NFL Draft 2012: Which Defensive Studs Are Can't-Miss Prospects?

The 2012 college football season is in the books, and it was quite the exciting one. It was a defense-dominated year and that certainly showed in the BCS National Championship Game as Alabama allowed LSU to gain just 92 yards and cross midfield just once (and barely, at that).

Now NFL teams are going to be looking to bolster their defense in the upcoming 2012 draft, and many of those fearsome Crimson Tide defensive players will be headed to the pros.

There are also a number of other great players who will be moving on to the next level, so let’s take a look at some of the top prospects from other teams.

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Despite his team being atrocious on offense, I don’t believe a single pass was completed against him in the championship game.

He’s a shut-down corner and has all the tools needed to be a successful player at the next level.

It would be a shame if he weren’t the first defensive player off the board this coming draft.

Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples is the definition of a prospect.

He has the best size and athleticism of any pass-rusher in the draft but had a tough year at UNC.

Faced with double-teams and other schemes for most of the year, Coples failed to do much and the UNC defense as a whole struggled. If he can figure it out, he has a chance to be great.

Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU

This crazed ASU linebacker needs to reign himself in and learn to control his emotions.

Should he find a way to do that, he will be the best linebacker in this draft class, bar none.

He’s a big, physical monster at 6’3” and 250 pounds and just needs a solid coach and some direction.

2012 NFL Draft Order and Predictions

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10)*: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*: Nick Perry, DE, USC

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)*: Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)*: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

16. New York Jets (8-8): Quinton Coples, DE/DT, UNC

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

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25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

27. New York Giants (9-7): Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

28. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

32. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chris Polk, RB, Washington

*Order determined by coin flip at NFL Scouting Combine