2012 NFL Draft: 10 Second-Round Studs Nobody Is Talking About

A good NFL football team doesn't just focus on trying to find stars in the first round. The best of the best hit home runs in the second round and later. 

It is not out of the ordinary to find a quality starter in the second round. In fact, it should be a necessity at this point. Even then there are players who go beyond ordinary. 

There are 30 picks in the second round but these 10 guys are flat out studs. If your team is able to draft them they are making the right decision. 

Doug Martin, RB Boise State

The talk of the running back class is Trent Richardson with good reason. However, Doug Martin is a flat out stud. 

His stock went up after the combine. At 5'9'' and a stocky 223lbs he has the skills and size to be an every down back. His speed is good enough for his size and he has soft hands to catch the football out the backfield. He is a touchdown machine around the goal line. 

Martin will go in the second round but he will end up being a starter on somebody's depth chart very soon. Maybe even the start of the season. 

Jayron Hosley, CB Virginia Tech

Injuries last season will cost Jayron Hosley a first round spot. He was hampered with hamstring and concussion issues last year. 

The year before that was a huge success for him. In just his sophomore season he led the nation with 10 interceptions. He is very physical in pass coverage and run defense for his size. Hosley will be a starter at the next level and could turn into a successful ball hawking corner for years to come. 

Harrison Smith, FS Notre Dame

Harrison Smith is an interesting player. He is kind of large for the safety position. At 6'2'' 213lbs people don't quite know whether he is a free safety, strong safety or even a linebacker. Smith could be the future of the safety position if used correctly. 

The newest craze of the NFL is big athletic tight ends. How do you defend guys like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham? You have to find hybrid style players like Smith. He has the ability to tackle and cover bigger players giving him a role at the next level. 

The safety position is fairly mediocre in this year's draft but that should discourage teams from looking at Harrison Smith. He could prove to be a valuable asset in an ever changing league. 

Kevin Zeitler, G Wisconsin

Teams usually don't like overpaying for interior offensive linemen. You won't see too many guards and center go in the first round although you will see a couple this year. What that does is create a value for a quality starter in the second rounds. Kevin Zeitler fits that mold. 

After the combine teams fell in love with Zeitler. The 6'4'' 314lbs guard definitively has the size to compete at the next level. He showed great lateral movement and strength to teams but it was his personality that won them over. Zeitler showed great charisma and poise in the interviews. 

Zeitler will fill in as a starter right away in the NFL and going forward could show the kind of personality locker rooms rally around. He is a high quality pick for any team in the second round. 

Dwayne Allen, TE Clemson

Tight ends. Every team is clamoring to find that athletic fit since the explosion of play makers in the league at that position. Dwayne Allen had a rough combine dropping him to the second round but when he's right, he is dynamic. 

Allen comes in at 6'4'' 255lbs so the size is there. He ran a very unimpressive 40 time at the combine and didn't run at his pro day. Still Allen had 50 catches last year with 8 touchdowns. His production on the field should not deter teams from drafting him. He could be a steal in the second round. 

Brandon Boykin, CB Georgia

Brandon Boykin's position on paper is cornerback. However, the guy should just be called play maker. Boykin is slotted for the second round because he broke his leg in the Senior Bowl causing him not to participate in the Scouting Combine. 

In college Boykin was the do-it-all player. In addition to corner he lined up at safety, running back, wide receiver and returned kicks. He ranks second in return yards all-time in the SEC. 

To get the most out of Boykin the team who drafts him needs to utilize his athletic skills. If and when they do they will see he will provide more to a team than just cover skills and has the chance to be game breaking player. 

Lavonte David, LB Nebraska

Here's another player teams are not sure what to do with. Lavonte David is listed as a linebacker but at 6'1'' 233lbs that might be a stretch in the NFL. What he is is a tackling machine who just needs to be on the field. 

David's future could end up being at strong safety. He sit a school record in 2010 with 152 tackles and finished with 285 in his career. If he was two inches taller he would be a first round pick easily. 

Some team is going to draft David in the second round. When they do they are going to get him on the field in whatever position and see a player with a relentless motor who loves to tackle. He also has solid pass coverage skills that could develop. 

In a couple seasons David has the chance to be a special player. 

Andre Branch, DE Clemson

Your team needs an edge rusher? They better be looking at Andre Branch. Your team thinks they don't need an edge rusher? They better still be looking at Andre Branch. 

First off he's 6'4'' 259lbs. He has long arms and an uncanny ability to close in a quarterback when in pursuit. Last season he had 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss. His game is not fancy, he just rushes the quarterback. They send guys to the Pro Bowl for that right? 

In the right system Branch has the chance to be a sack machine and really be a vital part of a defense for years to come. 

Kendall Reyes, DT Connecticut

Maybe it's because the defensive tackle position is so deep in this year's draft. Maybe it's because Kendall Reyes played at UConn. There has to be some reason why there is no buzz around Reyes. He is a flexible lineman who has an affinity for stopping the run. 

Reyes has some serious first step quickness. At 6'4'' 299lbs he has the ability to play both the tackle and end position. He is not really a pass rusher but that first step quickness shows up in stopping the run. In 42 games at UConn he finished with 31.5 tackles for a loss. 

The quick and agile Reyes could be a nightmare for running backs in the NFL. If a team is solid on the edges with their pass rush Reyes would be perfect and would excel. 

Mychal Kendricks, LB California

Being the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year has to mean something right? Going up against Andrew Luck, Brock Osweiler and the Oregon offense is no easy task. Mychal Kendricks is a smaller linebacker but he doesn't play small. 

Kendricks is 5'11'' 240lbs but has great athleticism to go with his motor and play making ability. He has the versatility to play inside or outside linebacker. He also has a knack for making big plays. 13 tackles for a loss to go with two interceptions and two fumbles while playing most of the season with a cast on due to injury is not bad. 

His size, injuries and character concerns have him in the second round. However, he still figures to be a stud middle linebacker in the NFL.