20 2nd-Year NFL Players Who Will Become Stars in 2012

The 2012 NFL Draft class might have a hard time living up to last year's version. It's hard to imagine any rookie class having as much success over the last decade than this one. The success was widespread  throughout nearly every position on both sides of the ball.

This is extremely surprising considering the lockout and the fact that these young players didn't have a full offseason to get acquainted with their new teams and NFL's nuances.

Today's article is going to focus on 20 players that are sure to be stars in their sophomore season of 2012. While it could be concluded that some of these players are already stars, I am not sure that it's possible to say that after just one season in the league. Additionally, this list could have probably been expanded to 50 without much of an issue.

You are going to see some mid-round picks over the most heralded players from the 2011 NFL Draft. This list won't be limited to just skill position players or top 20 picks. Instead, you are going to see a nice mix of different young talent from around the league.

20. Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots

Rookie statistics: 441 rush yards, 5.1 average and one touchdown.

With BenJarvus Green-Ellis a possible departure via free agency, the New England Patriots are probably going to be relying on a couple young backs heading into the 2012 season. Shane Vereen missed the vast majority of his rookie season, which means that Ridley has probably surpassed him on the depth chart.

The former LSU standout averaged a whopping 5.1 yards per rush in his rookie season and will look to build on that next year. He has the speed and field vision to be a truly dynamic back in the NFL.

Averaging that amount of yards per rush isn't sustainable at this level. With that said, I can easily envision a scenario where Ridley averages about 4.5 per rush with more playing time. Give him 15 attempts per game and you are looking at a 1,100-yard rusher.

19. Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams

Rookie statistics: 23 tackles, five sacks and two passes defended.

Robert Quinn came a long way in his rookie season. The No. 14 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft was a healthy inactive for the Rams first game before stepping it up as the season progressed.

He finished with five sacks and looked the part of a true pass rusher from the edge.  A full offseason will go a long way in helping the talented end become a better all-around player

Double digit sacks isn't out of the question.

18. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Rookie statistics: 26 receptions, 249 yards and three touchdowns.

Visanthe Shiancoe is set to leave in free agency, which means the Minnesota Vikings are expecting big things from the former Notre Dame standout. He started eight games as a rookie, but he struggled finding seams between the hashes to get open.

This is something that young tight ends will learn in time. Expect Rudolph to become an important part of the Vikings offense as a safety valve for Christian Ponder moving forward. He has the skill set and soft hands to be a primary target for the young signal caller.

It isn't too much to expect that Rudolph could surpass 60 receptions, 700 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore.

17. Chris Culliver, CB, San Francisco 49ers

Rookie statistics: 35 tackles, seven passes defended and one interception.

No matter what happens in free agency for the San Francisco 49ers, Chris Culliver is going to be an integral part of their secondary in 2012. He performed at a relatively high level for a rookie mid-round pick in 2011, surpassing all expectations that many had for him.

This is a player that the 49ers coaching staff started to trust a great deal as the season progressed, lining him up on the outside more often and playing man coverage. Speaking of that, Culliver proved himself to be more than reliable playing one-on-one against starting receivers.

He should have a breakout 2012 campaign as all the indicators for success are there.

16. Akeem Ayers, LB, Tennessee Titans

Rookie statistics: 76 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two passes defended.

Akeem Ayers had a really nice under-the-radar rookie season for the Tennessee Titans. Along with Colin McCarthy, the Titans appear to be set at these two linebacker positions for some time now.

Ayers looked extremely solid in coverage throughout the season and played well against the run in the box. I was not sold on him coming out of UCLA, but he has quickly changed my mind.

A stat line of 100 tackles and five sacks isn't out of the question in 2012.

15. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Rookie statistics: 54 receptions, 959 yards and eight touchdowns.

Some would conclude that I have Julio Jones much too low on this list. While that may be true, there are  reasons for him not being higher.

First, he isn't Matt Ryan's favorite target on the outside. Instead, that distinction goes to Roddy White. Additionally, the hiring of Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator will lead to a greater concentration on the run game. Just look at what he did with Maurice Jones-Drew with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

With that said, you can fully expect Jones to eclipse his 2011 stat total and join the ranks of 1,000-yard receivers.

14. Mike Pouncey, C, Miami Dolphins

Mike Pouncey came into the league less heralded than his brother, Maurkice, but he performed at a relatively high level for the Miami Dolphins as a rookie.

The former first-round pick opened up really good running lanes for both Daniel Thomas and Reggie Bush. He also did well pulling to the outside, something that a vast majority of centers in the NFL are unable to do.

Just because he plays a less sexy position, it doesn't mean that Pouncey wont be a star in his own right.

13. Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Rookie statistics: 50 receptions, 841 yards and seven touchdowns.

It is being reported that the Baltimore Ravens are interested in bringing in a No. 1 receiver. I am not too entirely sure how much traction these reports have, as I am under the assumption that Torrey Smith can be that go-to guy.

He exceeded all previously set expectations by quickly becoming the Ravens No. 2 receiver early in the season. Despite some issues with drops, Smith is a true playmaker on the outside and down field.

There is no reason to believe that Smith cannot surpass 1,100 yards receiving while catching double-digit touchdowns. In fact, you can take that to the bank.

12. Jamaal Sheard, DE, Cleveland Browns

Rookie statistics: 55 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two passes defended.

Talk about an under-the-radar performance—this former Pitt Panther played at an exceptionally high level last season. Just look at the difference-making statistics I have listed above. Not only did he get to the quarterback on a consistent basis, Sheard continually caused turnovers and was in the game for a majority of the Browns' defensive snaps.

Look for him to rack up double-digit sacks and continue his progression towards being a truly elite all-around player in 2012. 

11. Ryan Kerrigan, LB, Washington Redskins

Rookie statistics: 63 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception and one touchdown.

The former Purdue standout saw his NFL career get off to a flying start in his first game. Ryan Kerrigan intercepted an Eli Manning pass and took it to the house against the New York Giants in the season opener; this ended up being the difference in a surprise Redskins upset of the eventual Super Bowl Champions.

His success didn't end there.

Kerrigan was a constant pain in the behind for opposing offenses all season long, getting into the backfield multiple times every game. In fact, it could be said that he had a better season than Brian Orakpo, which is amazing in of itself.

Expect huge things from him in 2012.

10. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans

Rookie statistics: 56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and five passes defended.

The stats might not show it, but J.J. Watt was a force for the Houston Texans as a rookie. Not only did he do a decent job getting to the quarterback, No. 99 was all over the field in the running game. This is something that 3-4 defenses expect from their ends, and Watt didn't disappoint.

You can expect him to take on a much larger role in his second season in Wade Phillips' system. If that happens, you will see Watt rack up double-digit sacks and continue to remain a force in the run game.

9. Marcell Dareus, DL, Buffalo Bills

Rookie statistics: 43 tackles, 5.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.

The former top five pick did struggle a great deal against the run. He wasn't able to close off the holes up the middle, instead pushing up field too much. This is something that Marcell Dareus is going to have to fix in order to become a better defensive linemen in the NFL.

It is also something that can be fixed with seasoning and experience.

More than once, I noticed Dareus take on double teams and come out on top. He is a player that opposing offenses are going to have a difficult time stopping in the a-gap, one-on-one moving forward.

8. DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Rookie statistics: 897 rush yards, 5.5 average, 26 receptions, 183 yards and two touchdowns.

Give DeMarco Murray a full season in the Dallas Cowboys offense with that run blocking and the weapons they have in the receiving game, and you are looking at a 1,500-yard rusher.

That might seem a little out of whack, but just look at how he performed prior to a devastating injury his rookie season.

Everything that Murray wasn't at Oklahoma after coming in as a five star recruit, he was with the Cowboys last season. You cannot teach that cut-back ability and field vision. Either you have it or you don't, and Murray has it.

The simple fact that Dallas is contemplating moving Felix Jones this offseason should speak volumes to its faith in this talented young back. He is going to have a monstrous 2012 season.

7. Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Rookie statistics: 58.1 completion percentage, 3,398 yards, 20 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 80.4 quarterback rating.

Raise your hand if you had Andy Dalton leading the Cincinnati Bengals to the postseason last year. I didn't think so.

What the second-round pick did for this franchise was nothing short of amazing. He led a bunch of veteran castoffs and young, unproven players to a place that this team rarely goes—January football.

While Dalton did struggle a little bit with decision making down the stretch of pivotal games, he proved why some scouts gave the former Texas Christian signal caller a better grade than Blaine Gabbert or Christian Ponder.

With the young players on the Bengals roster, there is no reason to believe that Dalton cannot surpass 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns next season.

6. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

Rookie statistics: 64 tackles, 13 passes defended and two interceptions. Four kick/punt returns for touchdowns.

Patrick Peterson struggled a great deal at corner early in the season, but he came on extremely strong towards the last half of 2011. He started playing much better in man coverage, utilizing more fluid hip movement and staying with top-tier receivers.

The learning curve for corners from college to the NFL is pretty big, so these early struggles were expected. With that said, I was extremely surprised with how much his game improved over the duration of the season.

He will be a shutdown corner in 2012.

This doesn't even take into account Peterson's four special teams touchdowns, two of which essentially won games.

This is a freak athletic who is only going to get better—watch out, NFL.

5. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Rookie statistics: 65 receptions, 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns.

Receivers don't go for 1,000 yards too often in their rookie seasons, and when it does happen on rare occasions, it's usually a sign of things to come. Heck, not even Calvin Johnson did it.

What made this more surprising was the fact that Green had a fellow rookie, Andy Dalton, throwing the ball to him. They didn't have a full offseason to learn the Cincinnati Bengals play book or even work together on a consistent basis.

Just imagine what a full offseason would do for this young tandem. It is hard to imagine that Green wouldn't be able to stomp all over his 2011 numbers next season. A stat line of 80 receptions for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns is a probability.

4. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos

Rookie statistics: 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes defended.

A Pro Bowl performance and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Those are two things on Von Miller's resume less than one calendar year after being selected in the top five by the Denver Broncos.

Miller, who struggled as an every-down backer early in the season, came through big time as the campaign progressed. By the end of the year, he will no longer be a situational player. This is one of the reasons why he captured the hardware.

If the Broncos are able to get a defensive tackle or two that can man the middle and take up double teams, their young linebacker is going to be even more explosive. He already has multiple pro-ready pass rush moves. Just look at his swim technique on the outside against top-tier competition—especially against the New York Jets in a Thursday night game in November.

You can fully expect to see Miller become a better all-around player in his sophomore season. He will obtain more pass rush moves in the offseason and refine the ones that he already has. A total of 15 sacks in 2012 really isn't too absurd to think about right now.

3. Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys

Surprisingly enough, I have an offensive tackle No. 3 on this list. Tyron Smith looked absolutely over-matched in the 2011 season opener against the New York Jets. He was consistently off balance, struggled against the bull rush and got beat a couple times on the outside.

Fast forward three months, and Smith was a completely different player. Seriously, you probably wouldn't have recognized him if it wasn't for his jersey number. The young offensive tackle didn't just start to learn the nuances and speed of the game, he became a dominant player.

What makes this even more surprising is the fact that Smith is still only 21 and has a lot to learn about playing tackle in the NFL. He also has time to add more muscle and girth to that already intimidating frame.

Make no mistake about it—Smith is going to be a consistent All-Pro player for the Dallas Cowboys.

2 Aldon Smith, LB, San Francisco

Rookie statistics: 37 tackles, 14 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four passes defended.

For a player making the transition from defensive end in college to the outside linebacker position in the NFL, Aldon Smith surprised many. This doesn't even take into account that he was unable to work with the San Francisco 49ers coaches until August.

Smith was downright dominating at times, picking it up another level when it counted the most in the postseason. What is most surprising about his 14 sacks is that No. 99 did it only playing in nickel situations most of the time.

In short, he was on the field much less than half the time. Give him an entire offseason to learn the nuances of the outside linebacker position, and this dude is going to be scary. He can fly around the edges, dominates slower offensive tackles with his hands down, is a great blitzer and recognizes scheme at an extremely young age.

I expect Smith to be on the field a lot more in 2012, which will lead to some amazing sack numbers. It isn't beyond the realm of possibility that he puts up 20 sacks next season.

1. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Rookie statistics: 60.0 completion percentage, 4,051 passing yards, 706 rushing yards, 35 total touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Where does Cam Newton go from here? He is, by definition, a star right now. What Newton can improve on is decisions on the football field and cutting down mistakes. Of course, this will definitely come with more experience and seasoning.

No one would have predicted Newton to break Peyton Manning's rookie yardage record and surpass the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. No one would have expected him to compile nearly 5,000 yards of total offense and complete 60 percent of his passes.

These were historic accomplishments.

I envision a scenario in which Newton's numbers aren't as great in 2012, but he improves a great deal as a quarterback. Unless you are Drew Brees or Tom Brady, there really is no reason to throw for that many yards. Instead, I hope the Panthers become more balanced on offense next season.

If that happens, they could easily vie for a playoff spot, because Newton is a budding star. He will only continue to get better in terms of decision making and cutting down on the mistakes. Once that happens, Newton is a top-five NFL signal caller.