football program.

13. Seattle Seahawks (7-8): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

Michael Floyd's tall frame and excellent hands make him a premiere prospect at wide receiver this off-season. He's moving up big boards as we speak. 

Floyd's 100 catches for more than 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011 helped him set Fighting Irish records and have boosted his draft stock significantly. 

The Seahawks could use a down field threat like Floyd to help take some of the pressure off whoever is starting under center in Seattle next season. 

14. San Diego Chargers (7-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

Alabama's Mark Barron would be a solid first-round addition for the San Diego Chargers, who were gashed by opposing offenses through the air in 2011. 

Barron is a superb talent in the running game and his ability to read offenses early and effectively have him shooting up experts' big boards. 

Barron intercepted 12 passes over his four years at Alabama and could add to that total and his stock with another great outing against LSU in the BCS title game.

15. Arizona Cardinals (7-8): Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, CB

Defensive backs are critical in today's pass-first NFL, so Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard will be a coveted prospect come draft time. 

16. Chicago Bears (7-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

A guaranteed starter, David DeCastro could bring much-needed protection up front for a Bears team that has allowed far too many sacks over the years.

17. Tennessee Titans (8-7): Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, LB

When Vontaze Burfict is focused on the game he is as dominant as any defender in the nation, so the first-round is almost a lock for arguably the greatest linebacker to come out of Tempe since Baltimore's Terrell Suggs.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland 8-7): Lamar Millers, Miami, RB

Miami's Lamar Miller is the total package at running back, he's fast and has great vision. The Bengals could use a play-maker like Miller in the back field in 2012 to make life easier for Andy Dalton. 

19. New York Jets (8-7): Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, WR

South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery has without a doubt been hurt by the Gamecocks' lack of talent at quarterback. 

Jeffery also lost fellow offensive talent Marcus Lattimore to injury mid-season, which made beating opposing defenses even tougher. 

But at 6'4", 232 pounds, Jeffery is an ideal threat at wide receiver for any NFL team. He has open field speed and the hands to dominate in jump-ball scenarios.

Jeffery's draft stock is rising, and after the success of Cincy's A.J. Green, a former SEC wideout, the Gamecock will only climb higher on draft big boards.

20. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins is a play-maker, and once scouts dig deeper into some of his tape at the University of Florida, they will agree.

Jenkins has the talent to be a first-rounder despite his character concerns. His dominance at the Division II level of college football has gained him some attention and will likely help him on the big boards. 

The Dallas Cowboys could use another shutdown corner in the secondary, and with few out there this spring, Jenkins will be tough to pass up at No. 20.

21. Detroit Lions (10-5): David Wilson, Virginia Tech, RB

With all the devastating injuries to Lions' running backs this season they would be hard-pressed to pass on a speedster like David Wilson this coming April. 

22. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6): Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, DE

The Bengals need to get even better on defense if they are too compete with the Ravens and Steelers in the AFC North, and a polished SEC defender like Melvin Ingram would be an ideal start in the first-round.

23. Denver Broncos (8-7): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DT

Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox would be another great defensive pick, a lot like Von Miller was last season for the Denver Broncos. If Denver decides to move forward with Tim Tebow they will need to get younger and quicker on defense.

24. New York Giants (8-7): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

Arguably the top linebacker available this April, Boston College's Luke Kuechly could be the Giants' first-round selection, helping add to a defense that was shredded far too often in 2011.

25. Houston Texans (10-5): Zach Brown, North Carolina, LB

Zach Brown would be another step in the right direction for a Houston Texans team that is building a Super Bowl contending defense very quietly. 

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, G

Georgia's Cordy Glenn has a big frame, which is almost required to be successful at the next level. Pittsburgh has offensive line issues and the result was a poor running game in 2011. Glenn should help significantly.

27. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 9-6): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

Kendall Wright and Robert Griffin III put Baylor on the map in 2011, and the Cleveland Browns like so many other NFL teams have taken notice. Wright has the speed and natural ability to give Colt McCoy a consistent target.

28. New England Patriots (via NO 12-3): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, LB

Oh do the Pats need help on the defensive side of the ball where they have lacked a Tom Brady-like leader for the past few seasons. Upshaw has been the heart and soul of the Tide's D in recent years and Bill Belichick would be silly to pass on him.

29. Baltimore Ravens (11-4): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

As the Ravens' defense gets older and older their reign of dominance becomes jeopardized. Clemson's Andre Branch would bring a rush of danger off the edge for opposing offenses and might even be able to bring Big Ben down.

30. San Francisco 49ers (12-3): Jarvis Jones, Georgia, LB

It's quite possible that the Niners rush defense could get even scarier in 2012, with the addition of a talent like Georgia's Jarvis Jones, who is 6'3", 240 pounds. 

31. New England Patriots (12-3): Kevin Reddick, North Carolina, LB

UNC's Kevin Reddick could help New England in pass coverage as well as the running game as a versatile linebacker. Either way the Pats go at No. 31, defense should be the focus.

32. Green Bay Packers (14-1): Brandon Thompson, Clemson, DT

Green Bay's defense struggled to get to the quarterback in 2011, and the yardage allowed proves it. If the Packers are too be dominant on D once again, they need to add to their pass rush and shut down the run. 

Clemson's Brandon Thompson has question marks but he is certainly worthy of the first round.