2012 NFL Mock Draft: Janoris Jenkins and Small-School Gems on the Rise

This is the best time of year for fans of speculation and high risk meeting high reward. The draft process is about to get really interesting, making players like Janoris Jenkins into stars. 

The Senior Bowl is just the first step to a grander understanding of where these potential professional studs will end up in April. 

For this mock, we have to understand that there is no way of knowing what general managers will do a few months from now, nor can we know which players will falter during the draft process. 

Consider this a gauge of temperature in the current state of NFL prospects. We have singed out those prospects that have proved once again that a big school doesn't have to be the only avenue to the NFL. 

Here is the 2012 NFL Mock Draft with small-school flavor. 

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

Andrew Luck is still the man for the Colts. He is the best quarterback on the board and the Colts are in need of one with the future of Peyton Manning in flux. 

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

The Rams could use a wide receiver, but need a healthy Sam Bradford far more. Kalil would guarantee Bradford has a bounce-back year next season. 

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

Claiborne was the pick for me a week ago and remains so today. The Vikings need a big strong corner that can shutdown receivers as well as invigorate fans with his play making. 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

Trent Richardson would be a fine pick, but RG3 is slowly building momentum. There is a good chance that the Washington Redskins trade up to nab him. The Browns are not sold on their current quarterback situation and can hardly overlook a shining star like Griffin. 

Griffin is the perfect player to make our point in this mock draft. Just because you are destined to play at a small program, it doesn't have to preclude you from big-time goals. 

Griffin has the Heisman and his charisma, charm and talent could see him challenge for the top spot by the time the draft process is done. 

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

The Bucs need a cornerback badly and one that will provide some physicality on the wings. There is no need to trade for Morris Claiborne when an equally talented Kirkpatrick looms.  

6. Washington Redskins (5-10): Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR

The Redskins desperately need a quarterback they can bill as a franchise player. The only two worth having are gone. They could use help in the secondary, but that is taken, too. If they don't trade up, they take the best player available and Blackmon is hardly a horrible pick here. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

We are sold on Floyd and the Jaguars need a receiver badly. The Notre Dame standout is a perfect complement for Blaine Gabbert moving forward. 

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE

The Panthers need some youth in the defensive front and the jury is till very much out on Coples. If the Panthers can look past his label as a sluggish player, he is their man.  

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

The Dolphins could be major player on or before draft day. Matt Flynn gives the Packers a great chip to bandy about to prospective buyers. Miami is not in dire need as Matt Moore proved competent in 2011. The key now is to keep whoever does take snaps healthy. 

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

The Bills need a great deal more toughness on defense. Kuechly has a mind for the game and is adept at being at the right place at the right time. Kuechly needs to prove his size has nothing to do with what he brings to the field at the combine. 

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Michael Brockers, LSU, DT

The Seahawks may also be in play on Griffin talks, but they could use a beast on the line and Brockers is that unrelenting force. The Seahawks would get a gritty player that is simply impossible to consistently contain. 

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

This would be a steal. In all reality, Martin could jump on this board into the top five with a solid combine. The best part about Martin is his run-blocking, which should help the Chiefs move the ball all next season. Well-regarded, Martin should see a bump in the next couple of weeks on boards.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, LB

The Cardinals could use a great up and coming power at linebacker and I have singled out Burfict as the real deal. He only need temper his emotions in game and the sky is truly the limit. 

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, OLB

After a horrible final game in which their toughness was questioned, the Cowboys could use a workhorse who is as versatile as he is tough. Upshaw is a hungry player that would uplift a spiraling franchise. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Zach Brown, North Carolina, LB

The Eagles may have skirted some of the off the field issues if they could have just stopped the running game on it. 

The linebacker core was inexperienced and thin on talent. Brown has the speed and power to make a difference next season. 

This is a soft class at the linebacker position and Brown will benefit with a first round payday. 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

I still like Barron for the Jets. Barron is a versatile safety that comes highly regarded and would add depth to a team that could use a strong safety to allow a more versatile approach on defense. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via 8-7 Oakland Raiders): Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, CB

The book on Dennard isn't all that great. The Cornhusker is seen as a versatile player that doesn't overpower in one aspect. 

In a nutshell, Dennard is good at all things but not great in any of them. That is a label that can be thwarted or validated at the combine.  

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

Norv Turner returns meaning you should all head to your fall out shelters. This team is going down again. One thing to prevent that is to actually keep Philip Rivers safe this season.  

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina, WR 

Alshon Jeffrey continues to build momentum heading into the draft process' crucial dates. The Bears could use a big receiver that can create distance in coverage and that is Jeffrey. 

If he can prove his speed and strength at the combine, we may be looking at a receiver that will challenge Floyd as the second receiver off the board. 

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, G

Size and the ability to stay in front, that's Cordy Glenn

*Playoff Teams Subject to change

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

This is the time when you will have to ask whether Lamar Miller is an elite running back. I think he is definitely worth the gamble. 

Cedric Benson has served well but the Bengals need another back to lift some of the heavy load. As we have seen, success is far more attainable with a tandem of gifted players, and the Bengals would also get a Miami standout with huge upside. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via 9-6 Atlanta Falcons): Devon Still, Penn State , DE 

The jury is still out on Still and whether he is a star or bust in waiting. He is out of the Senior Bowl with a toe injury so that jury will have to continue deliberating. 

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

The Lions are getting an explosive athlete that continues to drive up his stock with the promise that only a small-school standout can. 

The secret is out and Jenkins instincts began as the stuff of legends and will soon show how real they are in the draft process. 

The Lions value on depth and defense will shine through with a pick that guarantees that have a deadly secondary next season. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Zebrie Sanders, Florida State, OT

It's time to upgrade an offensive line that was on the wrong side of consistency in 2011. Sanders is an immovable force and such things are of value at tackle. 

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

I would love the Broncos to get a corner here, but none remain worth taking. They also need some talent a receiver and Wright continues to get first round love. 

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT

Poe is big and fast and can be counted upon to hold down the defensive line all on his own. That is perfect for the Houston Texans and the 3-4 defense they run. 

Poe will command a great deal of attention and will clog up the middle. The Texans marvelous defense in 2011 gets all the more fierce. 

27. New England Patriots (via 12-3 New Orleans Saints): Jarvis Jones, Georgia, OLB/DE

Jones needs to add some bulk to his frame. Some think another year would do well. The Patriots still get a versatile player who can play a couple positions and add to a Patriots defense that was far too suspect on 2011. 

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DE/DT

Cox is flying under the radar and shouldn't. He plays the run as well as he hones in on the quarterback. The Packers do what they always do, and that's grab a solid player late. 

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, Wisconsin, C 

The Ravens could use a linebacker as well as some talent at receiver. Taking any of that at this point would be a reach, but they still have options. 

The Ravens started the year in need of offensive line depth and Konz would go a long way to ensure this team never goes hungry in that way again. Well, for the foreseeable future at least. 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Jared Crick, Nebraska, DE

The Niners get a versatile machine in Crick that will go nicely with the new team motif of killing quarterbacks.  

31. New York Giants (9-7): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

The Giants finally figured out their offensive line woes so I have them concentrating on the other side of the ball. There is a good chance that a solid linebacker comes falling to the back of the first round, but if not, Branch is a solid pick. 

He doesn't fill a specific need, but he is the best player at the time and would give the Giants great depth and versatility. 

32. New England Patriots (13-3): Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State, S

God, that secondary was awful. The Patriots simply have to address their pass defense, which was once again deplorable. Martin goes a long way to shoring up such things.  

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