2012 NFL Draft Predictions: Schools That Will Have Most Players Taken in Round 1

Some college programs just have a reputation for being factories for the NFL. They churn out solid prospect after solid prospect.

Yes, most of these programs are located in the SEC. But hey, even Cal, my own alma mater, has produced quite a bit of NFL talent recently, and the Golden Bears aren't exactly a college football powerhouse.

NFL talent can come from pretty much anywhere, and we're going to be reminded of that in the first round of next week's draft. Numerous schools are going to be represented. 

These schools are going to be represented by numerous prospects.

Baylor, LSU, USC, South Carolina: 2

There are obviously a lot of schools that are going to be represented by a single prospect on draft day, but it's looking like there are four programs in particular that will be represented by exactly two prospects.

Of the bunch, it will be strange to hear two names from Baylor be called, as Baylor does not have a reputation for churning out high-quality NFL talent. We know for sure that Robert Griffin III is going to be one of the first two players off the board—most likely going No. 2 overall to the Washington Redskins. After him, look for speedy wide receiver Kendall Wright to come off the board somewhere in the 20s.

LSU and USC, meanwhile, are used to seeing their players go in the first round of the draft. This will be a somewhat light year for both of them; they'll both have just two players go in the first round. 

For LSU, cornerback Morris Claiborne is a lock to go in the top 10. In fact, he'll probably go in the top five. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers could go as high as the top 10, but he's more likely to be drafted somewhere in the 11-20 range, and I'm not ruling out him going lower than No. 20.

Wherever he ends up, he won't fall out of the first round.

For USC, offensive tackle Matt Kalil could go as high as No. 3 to the Minnesota Vikings. If they don't take him, he won't fall far. Look for him to go in the top five regardless of what the Vikings do. After him, defensive end/outside linebacker Nick Perry will go somewhere in the latter half of the draft.

If only Matt Barkley had decided to go pro. If he'd decided to leave school, USC would have produced three first-rounders this year. That's not bad for a program that was left battered and bruised by the NCAA a couple years ago.

South Carolina also could have had three players go in the first round, but wide receiver Alshon Jeffery looks like a long shot for the first round at this point. First he was too fat, but now some are saying he's too thin (via ProFootballTalk). So it goes.

The Gamecocks will see defensive end/outside linebacker Melvin Ingram go in the first round, however, probably somewhere in the top 16. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore will come off the board soon after him.

It will be a good day for Bears, Tigers, Trojans and Gamecocks everywhere.

Stanford: 4

We don't think of Stanford as a football powerhouse, but it will be abundantly clear at the draft that things have changed in Palo Alto. The Cardinal will be well represented in the first round of the draft.

According to the Associated Press, Andrew Luck has already been told that he will be the No. 1 overall pick of the Indianapolis Colts. The team hasn't made any kind of public promise, but it's been assumed that they will be taking Luck for months at this point.

Three other Stanford players are going to come off the board after Luck. The hard part is predicting which order they'll go in.

My assumption is that guard David DeCastro will be the first Stanford player taken after Luck. He's billed as an elite guard prospect, and he may be the only guard worth taking in the first round this year.

He'll be a top 16 pick for sure.

After him, look for offensive tackle Jonathan Martin to come off the board. His stock has slipped somewhat in recent weeks, but he'll benefit from the fact that there are going to be a lot of teams looking for offensive line help in the first round. He'll last into the 20s, but that's when he'll be snatched up.

Lastly, look for tight end Coby Fleener to come off the board late in the first round. He wasn't in the first round discussion until recently, as he impressed at Stanford's pro day in late March. Difference-making tight tends like Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski are in demand, and Fleener projects as a difference-making tight end.

Stanford fans will be able to feel proud on Thursday. Your humble narrator will be envious.

Alabama: 5

Alabama is going to own the first round of the draft. This is not exactly a surprise when you consider the fact that the Crimson Tide has won two of the last three BCS championships.

Running back Trent Richardson is going to be the first 'Bama player off the board. He's a perfect fit for the Cleveland Browns at No. 4, but he won't fall far if they don't take him. If he falls outside the top 10, it will be a complete shock.

Richardson will be the first, but the other four players that 'Bama is going to have go in the first round could come off the board in any order.

All eyes will be on two Tide linebackers, Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower. Upshaw could go to pretty much any team looking for a dangerous pass-rusher, which means he could go as high as the top 10 (doubtful) or as low as No. 32 (also doubtful). Hightower likely won't crack the top 20, but he'll go to a team looking for a rock-solid inside linebacker.

Safety Mark Barron is the wild card among Alabama's top prospects.

There aren't many teams looking for safety help, and the ones that are have bigger fish to fry. And since Barron is no Eric Berry, he could very well slide down or out of the first round altogether.

Still, there are three or four teams that will have Barron on their radar. One of them will take him.

Dre Kirkpatrick's draft stock has taken some hits in recent weeks, but he's still in play for the first round. He'll benefit from the fact that teams are looking for corners to help them combat the ridiculous passing numbers that were put up in 2011.

Expect to hear "Roll Tide" a lot on draft day.