NFL Combine 2012: Top 25 Players to Watch

The NFL scouting combine is one of a few different postseason events leading up to the draft in April that can make or break a prospect's stock. Scouts, front office personnel and coaches from all 32 teams will make the trek to Indianapolis for the yearly event.

For those of us who are unable or unwilling to make the trip, the NFL Network has started to broadcast a great deal of the event. This allows writers and fans to get a better understanding of the process and gives us a football fix during the offseason.

I plan on watching with added interest this season because there are numerous prospects that intrigue me in what promises to be a strong overall draft class.

This article is going to focus on the top 25 players I am most intrigued with seeing perform at the annual event. You will not see the likes of Andrew Luck, Matt Kalil, Morris Claiborne or Trent Richardson on this list. We already know they are top 10 prospects, so the combine just acts like a way to legitimize their stock. Instead, I will be focusing on players that have the most to gain or lose from the event.

Accordingly, you will see possible first-round picks on this list as well as small-school performers who haven't received a lot of press as of yet.

25. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona

Big Board ranking: 43

I currently have Nick Foles with a mid-second-round grade. He jumped up a little bit following a great Senior Bowl performance and is quickly becoming a major sleeper at the quarterback position. He has the size and arm strength to translate well to the next level.

What I like the most about the Arizona product is that he is accurate in both the intermediate and longer routes. You couple arm strength with accuracy and a lot of scouts are going to take notice.

The NFL combine runs position drills. One of the most important aspect of this event for quarterbacks is showing that you can look comfortable in the pocket in both three- and five-step drops.

They make you go through different routes and read the field in the process. This is something that some collegiate quarterbacks didn't do doing their career because of less complex offenses. Can you make the second and third read? Can you get through the progressions in a timely manner? These are huge aspects of the game that scouts look at during the combine.

Foles struggled with these aspects of the game in Arizona, and he needs to show he can do it. If Foles is able to, you are looking at a player who could slip into the late first round. If not, he will be stuck in the second or third.

24. Nick Perry, LB, Southern California

Big Board ranking: 14

What impresses me the most about Nick Perry isn't just the elite speed he possesses but the fact he already has a couple pro-ready pass-rush moves. This means the former USC star will be able to come in and contribute immediately going after the quarterback.

His current 40 time is 4.34, which shows an ability to get off the edge and after the quarterback. Like I mentioned above, Perry does have a couple really nice pass-rush moves. With that said, he is going to have to show an ability to understand when to use them. He consistently breaks across the line against slower offensive tackles, but tends to struggle against linemen that have good lateral movement. He needs to understand when to use these techniques against the type of player he is going up against.

If Perry shows some extensive improvement in these aspects during drills, there is no reason to think that he cannot slip into the top 10.

23. Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

Big Board ranking: 67

A couple of the weaknesses I saw in Brandon Boykin's game were somewhat muted at the Senior Bowl because of the rules defensive backs have in that game. They cannot play press coverage, which is something the former Georgia star struggled with a great deal in college. Rather, he was able to play man coverage, which is a strength. I want to see him be able to play press and get physical at the line.

Boykin does possess fluid hip movement on the outside, which enables him to stay with the receiver in man coverage. He improved every year in college going up against upper echelon competition in the SEC. A strong combine performance could move him into the early second round, atop the second-tier corners in the draft.

22. Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

Big Board ranking: 27

One of the biggest risers of Senior Bowl Week, Jamell Fleming is quickly getting noticed as a possible first-round pick after receiving mid-round grades the weeks prior. This is for good reason as Fleming showed amazing on-ball ability on the outside. 

The national media took note of this performance leading many outlets to jump Fleming in their rankings. With that said, the former Oklahoma corner improved throughout the 2011 season and was already playing great football prior to the Senior Bowl.

I really don't see a major weakness in his game. A great performance at the combine could lead to him actually jumping into the top half of the first round.

21. Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M

Big Board ranking: 147

Jeff Fuller was a projected late first-round pick prior to a disastrous 2011 season that saw him disappear on a consistent basis and fail to get separation on the outside. This was extremely surprising considering how he played in the seasons prior.

Its hard to pinpoint exactly what happened during Fuller's senior season at Texas A&M. Dropped passes were a major concern last season as was inconsistent route-running on the outside. These struggles were magnified even more at the Senior Bowl, where Fuller struggled a great deal in front of scouts at practice and didn't show up for the game.

Another bad showing at the combine really could lead to Fuller seeing his stock drop to the point where he receives a seventh-round or undrafted grade. This is how much he has fallen off over the last year.

An important drill ran at the combine for receivers is the "gauntlet," where they are told to run sideline-to-sideline on a tee, catching passes in succession from five different quarterbacks. This will show us whether Fuller has fixed those ball security issues and if his speed is going to be a major issue heading to April.

The size is there, he just needs to improve on nearly every other aspect of his game in order to rebuild a free-falling draft stock.

20. Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Big Board ranking: 29

Quinton Coples shows some flashes of brilliance on the football field. This was highlighted during a really good Senior Bowl performance. However, he tends to struggle with consistency and has issues utilizing multiple pass-rush moves when needed.

One thing that I noticed in watching tape of the former Tar Heel is the fact that he tends to struggle against offensive linemen who get pivoted on the outside. For some reason, the talented defensive end has issues moving them off the point of contact and into the offensive backfield.

They look at the rip and swim technique during the NFL combine. If Coples is able to show above-average ability with those two, he should really impress scouts. If not, some are going to question whether he is overrated.

At this point I have Coples as a late first-round pick. This might surprise a lot of people, but I am just not terribly excited about his overall body of work at this point. He has time to prove skeptics like me wrong, and the NFL combine could go a long way in doing that. 

19. DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State

Big Board ranking: 71

DeVier Posey really lost an opportunity to show us what he was made of after being suspended for the first 10 games of the 2011 season. This is time that he just cannot get back. This also means that he is going to have to be extremely impressive during postseason events such as the NFL combine.

One of the best aspects of his game is the ability to drop down in between coverage, make plays and acquire yards after the catch. He also maintains balance on the outside and gets off his route extremely quick.

The primary thing that teams will be looking at in regards to Posey is how he interviews. This is a player that has all the talent in the world, but was right in the middle of the Ohio State scandal. Therefore, character concerns are going to be an overriding issue.

The other thing that I want to see from Posey at the NFL combine is for him to hold the ball away from his body after initial contact and not let it get trapped in his body. This causes a tremendous amount of drops and will be something that scouts will be taking a close look at.

18. Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

Big Board ranking: 24

One of my favorite players in the entire draft, Cordy Glenn has a tremendous amount of versatility for a player his size. At 6'5" and 348 pounds, he can play both the guard and tackle position. This is incredible for someone that shouldn't possess the athletic ability to move outside.

With that said, I envision Glenn playing inside at the next level. He isn't just a mauler either. Instead, he can pull to the outside on sweeps and take on faster pass-rushers, which creates a ton of matchup problems.

Expect Glenn to ace the kick slide drill, which is utilized at the NFL combine to see if pass-protectors have the ability to fend off rushers. It shows whether they have natural technique in both the two- and three-point stance. If Glenn is able to do this, you can expect him to get a look in the top 20.

17. Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Big Board ranking: 179

Stephen Hill was really plagued by Georgia Tech's run-happy offense in college. He wasn't able to show off that natural ability that many people see on tape when they take a closer look. This has put Hill under the proverbial eight ball this offseason. In reality, he needs to prove himself all over again.

The dude is 6'5" and runs a 4.5 40, which are two things you just cannot teach. He gets separation at the line and has tremendous downfield ability in the passing game.

His sample size is extremely small, which makes the NFL combine so much more important. If Hill is able to prove he can run different routes, show soft hands and work double moves into his game, you can expect him to jump up the draft boards and into the second day of the draft.

16. Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Big Board ranking: 45

Chris Polk had an opportunity to jump up the draft board during the Senior Bowl. The pickings were ripe or him as many pundits concluded that the former Washington back was ready to prove his worth as a potential first-round pick.

Instead, Polk looked incredibly slow getting to the outside. He struggled following blockers between the hashes, lacked patience and didn't show great field awareness. This caused me to drop him from a first-round grade to a mid-second-round grade.

With that said, one week of bad performances isn't going to tell the entire story in regards to Polk. He has the size and strength to be an every-down back in the NFL. What I like the most about Polk is his cutback ability—he can stop on a dime after going full speed and reverse field. This is a huge aspect many scouts will take into account at the NFL combine.

A good performance here could push Polk right back into the first round, maybe to the New York Jets.

15. Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Big Board ranking: 26

Mike Adams was one of the most impressive players during the Senior Bowl. He continually neutralized the speed-rushing ability of Melvin Ingram, taking the former South Carolina star completely out of his comfort zone. Adams was able to do this with a solid technique and ability to move laterally out of his stance. Those are also two things that scouts take into account when looking at a tackle in the first round.

His consistently good performance during the Senior Bowl forced me to move Adams up from a mid-second-round grade into the first round. If he continues to show this technique, you can expect Adams to move up the boards and into the top half of the first round.

14. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Big Board ranking: 30

I will probably get slack in regards to giving Burfict a late first-round grade until he doesn't go any higher in April's draft. It has been a consistent theme throughout my articles, but I am not a fan of the former Arizona State linebacker.

He tends to struggle getting to ball-carriers in traffic, takes himself out of too many plays and doesn't play disciplined enough to play inside at this point.

Not lost on me is the fact that Burfict is a tremendous talent and this is why I have him on this list. He has the size and speed to play inside, can get to the quarterback on blitzes and shows a tremendous mean streak. These are three things most teams look for in an inside linebacker.

I do think that he would be a great fit in the right scheme with the right personnel. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers both come to mind.

If Burfict is able to show that he can play with more discipline, there is a strong possibility his draft stock rises. I do believe, however, he is one of the most overrated prospects in the entire draft.

The NFL combine is held to prove skeptics like me wrong, and I hope he does.

13. Marvin Jones, WR, California

Big Board ranking: 107

I have had the pleasure of watching Marvin Jones play receiver for a few years here in Northern California. This is a receiver that may fly under the radar during the season because of lackluster quarterback play, but he has all the necessary skills to be a major contributor at the next level.

He is one of the better route-runners in the NFL draft, coming from a NFL type of offense at Cal. He gets to the point in relatively short order and can burn the defender on the outside with a tremendous double move.

Jones will tend to struggle at the line against press coverage because he doesn't have the build to dominate against NFL-caliber corners. This is something that is going to hold him back from being a first- or second-round pick in April.

A good NFL combine showing could push him all the way up to the third round after starting the offseason as a late-round prospect. Not too bad for a player that wasn't on anyone's radar prior to the Senior Bowl.

12. Josh Kaddu, LB, Oregon

Big Board ranking: 134

I have watched a ton of videos since the college football season and Josh Kaddu really stands out a great deal to me. It is the athleticism and raw ability that really jumps out. The former Oregon linebacker can go sideline-to-sideline with the best of them, recognizes where the ball-carrier is going with the rock and closes off the edge quickly.

As is the case with Vontaze Burfict earlier, he tends to struggle with overpursuit a great deal. This can cause a lot of problems at the next level against opponents who see the field well.

Kaddu has a tremendously high ceiling, but is also extremely raw at this point. He wont be able to come in and contribute immediately. Instead, he will have to go to the right system and learn from the right players.

With that said, you just don't see athleticism and build like this on a consistent basis in the draft. This means that he could end up going as high as the third round with a great NFL combine performance.

11. Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

Big Board ranking: 35

Doug Martin reminds me a great deal of Ray Rice. He has everything you are looking for in an all-around running back: the ability to break tackles at the line, a great eye for the hole and an understanding of where to take the ball at certain times.

The most impressive aspect of Martin's game is his patience and field vision. He rarely gets out beyond his blockers at the line, instead relying a great deal on them to open up holes between the hashes. This is something a lot of young running backs just don't do.

The off-tackle reaction drill at the NFL combine should really fit his skill set to a tee. It will enable Martin to show those quick feet and his ability to cut back on a dime. A strong performance in Indianapolis could push for former Boise State back right up there with Lamar Miller in the first round.

10. Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

Big Board ranking: 49

I am not as worried as other "experts" about Brandon Weeden's age. I think it could actually play to his benefit early on in the NFL. He already has a ton of pro-ready talents that translate to being able to contribute at a high level early.

Mechanics are one thing most scouts look at after arm strength and accuracy. In fact, some find it nearly as important as those two. Weeden has what is called a "small loop" to his throwing motion, which disables the opponent's ability to bat the ball down at the line and leads to a relatively quick release.

Beyond that, he can make every throw on the football field and is extremely accurate on the intermediate routes.

Pressure has caused Weeden to rush some throws, which leads to mistakes. Considering he played out of the shotgun a large majority of the time at Oklahoma State, this could cause some issues under center at the next level.

Being able to make your progressions and get to your second-tier reads is extremely important. Weeden will have to show this ability at the NFL combine if he is to become the third quarterback off the board. If he is able to do this, it wouldn't be a shock to see the former Oklahoma State quarterback go in the first round.

9. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Big Board ranking: 28

Janoris Jenkins was more adversely affected by the rules at the Senior Bowl than any other player in the game. He wasn't able to play to his strength, which is press coverage at the line. This caused Jenkins to struggle a great deal in the game. You will not see the same issues during the NFL combine. Instead, you will see that tremendous coverage ability come to light once they run the drills in Indianapolis.

Of course, character concerns are going to be a major issue when it comes to the former Florida cornerback, but he has all the necessary talent to be a true shutdown corner at the next level.

He has fluid hips on the outside, rarely gets turned around and has great on-ball reaction ability. The only downside besides character concerns is Jenkins' height—he stands at just 5'10" and will struggle against larger receivers.

The NFL combine could push Jenkins into the top half of the first round if he performs as I expect he will.

8. Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

Big Board ranking: 11

Marshawn Lynch doesn't have the copyright to the nickname "Beast Mode." I just wanted to make that clear because this is the first thing that jumps out to me when I watch Courtney Upshaw on tape. He is, by all accounts, an absolute beast on the football field.

Not a scheme-specific linebacker, Upshaw has the ability to play in both 4-3 and 3-4 defenses. He can move inside on obvious rushing downs, play with his hands down at the line in passing situations and stand up as a true outside backer. This is rare for a linebacker coming out of college and something we rarely see, even in the NFL.

You are not going to block him one-on-one because he has multiple pass-rushing techniques, already at this young age. The NFL combine is a perfect venue for Upshaw to showcase these skills, especially in the swim-and-rip technique drill.

A strong performance in Indianapolis followed by what promises to be a media packed Alabama Pro Day could lead to Upshaw breaking into the top five of most rankings. This is how good he can potentially be.

7. Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

Big Board ranking: 70

Small-school players really don't have a tremendous ability to show off their talents prior to the NFL combine. This is one of the primary reasons why this event is so big for players like Brian Quick. Scouts will be able to see Quick go up against his peers on one of the biggest stages he has seen as a football player.

In short, it could be make-or-break time for the former Appalachian State star.

Quick's size and strength are going to be two things scouts are going to take a look at in Indianapolis. He stands at 6'3" and plays every part of it to his advantage. This is a receiver that gains separation down field by shielding defenders from the ball with this build.

He does tend to struggle against press coverage, which is surprising considering his frame. This is something that he is going to have to work on a great deal in order to get looks early in the 2012 NFL draft.

Right now I have Brian Quick with a third-round grade, but that could easily move to a second-round grade with a strong showing at the NFL combine.

6. Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Big Board ranking: 33

Zach Brown will ace all the generic features of the NFL combine. He will run a fast 40, show tremendous speed sideline-to-sideline and make jaw-dropping plays on a consistent basis. In short, he is the perfect model for how this event could actually play against the teams in attendance. He struggles in a crowd, doesn't wrap up all too well and is still extremely light.

At this point I am not sure how Brown's measures will play out in the weight room. He might be one of those players who shows us everything we want to see on the football field, but tends to struggle with what scouts covet in the strength category.

My second-round grade for Brown might be a little on the lower side, but I need to see a lot more from this kid before I take his tremendously high ceiling and equate with actual success on the football field on Sundays.

This might happen in Indianapolis; we shall see.

5. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Big Board ranking: 21

The most to gain and the most to lose, the NFL combine is going to be absolutely huge for Dre Kirkpatrick. As I have indicated before, he isn't good in man coverage on the outside and gets turned around down field. These two things lead me to believe the former Alabama corner translates better to the safety position in the NFL.

Kirkpatrick did play in a pro-style defense at Alabama, which will lessen his transition to the next level and enable him to make an immediate impact as a rookie. He also has elite athleticism and is extremely physical at the line. If Kirkpatrick goes to a team that plays more press coverage he will be a steal at the corner position. If not, he will struggle a great deal on the outside.

Scouts are going to look at hip movement as it relates to Kirkpatrick's man coverage ability. If he shows better fluidity, there is no reason to believe that he will last past the teens.

4. Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State

Big Board ranking: 36

One of my favorite players in the entire draft, Bobby Wagner has the looks to be a tremendous inside linebacker at the next level. As with other small-school players at the NFL combine, this is truly a huge stage for the former Utah State star.

He has serious instincts on the inside, possesses tremendous vision and runs down ball-carriers sideline-to-sideline. The Senior Bowl was a true showcase for these talents as Wagner showed all the scouts in attendance that competition at Utah State really wasn't a reason why he was so good in college.

He can play inside in the 3-4 or outside in the 4-3 depending on how teams want to use him. Either way, the NFL combine could prove to be pivotal in coming to a conclusion of where Wagner will go in the NFL draft.

A strong performance in Indianapolis could push Wagner past Vontaze Burfict and into the end of the first round.

3. Michael Brockers, DL, Louisiana State

Big Board ranking: 9

Sample size is one issue that many scouts have in regards to Michael Brockers. He is still, by all accounts, a relative unknown.

He is a serious freak of nature, someone that can absolutely dominate along the interior of the defensive line for the next 12 to 13 seasons. At 6'6", 306 pounds and just 21 years old, Brockers is going to add some serious bulk to that already massive frame.

He has elite speed, which will enable defenses to move him outside in certain circumstances. The wide array of skills that Brockers has leads me to believe that he is already a top 10 pick. This is a once-in-a-generation type of talent, someone that can change the entire fortune of a front seven.

Of course, there are downfalls to all this upside. Brockers is still incredibly raw and might not be able to make an immediate impact in the NFL. It might be pure conjecture, but I think teams will have to look past his lack of development and view the former LSU star as a building block beyond year one.

The pass-rush technique drills at the NFL combine will go a long way in determining where Brockers stands with the other top defensive linemen in the NFL draft. If he is able to show some pro-ready pass-rush moves, expect Brockers to get some play as one of the first defensive players off the board come April.

2. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Big Board ranking: 10

Every "scout" has that one player that he might be irrationally high on. Former Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd is that prospect for me. Maybe it is the fact that I have seen him play every game over the course of the last three years that leads me to believe Floyd is going to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

Consequently, watching someone play that much does give you a better feeling of where a player stands.

Floyd already has pro-ready size and strength. He continually dominated opposing corners on the outside in college. His 10-catch performance against Donnie Fletcher (Boston College) last season is a prime example of this.

You are looking at a receiver who is going to be an immediate red-zone threat because of his frame and ability to use that against smaller corners on the outside.

Character concerns are going to be somewhat of an issue in regards to Floyd at the NFL combine. This will put a lot of emphasis on the interviews that teams conduct and how he performs in those. I am also interested to see how he handles the skill position drills in Indianapolis. Those could be extremely beneficial to his draft stock moving forward.

1. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Big Board ranking: 3

The highest rated player on this list, Robert Griffin III still has a lot to prove in Indianapolis. He is going to be a top ten pick, that really isn't in question. With that said, teams like the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins are going to take an added interest in the Heisman Trophy winner. See, he could and probably will go No. 2 overall with a strong performance at the NFL combine.

There are not going to be any issues in regards to his character or arm strength. You won't hear anyone talking negatively about how Griffin's game translates to the next level in regards to accuracy or ability to read defenses.

What will be of importance are his size and mechanics, two things that scouts really take a long look at. Griffin played mostly in a one-read offense, which is going to make the read/progression skill of utmost importance.

What happens in this drill is that the quarterback is asked to take a series of three-, five- and seven-step drops. He is then told to make those reads and progressions in short order before throwing passes to receivers he has never connected with, which is one of the most difficult drills for any position in the entire event.

If Griffin aces this, there is no reason to question my No. 3 ranking of him.