NFL Draft 2012: Top 5 SEC Steals of the Draft

The 2012 NFL draft is in the books, and for the sixth straight season, the SEC led all conferences in the number of players drafted with 42.

Nine players from SEC schools were drafted in the first round, but that doesn't mean that they will be the only stars.

Who are some of the SEC steals of the draft? My top five are in this slideshow.

No. 5: Vick Ballard, Indianapolis Colts

With Andrew Luck taking the snaps, it's a new era in Indianapolis. Ballard will be a big part of the new-look Colts, and getting him at the back end of the fifth round at No. 170 was a steal for the Colts.

Ballard rushed for 2,157 yards and 29 touchdowns during his last two seasons with Mississippi State.

The knock against Ballard during the draft process was that he was too much of a dancer before hitting the hole, but he proved to be a stud in the nation's best conference and will be a star in Indy.

No. 4: Malik Jackson, Denver Broncos

Malik Jackson got knocked during the draft process for being an undersized defensive tackle. Denver Broncos head coach John Fox has been non-committal about where he will line up in the NFL according to CBSSports.com, but it's clear that he's leaning more towards defensive end.

At 6'4", 284 lbs, that makes sense. The fear of the unknown is what cost him a few spots, but the Broncos got great value on Jackson when they selected him in the fifth round at No. 137.

No. 3: Danny Trevathan, Denver Broncos

Trevathan's size is what limited him during the draft process. At 6'1", 232 lbs, he's a little bit undersized as an NFL linebacker. That didn't seem to stop him at Kentucky though.

He led the SEC in 2011 with 143 tackles and finished 11th in the conference with 12 tackles-for-loss. He fell all the way to the sixth round and pick No. 188.

He will have to prove himself on special teams with the Broncos, but once he proves himself at the NFL level, he should enjoy a long and prosperous career.

No. 2: Orson Charles, Cincinnati Bengals

An offseason arrest for DUI knocked Charles down a lot of draft boards, but the Bengals got a game-changing tight end when they drafted Charles in the fourth round (116th overall).

Tight ends are being used more and more as offensive weapons rather than as blockers, and at 6'2", 251 lbs, Charles' size translates well to the next level. The Bengals finished 20th in the NFL in total offense last season, and Charles will certainly help in that department.

No. 1: Charles Mitchell, Atlanta Falcons

Former Mississippi State defensive back Charles Mitchell was selected at the back end of the sixth round at pick No. 192 by the Atlanta Falcons.

With 50 games under his belt in Starkville, Mitchell has the experience and the ability to step in and be a contributor for the Falcons, especially on special teams. He finished seventh in the SEC last season with 95 tackles, and is great against the run—which should come in handy on special teams.

He won't start right off the bat in Atlanta, but he will provide head coach Mike Smith with a viable backup at safety.