Senior Bowl 2012 Roster: Ranking the 10 Best Offensive Players in the Game

Saturday's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama is not only an opportunity for athletes from around the nation to don the helmets of their alma mater for one last time, it's also a vitally important event where they can showcase their talents for NFL scouts before next month's scouting combine.

With only a few days to practice together, the game tends to be a bit on the choppy side, making the practices earlier this week even more important than the game itself.

With that said here's a look at the top 10 offensive talents in the 2012 Senior Bowl, with the focus slanted more towards their NFL potential than their collegiate skills and success.

10. LaDarius Green: TE, Louisiana-Lafayette

There isn't a bumper crop of tight ends at this year's Senior Bowl, but among them Ladarius Green, who reeled in 51 catches and eight touchdowns last season, has emerged as the top player at his position.

Green had a solid set of practices this week for the South squad, running good routes, displaying soft hands and getting separation in coverage, and that coupled with his 6'6" 237 lb. frame should cause Green to generate plenty of interest from NFL teams moving forward.

9. Chris Rainey: RB, Florida

Although Florida running back Chris Rainey had a very productive senior season in Gainesville, racking up over 1,200 total yards, at 5'8" and 178 lbs. many pundits consider Rainey too small to be a running back at the next level.

However, Rainey drew raves from the South coaching staff earlier in the week for his versatility, and with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield or even split wide as a receiver, it's possible he could grow into a Darren Sproles-type weapon at the next level.

8. Brian Quick: WR, Appalachian State

Appalachian State wide receiver Brian Quick enjoyed a very solid senior season with 71 catches for 1,096 yards and 11 scores in 2011, and at 6'2" 226 lbs., Quick possesses a frame very well suited for a career as an NFL wide receiver.

However, Quick is very much a work in progress (as many small-school prospects are), and an NFL team interested in drafting him should likely view him much more as a "project" type than a finished product.

7. Kirk Cousins: QB, Michigan State

Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins enjoyed a stellar career with the Spartans, throwing for over 9,000 yards in four seasons, and with a 6'2", 209 lb.-frame and experience in a pro style offense, Cousins is sure to draw plenty of attention from NFL scouts.

Cousins has reportedly been the North squad's most impressive quarterback in Senior Bowl practices this week, and should he continue that strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, Cousins could easily find his name called fairly early in April's NFL Draft.

6. Doug Martin: RB, Boise State

One of the key components to Boise State University's rise to national prominence over the past few years was the play of running back Doug Martin, who topped 1,200 rushing yards in both his junior and senior seasons.

Martin showed good vision and power throughout his career on the blue turf and showed up at the Senior Bowl in phenomenal shape, and while Martin may lack blazing speed, the fact that the Detroit Lions met with him in Mobile indicates that not only could his NFL future may bright, but also that he could find himself starting in the NFL sooner as opposed to later.

5. Marvin McNutt: WR, Iowa

Wide receiver Marvin McNutt shined in his senior season at Iowa, reeling in 82 catches for 1,315 yards and 12 scores despite facing constant double-teams, and at 6'4" and 215 lbs., he's the sort of big receiving target that many NFL scouts drool over.

McNutt showed excellent ability to beat press coverage and good hands in practices this week, and given his size and the need that many NFL squads have for a possession or red-zone type wide receiver, it's unlikely that McNutt will last past the draft's second round.

4. Mike Adams: OT, Ohio State

Offensive tackle Mike Adams was a mainstay of the offensive line for the Ohio State Buckeyes for several seasons, and the 6'7" 327-lb. Adams was a second-team All Big-10 performer as a senior and almost certainly has a bright future in the National Football League.

Adams was his usual stalwart self in pass blocking this week in Senior Bowl practices but scuffled a bit in run blocking. However, given his resume and the premium placed on offensive tackles in the NFL Draft, it's very possible that Mike Adams will be drafted in the first round this April.

3. Brandon Weeden: QB, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden helped lead the Cowboys to the first BCS bowl game in school history in 2011, and the 6'4" 220-lb. gunslinger has arguably been the sharpest signal-caller at Senior Bowl practices this week.

By far the biggest knock on Weeden is his age (he's 28 after spending several seasons exploring a professional baseball career), but given the skills he displayed both in college and in Mobile, there's little question that some NFL team will look past his birth certificate and focus on his abilities on the gridiron.

2. Chris Polk: RB, Washington

At 5'11" 222 lbs., University of Washington running back Chris Polk is certainly built like a bellcow ballcarrier, and the Huskies standout had an exemplary senior season, gaining nearly 1,500 yards on the ground and scoring a dozen touchdowns.

Polk isn't going to win any foot races with Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans, and there were reports that he looked "soft" at Senior Bowl practices, raising both conditioning and durability concerns.

However, Bleacher Report's resident NFL Draft expert Matt Miller has been singing Polk's praises, and the esteemed Mr. Miller's dulcet tones of wisdom are good enough for me.

1. Cordy Glenn: OT/OG, Georgia

Cordy Glenn had a standout career at the University of Georgia, blocking against some of the nation's top defensive players on the way to being named an All-American in 2010 and All-SEC in 2011.

Glenn played at tackle his senior season at Georgia and lined up at that spot in Senior Bowl practices this week, but at 6'5" and 346 lbs. (that's beefy that is) his future in the National Football League may lie at guard, where he has all the makings of a first-round pick and future Pro Bowler.