10 CFB Stars with Most to Gain at NFL Combine

The 2012 NFL combine is scheduled for Feb. 22-28, where more than 300 of college football's top pro prospects will be showcasing their skills for NFL scouts and coaches, hoping to secure a coveted draft selection.

While there are some college athletes that are a lock to be drafted high in the first round, there are still a number of now-former college players who have something left to prove before any NFL franchise is willing to call their name in April.

Here are 10 college football stars who stand to gain the most from a positive performance in the combine this year.

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict showed throughout the 2011 season that he has every right to be considered one of the top linebackers in the nation.

At 6'3" and weighing in around 250 pounds, Burfict's combination of size and speed is absolutely lethal to opposing offenses.

If it were simply a matter of talent and athleticism, Burfict would easily be a high second-round pick, even approaching a first-round selection. But it's not that simple.

Anyone who watched Burfict in 2011 knows that he has two speeds: off and kill. The problem with his second speed is that killing the quarterback can get you into some trouble in the NFL. Burfict will need to show he's not as difficult to coach as most say he is (he was the second-most penalized player in college football in 2011), and finding an intermediate gear somewhat lower than murdering the opposition will be key to his success at the next level.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Speaking of penalized players, the only player to have more penalty yards accepted against him than Vontaze Burfict was Michigan State's Jerel Worthy.

At 6'3” and a whopping 310 pounds, Worthy would be a great addition to any NFL squad's defensive line. While a quick glance of his stats doesn't instantly impress, anyone who paid attention to the details of MSU's defense in 2011 will know how valuable Worthy was to the Spartans' success.

Because Worthy is so big and so strong, he is the frequent recipient of double-teams, opening up vital pass-rush lanes for blitzing linebackers. Worthy also has the ability to clog up the line with his 310-pound body, making running up the middle a difficult prospect for any running back.

As his assignment changed for Michigan State this past season (no longer taking the off-tackle position), it's easy to look at Worthy as a guy who doesn't penetrate the line, doesn't spend time in the backfield and doesn't make game-changing impact plays. He'll have to show that he still has that ability while subtly reminding NFL scouts that backfield presence wasn't his assignment in 2011.

He also needs to show a renewed effort to playing within the rules. Defensive holding, face masks and personal foul penalties on the defensive line can really hurt a team in the NFL—just ask the Detroit Lions and Ndamukong Suh.

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Luke Kuechly, the 6'3", 237-pound linebacker from Boston College, was one of the few bright spots for the Eagles in 2011.

Even as a freshman in 2009, Kuechly started 12 games at linebacker, and he's been getting better every year since.

Kuechly was such an important part of the Eagles' defense in 2011 that the next closest player on the team in terms of tackles had 117 fewer tackles! Kuechly also had 102 solo tackles in 2011, with the next closes teammate notching 65 solo tackles.

The thing that made Kuechly so good for BC wasn't his amazing athleticism, but his ability to get inside the minds of the opposing team. At times, it seemed as if Kuechly knew where the ball was going before the opposing offense did.

Showing some progression in his athletic ability to the next level at the combine could secure Kuechly a first-round selection. His textbook tackling ability and his raw football instincts are that good.

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd could have easily taken his talents to the NFL last season, but he instead opted for his senior year at Notre Dame.

The result was another year of showcasing his abilities for NFL scouts across the nation, and there's no longer any doubt that Floyd could turn into a great possession receiver at the next level.

While Floyd is sure-handed and has the ability to become very elusive once the ball is in his hands, the main concern going forward will be his durability against injury and a few minor character concerns (he has been cited for underage drinking and arrested for a DUI).

Floyd will need to use his interview time to convince everyone that his days of legal trouble are behind him. Still, it's likely we'll hear Floyd's name called in the first round come April.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Andrew Luck isn't the only Stanford Cardinal with a first-round pick headed his way.

Offensive tackle Jonathan Martin is another player from Stanford with legit top-10 credentials.

Logic tells us that a guy standing 6'6” tall and carrying around over 300 pounds wouldn't be the most agile person. Martin defies that logic with impressive quickness in his feet. His ability to move defenders was unmatched in the Pac-12, and he can create running room as well as anyone in the nation.

Martin's flaw also stems from his greatest strength, however. Because Martin is so quick, he has shown a reliance on that quickness to get himself into proper position when pass blocking. While you might be able to get away with that most of the time in the Pac-12, the NFL is a different beast, and as quick as Martin is, he won't be able to overcome positional issues against speedy NFL rushers.

Overcoming some sloppy footwork (which has led to most of his positional problems) by the combine could catapult Martin into the top five come April.

Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

One of the worst things to happen to the North Carolina football program in recent memory was one of the best things that could have happened to Zach Brown.

In the midst of a scandal, UNC suspended much of its 2010 defense. One of the backups to emerge as a great player in his own right was Brown, who stepped up as a leader of the new Tar Heels defense.

Brown is not the biggest linebacker we'll see at this year's combine, but he has some amazing speed for a linebacker. NFL coaches are also going to like the plethora of top-tier college experience he'll bring to the table.

Should he make an impression on a team or two at the combine, Brown may very well hear his name called in the first round.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery's 2011 season may not have measured up to the lofty expectations we all had back in August, but Jeffery still emerged as the top receiver for the Gamecocks this season.

Although we were hoping for more than eight touchdowns on 762 yards, Jeffery still has a body that every NFL team wants at wideout. He's a tall 6'4" and a strong 229-pound receiver who has shown the ability to run a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash and will likely come in well under that during the combine.

Perhaps not as important, but still worth noting, Jeffery doesn't come with any baggage. He doesn't have any significant injuries in his past and he has kept his nose clean off the field (though he was ejected from the Capital One Bowl for a fight with Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard).

Stats aren't everything. If Jeffery produces as expected at the combine, expect him to be among the top three receivers called to the podium.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

One of the players who has the most to gain from the NFL combine is outgoing Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

It's important to remember that Tannehill is not a natural quarterback, but was moved to the position after beginning his Aggie career as a wide receiver (and A&M's leading receiver at that). Because of his conversion, Tannehill doesn't possess the typical size most NFL teams look for in their quarterbacks. However, Tannehill has the ability to make up for his lack of size.

First, Tannehill will need to show an ability to bulk up for the NFL. Depending on how much he's able to add to his 6'4", 222-pound frame, Tannehill may get some long looks from teams looking to add a quarterback for down the road a few years.

Tannehill has a ton of upside. He's quick and agile, and his height is a definite bonus. He's also accurate on short- to medium-range passes.

His lack of arm strength, though, will give teams a reason for doubt. Adding some power to his cannon and showcasing some increased distance at the combine will go a long way toward making Tannehill a first-rounder.

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Morris Claiborne has opted for forgo his senior year at LSU and take his talents to the NFL next season.

Claiborne again led LSU in interceptions in 2011 with six—four more than any other Tiger. Claiborne also added in 51 tackles and six pass break-ups this season. He has clearly established himself as a premier corner in the SEC, and his fast, 6'0", 185-pound frame will be much-coveted by NFL teams.

With speeds approaching 4.35 in the 40-yard dash, any sub-4.4 time at the combine should land him easily in the first round. He'll likely cut his pro teeth as a return specialist, something he excelled at while at LSU.

Robert Griffin, III, QB, Baylor

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will be a player every team wants to take a look at during the 2012 NFL combine.

There aren't many players that can boast a 72.4 percent completion mark with more than 400 attempts on the season while simultaneously posting an impressive 37-to-six touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Griffin also posted a QB rating of 189.47 during the 2011 season, just behind Wisconsin's Russell Wilson, who posted a 191.78 rating (but with around 100 fewer attempts).

All that being said, Griffin is still a work in progress and has a few negatives that he'll need to overcome to impress coaches enough at the combine to warrant spending a coveted top-10 selection on him.

First off, Griffin is a great athlete that is still very raw. This past season, he was able to utilize some much-improved accuracy to win more than a few games for Baylor. But he also relied on his pure athleticism to bail out of the pocket.

What NFL coaches will want to see from Griffin is the ability scramble while still looking for a potential receiver downfield. Throughout the 2011 season, Griffin had the tendency to bail out quickly,and commit to running the ball.

Griffin will also need to spend a lot of time learning defenses, following through on his progressions and recognize coverages before the snap in order to check down to another play.

While that sounds like a lot to saddle him with, Griffin has also proven himself to be a very smart young man, and should be very teachable at the next level.

His Heisman hardware probably earned him a first-round pick back in December, but he'll likely spend several years learning a team's system before we see him on the field. Which team selects him, however, will all depend on how much he's been able to learn in the relatively short period between the end of the college season as the combine.

Because of that, RG3 is my pick for the college football star with the most to gain from the 2012 NFL combine.