2012 NFL Draft: Ranking the Top Prospects by Clutch Factor

When you think of clutch sports performances, you think of a game-winning play amid immense pressure.

In 2011, there was no better college football team than the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide dominated most opponents, but were clutch when they needed to be, shutting out LSU 21-0 in the BCS national championship game.

Now that free agency has cooled down, our attention can be re-focused on the NFL Draft. The combine evaluated the measurable qualities of each player, but so often, that "it" factor is what makes a player successful. Is the player you're targeting "clutch" in the toughest situations?

There are players who can lift a lot and are really fast, but can they make the game-winning play when it matters most? Jerry Rice wasn't the fastest player when he came out of college by any stretch, but now, many consider him to be the best football player of all time.

Who of this current rookie class is clutch? Who has what it takes to perform, even in the game's toughest moments?

These are my rankings of the five most-clutch players at each position who will be entering the 2012 NFL Draft.

Quarterbacks

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford

• 2011 stats: 288/404 (71.3 percent), 3,517 yards, 37 TD, 10 INT, 169.7 QB rating

2. Robert Griffin III, Baylor

• 2011 stats: 291/402 (72.4 percent), 4,293 yards, 37 TD, 6 INT, 189.5 QB rating
  

3. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

• 2011 stats: 267/419 (63.7 percent), 3,316 yards, 25 TD, 10 INT, 145.1 QB rating
  

4. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

• 2012 stats: 408/564 (72.3 percent), 4,727 yards, 37 TD, 13 INT, 159.8 QB rating
  

5. Kellen Moore, Boise State

• 2012 stats: 326/439 (74.3 percent), 3,800 yards, 43 TD, 9 INT, 175.2 QB rating

* Leading candidate for next year: Matt Barkley, USC

Running Backs

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama

• 2011 stats: 283 carries, 1,697 yards (5.9 per carry average), 21 TD

2. LaMichael James, Oregon

• 2011 stats: 247 carries, 1,805 yards (7.3 per carry average), 18 TD
  

3. Lamar Miller, Miami (FL)

• 2011 stats: 227 carries, 1,272 yards (5.6 per carry average), 9 TD
  

4. Doug Martin, Boise State

• 2011 stats: 263 carries, 1,299 yards (4.9 per carry average), 16 TD
  

5. David Wilson, Virginia Tech

• 2011 stats: 290 carries, 1,709 yards, (5.9 per carry average), 9 TD
  

* Leading candidate for next year: Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Wide Receivers

1. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

• 2011 stats: 49 receptions, 762 yards (15.6 per reception average), 8 TD

2. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

• 2011 stats: 121 receptions, 1,522 yards (12.6 per reception average), 18 TD
  

3. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

• 2011 stats: 100 receptions, 1,147 yards (11.5 per reception average), 9 TD
  

4. Kendall Wright, Baylor

• 2011 stats: 108 receptions, 1,663 yards (15.4 per reception average), 14 TD
  

5. Patrick Edwards, Houston

• 2011 stats: 89 receptions, 1,752 yards (19.7 per reception average), 20 TD
  

* Leading candidate for next year: Robert Woods, USC

Tight Ends

1. Coby Fleener, Stanford

• 2011 stats: 34 receptions, 667 yards (19.6 per reception average), 10 TD

2. Dwayne Allen, Clemson

• 2011 stats: 50 receptions, 598 yards (12.0 per reception average), 8 TD
  

3. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette

• 2011 stats: 51 receptions, 606 yards (11.9 per reception average), 8 TD
  

4. Orson Charles, Georgia

• 2011 stats: 45 receptions, 574 yards (12.8 per reception average), 5 TD
  

5. Michael Egnew, Missouri

• 2011 stats: 50 receptions, 523 yards (10.5 per reception average), 3 TD
  

* Leading candidate for next year: Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

Offensive Line

1. Matt Kalil, tackle, USC

2. David DeCastro, guard, Stanford

3. Jonathan Martin, tackle, Stanford

4. Riley Reiff, tackle, Iowa

5. Peter Konz, center, Wisconsin

* Leading candidate for next year: Barrett Jones, left tackle, Alabama

Defensive Line

1. Courtney Upshaw, end, Alabama

2. Fletcher Cox, end, Mississippi State

3. Michael Brockers, tackle, LSU

4. Dontari Poe, tackle, Memphis

5. Quinton Coples, end, UNC

* Leading candidate for next year: Jarvis Jones, end, Georgia

notes:

• Defensive positions based on where player is projected to play in the NFL
• ESPN doesn't verify defensive statistics

Linebackers

1. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

2. Luke Kuechly, Boston College

3. Melvin Ingram, outside, South Carolina

4. Whitney Mercilus, outside, Illinois

5. Mychal Kendricks, inside, Cal

* Leading candidate for next year: Manti Te'o, inside, Notre Dame

Cornerbacks

1. Morris Claiborne, LSU

2. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

3. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

4. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

5. Josh Robinson, UCF

* Leading candidate for next year: David Amerson, N.C. State (led nation with 13 interceptions in 2011)

Safeties

1. Mark Barron, Alabama

2. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

3. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

4. George Iloka, Boise State

5. DeQuan Menzie, Alabama

* Leading candidate for next year: Matt Elam, Florida

Coaches

1. Nick Saban, Alabama

• Defending BCS national champions
• 2011 record: 12-1 (7-1 SEC)

2. Les Miles, LSU

• 2011 record: 13-1 (8-0 SEC)
  

3. Chip Kelly, Oregon

• 2011 record: 12-2 (8-1 Pac-12)
  

4. Chris Petersen, Boise State

• 2011 record: 12-1 (6-1 Mountain West)
  

5. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

• 2011 record: 12-1 (8-1 Big XII)
  

* Leading candidate for next year: Lane Kiffin, USC