Boise State Football: Where Will the Top Broncos End Up in the NFL Draft 2012?

The 2012 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and everyone is eager to see who their favorite team will pick up.

Boise State is a team that has been relatively quiet in terms of putting out NFL talent, but this year looks to be different.  The Broncos have a whole crop of talented players who will look to have their names called come draft day.  

The NFL Draft is really something that is impossible to predict, but just for the sake of doing it, let's see where some of the top Boise State products could end up.

Shea McClellin, OLB/DE

Round 1—Green Bay Packers (28th Overall)

Shea McClellin will most likely be the first Bronco selected in the upcoming draft.  He has seen his stock rise drastically over the last few weeks and appears to be set for a first round selection.

McClellin played a solid career at BSU, totaling 130 career tackles (22 for loss) and 21 sacks, including seven his senior year and a career-high 9.5 in 2010.  

Shea is a player with a work ethic every coach dreams of and plays with a very high motor. He's the kind of player that you won't see give up on a play.

McClellin will likely play outside linebacker for the Packers if selected here, but if he were to be picked by a team running a 4-3 defense, he would play defensive end.

The Packers are in need of a pass rusher to complement Clay Matthews, and McClellin is the perfect fit here.

Other Possibilities: New England Patriots (27th or 31st overall), St. Louis Rams (Round 2, 39 overall), San Diego Chargers (Round 2, 49 overall)

Doug Martin, RB

Round 2—Tampa Bay Buccaneers (36th overall)

Behind Trent Richardson, there is no doubt in my mind that Doug Martin is the best, most complete running back in the draft.

Martin is projected to be either a late-first or early-second-round pick, and here, I have him just sliding into the early-second round.  

Martin's senior season was his best, in which he ran for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also catching 28 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns.  He also rushed for 1,260 yards his junior year while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. 

Martin's production at Boise State was largely overshadowed by the Broncos air attack, led by the great Kellen Moore.  A powerful back with good speed, Martin is often compared to running backs like Ray Rice or Maurice Jones-Drew, which I have to say is some pretty good company.

Of all the Boise State players who may be drafted, I believe Doug Martin will have the most successful professional career.

Other Possibilities:  Denver Broncos (Round 1, 25th overall), New York Giants (Round 1, 32nd overall), Cleveland Browns (Round 2, 37th overall) 

Billy Winn, DE

Round 2—Green Bay Packers (59th Overall)

The Packers are in need of some defensive end help to get more pressure on the quarterback, so they go with their second Boise State product of the draft, Billy Winn.

Winn was a great player for the Broncos and will look to continue that trend once he hits the NFL.  During his collegiate career, he racked up 132 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.

Winn is pretty athletic for his size (6'4", 294 lbs) and should fit right into the Packers 3-4 defensive scheme.  At his pro day, Winn ran a 4.84 after struggling a little bit at the combine.

Other Possibilities: Baltimore Ravens (Round 2, 60th overall), Detroit Lions (Round 3, 85th overall)

George Iloka, S

Round 3—Cincinnati Bengals (86th Overall)

George Iloka is a very solid all-around safety and was a four-year starter for Boise State.

The Bengals could use some help at the safety position, and Iloka is a perfect fit.

Iloka is quick and very versatile, as shown when he played some cornerback for the Broncos late in his senior year due to injuries. He recorded 232 tackles, seven interceptions and one sack over the course of his career at Boise.  

Iloka is a very consistent player and is capable of stepping up and being a first-year starter for the team who chooses him.

Other Possibilities:  New Orleans Saints (Round 3, 89th overall), Philadelphia Eagles (Round 3, 88th overall, or Round 2, 51st overall) 

Tyrone Crawford, DE

Round 4—Indianapolis Colts (97th Overall)

Eventually, as Dwight Freeney continues to age, the Colts will have to address the need at defensive end.  Tyrone Crawford looks to be the man to answer that call.

Crawford had a great senior season and an even better offseason, which is why he has been rising up draft boards everywhere.  

During his senior year at BSU, Crawford had 44 tackles and 6.5 sacks on a team that was loaded on the defensive line.  Crawford should have a solid NFL career and can be a potential starter for the Colts or whoever selects him come draft day.

Other Possibilities:  Detroit Lions (Round 3, 85th overall),  Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, 106 overall), Cleveland Browns (Round 4, 118th overall) 

Nate Potter, OT

Round 5—Arizona Cardinals (151st Overall)

Nate Potter has had a very successful career as a member of the Boise State Broncos and will look to continue that trend as he enters the NFL.

The Cardinals are in need of some offensive line help, and Potter fills that need here.

Potter has great size for an offensive tackle at 6'6" and 303 pounds.  He is versatile enough to move around the line and play some guard as well.  

Potter will be a good pickup for the Cardinals here and could evolve into a starter in the near future.

Other Possibilities:  Atlanta Falcons (Round 6, 192nd overall), New York Giants (Round 6, 201st overall), Baltimore Ravens (Round 6, 198th overall)

Kellen Moore, QB

Round 7—New Orleans Saints (234th Overall)

By now you've all heard every knock there is on Kellen Moore; too short, can't throw deep, weak arm, too slow, etc.

None of that should matter.  Moore simply has the ability to win, as shown by his 50-3 collegiate record.  Even though scouts may criticize his throwing motion, it shouldn't matter how a pass is thrown, as long as it is completed, which is what Kellen does.

The guy knows how to win games, which is exactly what you would want from a quarterback, right?  Not to mention the "football smarts" Moore can bring to a team. He's like having another coach on the sideline.  

Moore is unlikely to get a shot to be a starter immediately from any team and will likely be brought in as a backup.  Hopefully for Moore, he will get a shot to take over for Drew Brees in the future.

Other Possibilities: Oakland Raiders (Round 6, 189 overall), San Diego Chargers (Round 7, 226th overall), Baltimore Ravens (Round 7, 236 overall)