NFL Combine 2012: Prospects Whose Character Concerns Will Be Overshadowed

There are always a few NFL prospects with character concerns who soar up draft boards based on their Combine performances.

In the 2012 draft class, there are some potential first-rounders who have the opportunity to dazzle scouts with their athleticism and strength and make all those questions about their character magically disappear.

Here's a look at three potential first-rounders who I see blasting through their character concerns in this year's Combine.

3. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Vontaze Burfict doesn't have any off-the-field incidents to speak of, but he drew plenty of unnecessary personal-foul penalties while at ASU.

Scouts love Burfict's tenacious demeanor as a middle linebacker, but it also gets him into trouble. Some of the personal-foul penalties he had this past season at ASU came in critical moments of games. That's just unacceptable.

But Burfict's strength, range and instincts are hard to pass up, and he will likely head into the Combine as one of the more imposing physical specimens in the draft. There's no question that his size and strength translates well to the next level, and scouts will take notice.

2. Quinton Coples, DE/DT, North Carolina

Quinton Coples has the speed to be dangerous as a 3-4 defensive end and the tremendous strength to even be a defensive tackle at the next level.

That figures to overshadow how lackadaisical he was in his senior season at UNC.

Despite playing in spurts and taking downs off in college, Coples is still being projected as a Top 10 pick for some. That tells you all you need to know about his measurables.

1. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

NFL teams have a right to be wary of Janoris Jenkins headed into the Combine.

He was arrested twice for marijuana possession and got into a bar fight within two years at Florida, which led to his dismissal from the program.

But Jenkins is not only a great cover corner; he's been clocked running the 40-yard dash at 4.46 seconds, and he has elite quickness.

I have him behind corners Morris Claiborne and Dre Kirkpatrick on my draft board, and if he gets his head on straight, I could see him surpassing Kirkpatrick in the NFL.

Jenkins is a clear boom-or-bust prospect.