NFL Combine 2012: Quarterbacks Who Need to Shine at the Combine

There's no more important or talked-about position in the National Football League than quarterback, and that's plainly evidenced by all the publicity surrounding Stanford signal-caller Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III leading up to next week's NFL scouting combine.

However, there will be other quarterbacks in Indianapolis besides that pair, and for that group of players, it's crucial for their NFL futures that they put their best foot forward for the coaches and scouts that will assemble to watch them work out.

Or arm, as the case may be.

Nick Foles, Arizona

Arizona quarterback Nick Foles was one of the bright spots on a bad Wildcats team in 2011, throwing for more than 4,300 yards and 28 touchdowns.

However, a so-so showing at last month's Senior Bowl did nothing to alleviate concerns about Foles' footwork and accuracy, so the 6'5" 240-pounder needs a strong outing at the combine and Arizona's pro day to bolster his draft stock.

Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

Unlike Foles, Mobile was much kinder to Michigan State signal-caller Kirk Cousins, who had a solid week of practice and showed good decision-making and pocket presence while throwing for 115 yards in the Senior Bowl.

If Cousins is going to ride that momentum all the way to being selected in the first three rounds of April's NFL draft, however, it's important that the Spartans star, who threw for more than 3,300 yards in 2011, follows up that performance with a big week at the combine.

Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

If there's one question that Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweilier doesn't have to answer, it's whether or not he's tall enough to play quarterback in the National Football League.

If anything, at 6'8", Osweiler might almost be too tall.

Osweiler does have to answer questions regarding his accuracy and sometimes inconsistent play while in Tempe, however, and the easiest way to begin quieting those doubters would be for the beanpole to come out throwing darts in Indianapolis.

Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden was one of the big winners at the Senior Bowl in January, as the 6'4" Weeden, who threw for more than 4,700 yards last season, stood out as perhaps the most pro-ready of any of the signal-callers who assembled in Alabama.

The biggest knock on Weeden is his long-term upside, due to the fact that the senior is truly that (relatively speaking) at 28 years old, but another excellent display at the NFL scouting combine could convince teams to look past his birth certificate to his considerable talents.

Case Keenum, Houston

Houston quarterback Case Keenum spent his senior season rewriting the NCAA record books, as the 6'2" 210-pounder threw for a ridiculous 5,631 yards and 48 touchdowns en route to becoming the NCAA's all-time leader in passing yardage.

Those gaudy numbers aside, Keenum will have plenty of questions to answer in Indianapolis, the biggest being whether Keenum is a "system" quarterback who isn't prepared to play quarterback in the National Football League after a collegiate career spent running a pass-heavy offense from the shotgun.