2012 NFL Mock Draft: Lamar Miller and 4 Other Prospects Who Came out Too Early

Not so much that the following players will be busts in the NFL, they just increase those odds in leaving too early.

In terms of draft stock alone, one more college season could really be the difference in how an NFL career pans out.

That said, check out some prospects who should have played college football for one more season.

Lamar Miller: RB, Miami (FL.)

Back in mid-December, according to Heather Dinich of ESPN, Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller declared for the NFL.

Without a doubt, Miller can develop into a complete NFL running back. He has the size, strength and acceleration to do so.

However, he's only a redshirt sophomore and had just one completely solid season under his belt. As a redshirt freshman in 2010, Miller compiled 646 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while also returning eight kickoffs back for 214 yards (including one touchdown).

So, he definitely had built a solid foundation heading into 2011. There, Miller ran for 1,272 yards, scored nine touchdowns and returned seven kickoffs for 162 yards.

Although that's solid production and he's projected as a late first/early second-rounder, Miller could have propelled into the top five in 2013. He may also have been a Heisman Trophy candidate.

In the NFL, don't expect him to contribute much from the start because being projected rather high doesn't guarantee anything.

Cliff Harris: CB, Oregon

According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, Ducks' defensive back Cliff Harris has declared for the 2012 NFL Draft:

"

Former Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris will enter the NFL Draft, according to multiple reports. 

Since being booted from the Ducks last season he has only three avenues to travel. Transfer down a level and play next season. Make a lateral move and sit out a season, play in 2013 and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. Or, do what he's doing now, make the jump and hope for the best.

"

Despite his off the field antics, Harris is still considered a late third/early fourth-round pick. Well, if we look at what former Florida Gator Janoris Jenkins did, instead of sitting out a year, he transferred down and is still considered a first-round pick.

Maybe Harris could learn something from Jenkins.

That being said, Harris definitely has the tangible attributes to succeed in the pros. As an All-American in 2010, he defended 23 passes, recorded six interceptions and returned 29 punts for 546 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Had Harris decided to transfer down, he'd definitely move up the draft boards a lot farther while also changing his intangibles for the better.

Brock Osweiler: QB, Arizona State

According to Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic earlier in January, Sun Devils quarterback Brock Osweiler is headed to the NFL:

"

Brock Osweiler is leaving ASU after just one full season as the school's starting quarterback.

The 6-foot-8 junior, lauded for his leadership skills, officially announced Friday that he has decided to enter the NFL draft. This means for the fifth consecutive season ASU will have a new starter at the game's most important position.

"

In just one year as starter, Osweiler threw for over 4,000 yards, had 26 touchdowns to 13 picks and a 63.2 completion percentage.

The only concern is that he's a one-hit wonder and getting sacked 28 times in only 13 games doesn't help either. Right now, Osweiler is slated to go early in the fourth round, which is good for just one full-time season.

However, had he came back and replicated these numbers or improved, Osweiler could have been at least an early second-rounder not to mention an outside Heisman candidate. With 2011 being overloaded at quarterback, Brock should have stayed as he would have garnered so much more exposure in 2012-13.

Ronnie Hillman: RB, San Diego State

The second redshirt sophomore to make the list, San Diego State's Ronnie Hillman could have arguably been the best back in 2012-13 had he remained with the Aztecs.

According to Brent Schrotenboer of UT San Diego, Hillman declared shortly after the new year:

"

San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman said he will be declaring for the NFL Draft and leaving school after his sophomore college season.

He recently received feedback from the NFL that said he could be selected around the third round in April's draft if he left school early.

"

With his production the first two seasons, Hillman didn't make a bad decision by any means. However, as an early season Heisman candidate in 2011, he would have made so much more noise in 2012.

In 2010 he compiled over 1,500 rushing yards and scored 17 touchdowns while upping those numbers in 2011. There, Hillman ran for over 1,700 yards, caught 24 balls for 270 yards and scored 20 total touchdowns.

The only downside is that the Aztecs play in the Mountain West Conference, so his week-to-week competition was not overly difficult. One more season and he could have been a legit first-round pick and really put San Diego State on the map.

That being said, it will be interesting watching Hillman try to make the early NFL jump from a non-BCS school.

Edwin Baker: RB, Michigan State

According to Larry Lage of the Associated Press, Michigan State running back Edwin Baker has declared for the 2012 NFL Draft.

That being said, Baker is only considered to be a late sixth- or early seventh-round pick and he could have at least became a fourth or fifth-round draft choice, with another year of college football.

Now, Baker did have a productive 2010 season where he compiled 1,201 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns, while also averaging 5.8 yards per carry. 2011 however, saw a dive in numbers because of fellow Brahma Bull Le'Veon Bell sharing carries and the Spartans throwing the rock a bit more.

So, maybe Baker left early thinking that 2012 wasn't going to be worth his time unless he received more carries. Well, quarterback Kirk Cousins is a senior, so he'll be gone. With someone new under center, you would think that coach Mark Dantonio would call for more running plays.

Based on his 2011 numbers alone, as well as a 3.8 yards per carry average, it wouldn't be surprising to see Baker go undrafted. At least all the aforementioned prospects are considered fourth-round picks or higher.

2012 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)	17. Cincinnati (From OAK): Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)	18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	19. Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)
4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)	20. Tennessee Titans: Mohamed Sanu, WR (Rutgers)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)	21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
6. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)	22. Cleveland (From ATL): Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)	23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (UNC)
8. Miami Dolphins: David DeCastro, G (Stanford)	24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zebrie Sanders, OT (Florida State)
9. Carolina Panthers: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)	25. Denver Broncos: Chase Minnifield, CB (UVA)
10. Buffalo Bills: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Nebraska)	26. Houston Texans: Jerel Worthy, DT (Michigan State)
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)	27. New England Patriots (From NO): Nick Perry, DE (USC)
12. Seattle Seahawks: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)	28. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)
13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)	29. New York Giants: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)
14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)	30. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)	31. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)
16. New York Jets: Brandon Thompson, DE (Clemson)	32. New England Patriots: Jayron Hosley, CB (Virginia Tech)

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