2012 NFL Mock Draft: Whose Stock Has Rocketed, Plummeted After Bowl Games?

Although NFL head coaches and general managers break down a player's entire collegiate career before deciding whether or not to draft him, a huge bowl game can either greatly elevate or plummet one's stock.

Let's look at whose stock has rocketed and whose has significantly dropped following college bowl season. 

Stock Up 

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State 

Before the Fiesta Bowl, a large faction of draft experts had Alshon Jeffery, the 6'4'', 230-pound monster from South Carolina as the top receiver in the 2012 draft class. 

After the Fiesta Bowl, that faction got considerably smaller. 

Blackmon was a total beast in Oklahoma State's 41-38 overtime win, catching eight passes for 186 yards with three touchdowns. 

He demonstrated the ability to snatch the ball out of the air with corners and safeties draped on him and showed a better-than-expected flatline speed in the open field. 

This two-time Biletnikoff Award winner cemented himself as the best wideout entering the draft in April. 

He should be the first pass-catcher taken and is definitely a top-10 pick.

Jordan White, WR, Western Michigan

White finished the season with a ridiculous 140 catches for 1,911 yards and 17 touchdowns. In 2010, the 6'0'', 210-pound wideout grabbed 94 passes for 1,378 yards and 10 scores.

Because he was playing in the MAC conference, he was somewhat of an unknown despite his extreme productivity.

If he wasn't on NFL scout's radars, he certainly is after his electric performance in the Little Caesars Bowl against Purdue.

He reeled in 13 balls for an astounding 265 yards and one touchdown. 

A few of those catches were of the circus variety, too.

If he runs in the 4.4's or 4.5's at the Combine, he should be a second- or third-rounder.

Stock Down 

Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington 

The beefy defensive tackle from Washington is considered by some as the one of the premier disruptive interior defensive lineman in the draft. 

His senior season was dotted with inconsistency. Ta'amu played well against Colorado, Nebraska and Washington State, but was handled against Stanford's superior offensive linemen and we all know how badly Washington's defense was shredded by Baylor in the Valero Alamo Bowl. 

Bears running back Terrance Ganaway rushed for 200 yards on 21 carries with five touchdowns. Many of those long runs were on simple plays up the middle, the gap Ta'amu is supposed to shut down. 

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State 

Although he's got NFL speed and an NFL body and could still be the first middle linebacker selected, Burfict's performance against Boise State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas left much to be desired. 

He was on the sidelines for the majority of the game and only recorded one tackle. 

Overall, his senior campaign was a disappointment after receiving a lot of hype before the season. 

Burfict had 68 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks. 

A big bowl game could have kept Burfict in the top half of the first round, but now it's likely his name will be called in the final 15 picks.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams—Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  Cleveland Browns—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6.  Washington Redskins—Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

8.  Carolina Panthers—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

9.  Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Seattle Seahawks—Nick Perry, DE, USC

12.  Kansas City Chiefs—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

14.  Dallas Cowboys—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

15.  Philadelphia Eagles—Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

16.  New York Jets—Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

17.  Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland Raiders)—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama  

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford  

19.  Chicago Bears—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

20.  Tennessee Titans—Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

21.  Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

22.  Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons)—Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

23.  Detroit Lions—Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

25.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DT, Penn State

26.  Houston Texans—Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

27.  New York Giants—Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

28.  Baltimore Ravens—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

29.  New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints)—Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

30.  San Francisco 49ers—Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington

31.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama

32.  Green Bay Packers—Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois