Senior Bowl 2012: Unknowns Ready to Become Household Names

There are some pretty big names at the Senior Bowl every year. It's the final opportunity people are going to get to see their favorite college stars in action before they get drafted, and college football junkies know exactly who's going to be there.

The best thing about the Senior Bowl, though, is that you get to familiarize yourself with players you don't know. Perhaps you've heard of them before, but you have no idea who they are or what they can do.

The Senior Bowl is their time to show off, and it's your chance to learn a thing or two.

If this is something you're looking forward to, I'll give you a little hint:

Keep an eye on the four guys listed below. You're going to be surprised how good they are.

Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

North Carolina fans and people who are really into the NFL Draft know about Zach Brown, but he's a relative unknown in the grand scheme of things.

If you keep your eye on Brown, what you're going to see is a player who is remarkably fast for his size. Like most recent UNC defensive players, Brown is a freakish athlete and a joy to watch when he's doing his thing.

Moreover, the word coming out of the Senior Bowl practices is quite positive. It's no secret that Brown is athletic, but Tony Pauline of SI.com wrote that Brown is getting better at a key part of his game:

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Add Zach Brown of North Carolina to the list of linebackers who can not be stopped in pass-rushing drills. That's a good sign, as Brown has shown terrific strength in these drills, which is the biggest question mark of his game.

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So in addition to being a freakish athlete, Brown is now a stud pass rusher.

I'm trying not to compare him to Von Miller, but I can't help it. 

Juron Criner, WR, Arizona

I've been a big Juron Criner fan for a couple years now, as he was one of the most productive receivers in the Pac-12 in 2010 and 2011 and he was typically a joy to watch.

Criner hasn't gotten much love from draft pundits in the months leading up to the draft, but that's starting to change this week. Here's this from ESPN's Todd McShay:

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Arizona WR Juron Criner has had a sneaky-strong week, showing smoothness for his size (6-2, 220) and impressive hands. Criner uses his frame effectively when shielding defenders from the ball, and his 10-4 hands were on display today on over-the-shoulder grabs and catches in traffic. He continued to help himself with another solid effort.

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Pauline has also been impressed with Criner, praising him for being a "terrific athlete."

It actually strikes me as a little surprising that scouts are just now coming around to Criner, as he always impressed me every time I watched him. His only real problem these last two years was having Nick Foles as his quarterback. Foles giveth and Foles taketh away.

Criner will have Foles throwing to him again at the Senior Bowl, but he'll also have Ryan Lindley and Brandon Weeden throwing to him. Either way, Criner will be fun to watch.

Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall

Judging from what has come out from the Senior Bowl practices, Vinny Curry has had an up-and-down kind of week.

Luckily, it sounds like it's been more up than down. McShay has praised Curry for his " relentless motor, toughness and passion for the game," and Pauline described him as being "impossible to stop."

I'd be lying if I were to tell you I'm familiar with Curry's play, but the dude definitely passes the eye test. He looks like a prototypical NFL defensive end, and he apparently plays like one. Kinda makes you wonder why he's playing at Marshall and not, say, North Carolina.

Oh well. He sounds like a beast, so I'm looking forward to watching him.

Marvin Jones, WR, Cal

I have to admit, this is a bit of a sentimental pick. I'm plenty familiar with Marvin Jones' work, and I've always been a fan.

I'll also admit that I think scouts haven't given Jones nearly enough love as far as his draft stock is concerned.

Until now. Jones has been getting all sorts of praise at the Senior Bowl practices, and he featured prominently in a New York Times report that spoke very highly of him.

Just take a look at this passage:

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Jones’s vertical skills might serve as a revelation to some evaluators who have only watched him in recent years as Cal’s bailout option. That recent role in Jeff Tedford’s West Coast offense has served him well because he has become a physical receiver for his size. He plays big for his 6-2 frame and he also showed that today when he ran a hook route and collided at the top of his break with the defensive back, but managed to make a diving rebound of a pass he tipped after the initial collision.

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If Jones sounds awesome in print, just wait 'til you see him in action.

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