East West Shrine Game 2012: Marc Tyler and Players Who'll Have Best NFL Careers

Postseason exhibitions such as the East-West Shrine Game are of great importance when it comes to the NFL draft evaluation process. One player involved in this year's game who has great NFL potential is USC running back Marc Tyler.

Tyler is one of many under-the-radar players who have made a big impression during the East-West Shrine practices, and he will look to do so in the game as well. There may not be any current major stars in the game, but some players will surely make an impact in the NFL. Including Tyler, here are three East-West Shrine players who will have great NFL careers.

RB Marc Tyler, USC

One of the newest trends in the NFL is running backs developing into stars despite not receiving much hype entering the league. USC running back Marc Tyler could certainly fit that description. Because of the Trojans' pass-happy offense Tyler rushed for just 568 yards this past season, but he has had an impressive week of practices and looks to be an interesting sleeper.

Tyler is very compact at 5'10", 230 lbs. and he can take a beating. One of the most important aspects of an NFL running back is durability and thanks to his frame Tyler provides that.

Tyler would likely be a good short-yardage back at first, but he has the physical tools to develop into an every-down rusher. He seems to be a Day 3 pick right now, but I think he will far exceed that value.

DT Nick Jean-Baptiste, Baylor

There is no question that the most dominant defensive player during the East-West Shrine practices has been Baylor defensive tackle Nick Jean-Baptiste. That shouldn't come as a surprise as Jean-Baptiste is certainly one of the most talented players in the game and he is coming off an excellent season in which he recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Jean-Baptiste has very advantageous size as he packs 335 lbs. onto a 6'1" frame, allowing him to win battles in the trenches and to get a great push.

Jean-Baptiste looks like a prototypical nose tackle who can take on multiple blockers at the next level. It's possible that his height could scare away some teams, but he has a great motor and a history of success.

CB Shaun Prater, Iowa

Perhaps the most steady and reliable player at any position in the East-West Shrine Game is Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater. While you never heard much about the long-time starter for the Hawkeyes, he was extremely consistent and has long been one of the Big Ten's best defenders. That figures to remain true in the Shrine Game as Prater will be charged with covering some top-level receivers.

He isn't a huge corner at 5'10" and 185 lbs., but he is very complete in that he can both cover and make stops in run support.

There are much flashier corners than Prater in the draft, but I think it's fair to say that you pretty much know what you're going to get with him. Even if he doesn't develop into a starter, he should be a useful player for many years in the NFL.