NFL Combine 2012 Results: Players Sure to Jump in Draft After Stud Performances

The NFL combine is over, but there were three players that helped themselves tremendously with standout performances.

Many factors will play a part in determining how high these players will climb on teams' draft boards, but they certainly helped themselves.

Here are those players, and a breakdown of their draft possibilities:

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Is this Megatron 2.0?

It looked like it at the combine. Can teams afford to allow Hill to slip out of the first round with this combine performance?

4.36 40 yard dash

39 1/2" vertical leap

Add into that impressive performance the fact that he is 6'4" 215 pounds. He also made a spectacular diving catch in one of the passing drills. Hill gave a great account of himself.

It isn't as if this performance came completely out of the blue. In his last year at Georgia Tech, Hill caught 28 passes for an average of 29.2 yards per reception with five TDs.

Hill made himself a first-round selection, and improved the overall receiver class with this performance. He could go anywhere from 10 to 20.

He could be in play for the Chargers at 18, or the Bears at 19.

The Chargers may need a big receiver who is also a deep threat, as it seems they could lose Vincent Jackson. 

The Bears need a big receiver period. Their receiving corps is very small, and none of them are standouts. Jay Cutler has been pining for a receiver with some size and Hill could be the guy.

Mychal Kendricks, LB, California

Can you say London Fletcher with a young Brian Urlacher's speed, and Ray Lewis-like intensity. At the combine, that is what Kendricks looked like. Of course, you can't get overly excited about workouts, but Kendricks had a distinguished career at Cal as well.

He was the PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year with 105 tackles, and 14 tackles for loss.

Kendricks is intense, you could see that in his reactions to his combine performances. He is on the small side at 5'11", so that could be a concern.

Still, there are inside linebackers in the NFL with his frame that excel. Fletcher is one, Jon Beason of Carolina is another that have proved that MLBs 6" and under can play at a very high level.

The best fit for Kendricks is Philadelphia at 15, but if he slips, don't be surprised if the Ravens snatch him up as the eventual successor to Ray Lewis.

Dontari Poe - Memphis

Poe is plenty strong, he recorded the most bench press reps of 225 pounds with 44. He is also massive at 6'4" 346 pounds, which size makes the 4.98 40 yard dash he ran even more eye-popping.

He is simply a freak, who has the potential to dominate in the trenches. It will be difficult for teams to allow him to pass with so much potential, and ability to play right away.

Poe was a force at Memphis, but his eight tackles for a loss and one sack was no indication of what he did at the combine.

He could go anywhere from 10-15, with the Eagles possibly addressing their run stopping issues on the line, instead of at LB. Because of his versatility, Poe can play in different schemes, so he could be a fit in a 3-4 as well. 

There are tons of possibilities now for Poe.