NFL Draft 2012: College Superstars Who Will Be Niche Players in NFL

When it comes to the NFL Draft, college accomplishments really don't count for much. Teams are looking to spend their millions on players with talent and athleticism, not players with awards and gaudy numbers next to their names.

Because of this, a lot of college superstars tend to fade away once they enter the NFL. They were gods in the college ranks, but there's simply no role for many of them to play in the pros.

However, there are homes for some college superstars. They won't be asked to be stars, but they will be asked to contribute in some way or another.

For example, let's take a look at five 2012 prospects who will fill niche roles in the NFL.

5. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Of the five players I have on this little countdown, Kendall Wright is the only player that I think has a shot to be drafted in the first round. He's a borderline first-rounder, but he could go in the first round if a team is looking for a player with Wright's talents.

What are Wright's talents, you ask?

The big one is speed. Wright is one of the fastest wide receivers in the 2012 draft class, and he spent a good portion of the 2011 season showing it off on long passes from Robert Griffin III. He was RG3's home-run threat, and it was a role he played well.

It's a role Wright could play well in the pros, too. He's not going to be a No. 1 wide receiver, but he could be very productive if he is paired with a good possession receiver. All he would have to do is go deep.

If Wright doesn't go in the first round, there's a pretty good chance he and RG3 could end up back together on the same team. Wouldn't that be something.

4. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Coby Fleener isn't getting as much love as tight ends like Dwayne Allen, but any team that ventures to draft him is not going to be disappointed.

Fleener isn't an elite athlete, but he's coming from a Stanford offense that spent the majority of its time running the football. He still has room to improve as a blocker, but Fleener is hardly inexperienced.

Fleener's primary function, however, was to serve as Andrew Luck's go-to guy. His 10 touchdown receptions in 2011 led the Cardinal, and he also produced a surprising number of big-yardage plays.

I'm not so sure it would be a good idea for any team to use Fleener as a primary tight end, but he would be a valuable asset in passing downs, especially in two-tight end sets.

3. Case Keenum, QB, Houston

I figured I had to include at least one quarterback on this list, and Case Keenum is a good choice.

Keenum threw something like a million touchdown passes during his college career, but that doesn't mean he's cut out for starting duty in the NFL. He's not tall enough and his arm strength and accuracy are both less than elite.

But a team looking for a good backup could do worse. Keenum would be a better pick than Kellen Moore, and his production at the college level make him a more attractive option than NFL prototypes like Kirk Cousins and Ryan Lindley.

If Keenum was pressed into starting duty, he would hold his own. He's nothing if not experienced, and he's not a guy who would try to do anything fancy.

Think of him as a Colt McCoy-like quarterback prospect, except maybe a little better.

2. Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

Ryan Broyles is one of the most accomplished college wide receivers of all time, but his NFL prospects are iffy.

There are a couple of things wrong with Broyles. First and foremost, he's heading into the NFL with a serious injury in his recent history. Broyles suffered a torn ACL towards the end of the regular season, and he's going to need some time to recover from it.

As a player, Broyles is a little too small for an NFL wide receiver, and it doesn't help that he's not much of a speedster.

But if a team is looking for a reliable pass-catcher to use in the slot, it should give Broyles a look. He will catch any pass thrown in his direction, and he can display some pretty nifty moves in space.

I think of Broyles as a poor man's Wes Welker, which is quite the compliment.

1. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

It's still a little unclear if LaMichael James is going to go pro, but indications are that he will. He has nothing left to prove at the college level, and he will get some attention in the NFL Draft.

But not as an every-down back, mind you. James is a little too small to handle a heavy workload week in and week out, and the dislocated elbow he suffered this season served to legitimize concerns about his durability.

But if ever there was a player who was perfectly suited to be a third-down back in the NFL, it's James. He can run the ball and he can catch it, and he can be deadly when he finds himself in the open.

If asked, James could also return punts.

As a total package, James is not unlike Darren Sproles. That would be yet another compliment.