Senior Bowl 2012: Comparing the Best Defensive Prospects to Current NFL Players

Who do Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, South Carolina's Melvin Ingram and North Carolina's Quinton Coples compare to at the NFL level? 

Which guys do they most resemble on the football field? 

Here's a closer look at the top defensive players who are at the Senior Bowl this week and their professional counterparts.

Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

NFL Comparison: Chris Long 

The success Long has experienced early in his career has been overshadowed due to the Rams' inability to win football games. 

At 6'3" and 270 pounds, he's a bit taller and leaner than Upshaw, but both are classic edge-rushers that frequently beat offensive tackles with a rare combination of quickness off the ball and power once they engage.

Neither player is especially fast tracking the football on running plays, but they're athletic enough to stay on the field on running downs.

Long has been a reliable player for the Rams with star potential. The same goes for Upshaw. He's a safe pick, and while it's uncertain he'll become a superstar at the next level, he should be a solid contributor that will benefit just about any defense.  

Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

NFL Comparison: LaMarr Woodley

Woodley is arguably the best and most intimidating all-around player on the Pittsburgh Steelers' daunting defense.

He plays on the edge with his hand on the ground and is a ferocious pass-rusher. However, he's listed as the team's outside linebacker and is comfortable dropping into coverage because of his elite athleticism and speed. Against the run, he's a reliable tackler and certainly doesn't shy away from delivering the hard hit on tailbacks. 

While Ingram is more of a pure defensive end, like Woodley, he's a special athlete and runs tremendously well for 6'1", 276 pounds. He was utilized on a fake punt during South Carolina's 2011 season and ran 68 yards for a touchdown, looking more like a tight end as he sprinted down the sideline. He has a variety of moves to get to the passer, but typically uses his quickness and power when rushing. 

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

NFL Comparison: J.J. Watt

While Watt has a motor that never quits and Coples was accused of taking plays off during his underwhelming senior year, the North Carolina defensive end can be dominant when he wants to be. 

Watt exploded onto the scene in 2011 as a part of one of the best defenses in the NFL. He racked up 5.5 sacks and was a force against the run and pass all season. His interception of Andy Dalton in the Wild Card Round was a turning point in the Texans' first playoff victory. 

They're almost identical in size (6'5", 288 pounds) and are real physical specimens. Coples is more of a finesse player than Watt, but the Texans' defensive end is deceptively agile and uses his good footwork to sniff out screen plays and misdirection runs.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

NFL Comparison: Johnathan Joseph

Jenkins began his career at the University of Florida before being dismissed due to off-field issues. He played for North Alabama in 2011, and obviously flourished at the Division II level. The Texans' Joseph stands 5'11" and is a chiseled 191 pounds. At the Senior Bowl, Jenkins measured in a shade above 5'9" but displayed good enough bulk at 191 pounds too.

Both are fluid athletes that have the ability to cover even the shiftiest of receivers. During Senior Bowl practices, Jenkins was considered the best corner on either squad and should be a game-changer in man coverage in the pros, just like Joseph has been over the last few seasons. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso