Senior Bowl 2012: 10 Most Impressive Performances

The 2012 Senior Bowl has come and gone, and it was a good opportunity for some relatively unknown players to show the NFL their stuff.

Some players took great advantage, and some did not. Many had great performances that will help their draft stock.

Here are 10 guys who had the best 2012 Senior Bowl performances.

Isaiah Pead

Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead was named the MVP of the game, so he should be first.

He rushed for 31 yards and added 98 yards on punt returns. With this performance, he might have gotten himself a job as a return man next season.

Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins was a big part of why the North team was victorious.

He went 5-of-11 for 115 yards and a score. It was his touchdown pass that gave the North the commanding lead that they never gave up.

Cousins was probably the most impressive quarterback in the game.

Kellen Moore

Kellen Moore might be the most controversial quarterback prospect in a long time. Some say he can't throw, some say he's the best passer out there. His performance in the Senior Bowl really didn't prove anything either.

He completed 6-of-12 passes for 50 yards—a fine performance against that kind of competition. However, it didn't really show NFL scouts anything; it was a just a decent performance.

Nick Foles

After practice reports had been coming out all week talking about how much better Brandon Weeden looked than Nick Foles, the exact opposite happened in the game.

While Weeden had a very uneven performance, Foles threw for 136 yards and a touchdown. He was clearly the best South quarterback during game time.

Joe Adams

Joe Adams is the player who helped himself the most in this game. The former Arkansas Razorback caught eight passes for 133 yards.

He very easily had the best day of any wide receiver in the game and showed NFL teams that he has what it takes to excel against top-level competition.

Quinton Coples

Quinton Coples showed just how disruptive he can be to opposing quarterbacks in this game. Each North quarterback was continuously watching for him any time he was on the field.

This performance might have been enough to convince some NFL GMs that Coples has what it takes for the next level.

Courtney Upshaw

Courtney Upshaw had a very impressive showing. He had three tackles, two of which were for loss and a sack.

That kind of impact in the small minutes you get in this type of game is a big indicator of ability. Upshaw looked like a guy who was ready to play in the NFL right now.

Juron Criner

I've had a lot of questions about Juron Criner this season and about whether or not he'll be able to do well in the NFL. His performance did help with the questions some.

Criner caught six passes for 77 yards and the only receiving touchdown by any player on the South. He showed me something, but he needs to show me more to make me a believer.

Gerell Robinson

To be honest, I was not familiar with this guy much before this game. I am now.

Robinson caught just two passes for 64 yards. He's a guy with big-play potential, which is something that NFL teams can always use.

Drew Butler

Punters need love too, and this guy earned it.

Drew Butler punted four times for 202 yards—an average of 50.5 yards per punt. That's just insane. Any NFL teams need a punter? This is the guy.