2012 NFL Draft Projections: Under-the-Radar Players Who Will Be Combine Stars

It is fun to talk about future stars like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III before the NFL draft, but the thing that makes the entire process so fascinating are the players who rise from the ashes at the scouting combine to steal the show. 

A perfect example would be a player like Vernon Davis, who had a pretty good weekend. He was not high on a lot of draft boards in 2006, but a 4.38-second 40-yard dash skyrocketed him to top-10 status. 

So which players will be workout warriors when we get to the combine next month?

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

I have gone on record as being a staunch supporter of Miller's. I think he can be a better NFL running back than Trent Richardson. At the very least, he should be able to match Richardson's production at their peaks. 

Miller can do everything that Richardson can, and he is not going to cost some team a top-five pick to get him. He is fast, has great hands and can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield. 

The only thing that is holding Miller back is his position. Unless you are someone like Richardson, who was featured on national television every week, teams are not going to value you as much. They know that they can get you later on. 

That said, I believe that Miller's workout will make him a mid-first-round pick in April. He is that good. 

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict is already being talked about as a potential top-20 pick, but when scouts get a load of his workouts it would not be a surprise to see him be taken in the 10-15 range. 

The one knock against Burfict right now is that he is very raw and will need a lot of development time. When he reaches his peak, he should be a superstar at inside linebacker. 

He possesses prototypical size (6'3" and 250 pounds) for a linebacker, and his speed is going to carry him to the top of a lot of draft boards. 

Teams can't draft him expecting to get great results right away, since he doesn't make great reads on the ball or opposing quarterbacks, but he has all the tangibles that teams look for in a linebacker. 

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

A big part of Robert Griffin's success this season can be directly attributed to Wright. He was a dominant receiver, showing explosiveness and the ability to make big plays. 

The biggest knock on him is going to be small stature. He is listed at 5'10" and 194 pounds, but we have seen plenty of smaller receivers thrive despite not having a prototypical body. 

Wright is going to electrify thanks to a combination of speed and the way that he can create separation down the field. He does have to prove that his hands will be at least adequate, but all the other tools are there for him to be a great No. 2 receiver for a long time. 

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