Alshon Jeffery: Elite WR Prospect Will Enter 2012 NFL Draft

With bowl season coming to a close, college football stars are making big decisions about their future, and the latest junior enter the 2012 NFL draft is South Carolina Gamecocks top wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery.  

ESPN's Joe Schad broke the news on Twitter, and it's sure to create a ton of buzz. 

Jeffery had a down year compared to his breakout sophomore season, but he is still projected as a first-round pick.

Some believe he will be the second wide receiver taken behind Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, and others see him as the third best wideout behind Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. 

Listed at 6'4" and 229 pounds, Jeffery has the tools to thrive in the NFL. His measurements alone entice scouts, but his superb skills and ability to catch most anything thrown his way is what really has people talking. 

This announcement shouldn't be a surprise, though, given the inconsistencies at quarterback for the Gamecocks. After a stellar performance in the Capital One Bowl (excluding his ejection), Jeffery is taking advantage of the moment and leaving for the NFL while his ceiling is high. 

With a legitimate quarterback, Jeffery should grow into one of the leagues biggest threats. 

It all depends on where he is drafted. Plenty of the teams in the Top 15 need a play-making wide receiver, which means Jeffery could land with an inexperienced quarterback. Then again, a team could trade up to get him, you never really know with the draft these days. 

Jeffery told Schad that he's ready for the next step but knows he still has work to do. 

Those are the three best wide receivers in the NFL, so it's nice to hear Jeffery aspires to be like them. Of course, it won't be easy, as all three are still in their prime, but Jeffery can quickly rise to the top if put in the right place. 

The 2012 NFL draft will be here before you know it, and many other underclassmen will soon decide whether or not to go pro. Jeffery is just another example of skilled players that feel college football no longer as something to offer.