Tracking West Virginia Football Players in the 2012 NFL Draft

The 2011 season of West Virginia football saw the Mountaineers exit the Big East Conference with a 70-33 drubbing of Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

For the returning Mountaineers, it's a move to the Big 12 Conference, but a select few West Virginia players will have their eyes on this week's NFL draft.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell won't be calling out the name of many Mountaineers early on, but before it's all over a few West Virginia products will realize their dreams of being drafted by an NFL team.

I will be tracking the entire NFL draft as it pertains to West Virginia, so check back frequently as I'll let you know when and where each Mountaineer lands during all three days of the draft.

Here's a look at the Mountaineers that are expected to be drafted.

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Keith Tandy

LB Najee Goode

Bruce Irvin, OLB: Drafted by Seattle Seahawks, First Round (15th Overall)

West Virginia's Bruce Irvin is a very intriguing prospect, whose strength is his ability to rush the quarterback. He posted an eye-popping 4.5 40 time at the combine. At this stage, he's more of an athlete than a polished football player.

During his West Virginia career, Irvin compiled 22 sacks in only 26 total games. Those impressive numbers came in limited snaps, as he was rotated off the field in running situations. Irvin figures to spend the early part of his career as a pass-rush specialist.

Mel Kiper Jr. sees Irvin as a potentially game-breaking pass rusher:

"

Used as a pass rush specialist in his first year with the Mountaineers, he went on to establish himself as one of the very best in the country. Displaying great closing speed and overall athleticism to go along with a high motor

"

Irvin will start his career as a situational pass-rusher, as he isn't strong enough against the run to be a full-time player. However, his quickness off the edge gives him a chance to top the double-digit sack mark in limited time.

At 6'3" and 245 pounds, Irvin faces a likely shift from defensive end to the linebacker position. Teams running a 3-4 defense in need of an edge-rusher should take a long look at Irvin. He has a better chance of making an early impact if he lands in a 3-4 defense.

Pick Analysis:

Huge reach here. Bruce Irvin has loads of potential, but the Seahawks could've traded down and grabbed him much later. Don't love the pick. 

Najee Goode, LB: Drafted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fifth Round (140th Overall)

West Virginia’s Najee Goode is a versatile linebacker who will likely play inside at the next level. At 6’0” and 244 pounds, he bounced around between outside and inside ‘backer at college, but ultimately found most of his success manning the middle.

His best stats came in 2011 as he recorded 87 total tackles, including 14 tackles for loss. These numbers speak to one of Goode’s biggest strengths, which is filling the gaps and working inside the box. He added five sacks, one interception and one forced fumble as well, marking an altogether successful senior campaign.

Better suited against the run, Goode has underrated speed and unexpected burst. He ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the combine and also posted a 35.5” vertical jump. Athletically, he’s capable of fitting both 4-3 and 3-4 teams as he is thickly built, dedicated to the weight room and is a strong tackler.

The reason Goode fits better inside is because he needs to improve against the pass.NFL.com notes how the compact ‘backer “works better in the box than he does in space,” as he can sometimes lose track of the ball when it’s in the air.

In addition, Goode can sometimes struggle to break free of blockers. CBSSports.com describes him as more of an effort and intensity player than one who has natural athleticism. His attitude didn’t go unnoticed at West Virginia, however, as he was the “unquestioned leader” of the defense.

Overall, Goode will likely begin as a two-down player in the NFL. He offers scheme versatility and is effective in the box. But he’ll need to continue improving in coverage.

During the offseason, WalterFootball pointed out that Goode “was solid at the East-West Shrine and the Combine.” Now that he’s begun to settle in at inside linebacker, there’s a good chance he can carry this momentum over into 2012.

After choosing Nebraska LB Lavonte David in the 2nd round, Tampa Bay looks to seriously bulk up the middle of the field by selecting Goode.  With time, he'll improve against the pass as Tampa looks to shake up the NFC South.  

Keith Tandy, CB: Drafted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sixth Round (174th Overall)

A converted quarterback who proved his cover skills at corner, West Virginia's Keith Tandy is a physical player who plays with tenacity. He’s 5’10” and 202 pounds, making him an undersized yet compact defensive back.

At West Virginia, Tandy benefited from the relentless pressure that defensive ends Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller placed on opposing quarterbacks, according to CBSSports.com. However, he did some good things on his own to warrant recognition.

In his first full year as a starter in 2009, Tandy recorded 61 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions and seven passes broken up. In 2010, he was voted to the First-Team All-Conference team. Then, in 2011, he logged 64 tackles, two for loss, four interceptions and nine passes broken up. 

As a converted passer, Tandy has a unique understanding of the passing game that most cornerbacks don’t. He uses his offensive experience as a defender to identify routes and patterns.

Because the NFL is gradually featuring bigger and bigger wide receivers, defensive backs with Tandy’s size can sometimes be overmatched. For that reason, undersized corners must play with a certain level of physicality and aggressiveness so as to overcome the height advantage. And Tandy has shown he can do that.

Heading to the NFL, he’ll need to continue playing with confidence.

Pick Analysis

Tandy brings a unique perspective to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' secondary as a converted quarterback who understands the offensive-side of the passing game perhaps better than the defensive side. Consequently, he'll have to take his lumps as he transitions to the pro game, but he has time to learn from talented players in front of him and could evolve into a useful player despite his smallish size.

According to CBSSports.com, Tandy’s overall strengths include his zone-cover skills, as he is able to keep wideouts and the ball in front of him, and his ability to close well after the catch and bring down bigger receivers.

On the other hand, the former Mountaineer is “not consistent with his footwork, is a bit choppy in transition and is slow to find the ball on deep routes.”

Though Tandy is a bit short, he is a physical corner who can tackle well and understand routes. With a little coaching, he should develop into a solid nickel corner in the NFL.