2012 NFL Mock Draft: Unheralded Players Who Will Make Late Rises Up Draft Boards

Unheralded 2012 NFL draft prospects could certainly shoot up draft boards in the final weeks and even the final days before the first round begins on April 26th. 

Let's identify these players and closely examine what they bring to the field. 

Nick Perry, USC 

Although USC went 10-2 in 2011, they were an afterthought due to their bowl game ban and more importantly, they were overshadowed by their Pac-12 counterparts. 

Andrew Luck led Stanford to the Fiesta Bowl and LaMichael James was the driving force behind Oregon's high-powered offense that won the Rose Bowl. 

That's what makes it easy to not know about defensive end/outside linebacker, Nick Perry. 

The redshirt junior from Detroit has been a staple on USC's defense for three seasons. After exploding with 9.0 sacks in 2009, his production dipped in 2010, when he had 4.0 quarterback takedowns. 

This season, he set a career-high with 9.5 sacks. 

At 6'3'' and 250 pounds, Perry displays great drive on every play and uses elite athleticism, speed and deceptive power to get to the signal-caller. 

He's only 21 years old, so he comes with loads of upside. 

Don't be shocked if he's pick in the top 15 or 20 and is one of the first pass-rushers selected. 

Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina 

With big, physically-impressive wide receivers headlining the 2012 class like Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery, it's time you get to know Dwight Jones if you weren't already aware of the 6'4'', 225-pound senior wideout. 

The Tar Heels have been a NFL-factory of late, but they haven't been the most successful team in the ACC. 

In 2011, on a seven-win UNC team, Jones hauled in 85 passes for 1,196 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

While I don't expect him to be a first-round pick, this Tar Heels star should go in the early-second. 

Jones has great potential and possesses what you can't teach: size and deceptive speed. He's a chain-mover that can make plays down the field.  

2012 NFL Mock Draft (Jan. 10 Update)

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: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

10.  Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Seattle Seahawks: Nick Perry, OLB, USC

12.  Kansas City Chiefs: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

13.  Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

14.  Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict, LB Arizona State

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

17.  Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami  

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

19.  Chicago Bears: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

20.  Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

21.  Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

22.  Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

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: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

27.  New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

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

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

30.  San Francisco 49ers: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

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

32.  Green Bay Packers: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

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