2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Brian Quick and the Best Small School Prospects

With so much talent in the 2012 NFL draft at the FBS level and among the BCS conferences, it's quite easy to significantly overlook anyone in the FCS level or lower.

Lest we forget Jerry Rice (who's arguably considered the single greatest football player of all time) from Mississippi Valley State, a then NCAA 1-AA school (now FCS) and Denver Broncos' tight end Shannon Sharpe from Savannah State, a then NCAA Division II (now FCS). Sharpe was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

So, let's get to it. Here are some of the small school talents to keep an eye on this spring.

San Francisco 49ers: Brian Quick, WR (Appalachian State)

A slated late second-round pick, Brian Quick from Appalachian State is a 6'4", 220-pounder receiver with excellent potential.

In 2011 he caught 71 passes for 1,096 yards which averages 15.4 yards per catch and scored 11 touchdowns.

He's the exact type of fade route/deep threat receiver the San Francisco 49ers need and Quick is also solid with yards after the catch. Along with a healthy Josh Morgan, and if Michael Crabtree can get off to a better start, Quick will make an immediate impact in the Bay Area.

His size allows him to be a good stock-blocker in the ground game, and stretching the field in the passing game will open up the underneath routes more. Quick's reliability and capability is what fits the 49ers' the best.

With Alex Smith continuing to develop and improve under center, head coach Jim Harbaugh can provide him with the missing piece to the puzzle of their offense.

Cleveland Browns: Amini Silatolu, Guard (Midwestern State)

He may be from an NCAA Division II school in Midwestern State; however, Amini Silatolu is just what the Cleveland Browns need in the trenches.

For one, he'll make a great right guard opposite a healthy Eric Steinbach and, because of his versatility, Silatolu can also play right tackle if needed. Although the Division II talent won't come close to that of the NFL's, playing against the best pass-rushers from that level each week is beneficial.

Inside the trenches, he'll be great for the Browns' rushing attack as they need a lineman with punishing attitude. Amini gives great effort and knows how to get to the second level.

Pass blocking though is arguably his best attribute.

Silatolu is easily a better fit at guard, but he has the awareness to know when to pop the chest of the defender and can pick up blitzes.

Cleveland needs some attitude in the trenches and Amini is the perfect solution.

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Steed: CB, Furman

In a cornerback loaded draft, Furman's Ryan Steed is considered an early to mid fourth-round pick. Considering that seven corners may go before Round 3 even begins, Steed's status is quite impressive with the depth of his position.

This past season, he picked off four passes, broke up another four and made 46 tackles. A year earlier in 2010, Steed had a breakout performance with four picks, nine breakups, 65 tackles and three forced fumbles.

So, it's clear that Steed has established himself quite well heading into his final collegiate year and still put up similar numbers despite being challenged less.

Well, he'll get the opportunity to showcase his talent in Buffalo as the Bills have a poor pass defense to go with a poor rush defense.

There, Steed's ability to make plays on the ball, his quickness to blanket a receiver and close fast in the zone, as well as his help with edge run support will do wonders. Buffalo needs all the help it can get on defense to assist a potentially explosive offense, and Steed can only help.

Detroit Lions: B.J. Coleman: QB, Chattanooga

Although he only played in seven games during the 2011 season, Chattanooga's B.J. Coleman is still considered a late fifth/early sixth-round draft pick.

Now, he only threw for 1,527 yards and nine touchdowns to nine picks with a 60.9 completion percentage, but he was much more impressive in 2010 with almost 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns to 13 picks.

Coleman, however, impressed at the East-West Shrine game going 10-of-15 for 170 yards and throwing a touchdown. A strong arm with improved mechanics, Coleman works well in Detroit.

The Lions need a reliable backup with a strong arm, because Matthew Stafford can be injury-prone at times, and having a quarterback to hit Calvin Johnson down field is their best bet.

With a strong display at the combine along with his pro day, Coleman could move up another round or two before late April rolls around.

2012 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)	17. Cincinnati (From OAK): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)	18. San Diego Chargers: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
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: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Nebraska)	25. Denver Broncos: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)
10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)	26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Nick Perry, DE (USC)	27. New England Patriots (From NO): Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)
12. Seattle Seahawks: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)	28. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)
13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)	29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)
14. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)	31. New York Giants: Jerel Worthy, DT (Michigan State)
16. New York Jets: Brandon Thompson, DE (Clemson)	32. New England Patriots: Chase Minnifield, (UVA)

John Rozum on Twitter.