7 Young NFL Stars That Will Take the Next Step in 2012

One of the best recurring elements season-to-season in the NFL is the new waves of talent that come in and sweep the league by storm. When these players burst onto the scene, they acquire fans—and fast. For instance, last year was a breakout season by New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, who now looks to be one of the better receivers in the league if he can stay consistent.

The 2011 season allowed for fans and analysts alike to get a sneak-peek at the next generation of breakthrough athletes.

In this piece, we will breakdown seven young NFL stars that are looking to establish a presence in 2012. Based off of their 2011 campaigns, potential and team situation, we'll identify more than half a dozen new game changers to look for this coming season.  

Antonio Brown, WR: Pittsburgh

In 2011, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was one of the underrated pass-catchers in the league.

At 24-years-old, Brown is now one of the up-and-coming players at the wide out position.

Brown is a quick receiver at 5'10", 186 pounds, but he makes sure-handed catches and can break defenses for big yards. In his first year getting significant time in the league, Brown averaged 16.2 yards per catch on a 1,108-yard season. 

He only found the end zone twice, but still proved to be a playmaker. He should improve in most major statistical categories in his second year, especially touchdowns. He quickly developed a rapport with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, as a good option receiver for the two-time Super Bowl winning passer. 

Brown uses his improvisational skills and communicates well with Roethlisberger, both working together to extend plays and create opportunities. He brings a different skill set than Mike Wallace, and should continue to flourish with Wallace opposite him.

He only posted three 100-plus yard games last season, but he was consistent enough to be a thousand-yard receiver.

Brown came on strong in the second half of the season, adjusting to the speed and tempo of the game. He seems to have established a foundation from which to build on, which is why he will be on the rise in 2012.

DeMarco Murray, RB: Dallas

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray is a superior athlete that should have been a starter and 1,000-yard rusher in his rookie season, had it not been for an injury.

At 6'0", 227-pounds, Murray is built to be an every-down back at the pro level. With only 164 touches in 2011, Murray rushed for 897 yards and a 5.5 per attempt average.

Murray is a strong runner, with a downhill physical style complete with quick cuts, similar to Darren McFadden.

In only five games last year did Murray receive 20-plus carries, and in three of those games he broke 100 yards on the ground (253, 139 and 135). Murray's main competition for time is Felix Jones, but the Cowboys may find that Murray is more built to be an every-down back while Jones' style works as a nice change of pace.  

Brandon Browner, CB: Seattle

At 27-years-old, Browner has only played one season in the NFL, but it was elite statistically.

In 2011, Browner registered 54 tackles and six interceptions (Fourth in the NFL). The cornerback also tied the league for first with two pick 6's. At 6'4", 221-pounds, Browner is an imposing cornerback that can play physical against some of the league's bigger receivers.

In his first ever year as a starter in the NFL, Browner lead the league with 29 passes defended. He is an aggressive tackling corner on an up-and-coming Seattle defense. The secondary especially has improved, with one of the better safety tandems in the league in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

Browner—who was basically a rookie—got better as the season progressed, putting together a four-game streak of at least one interception from Week 12 to Week 15.

He is a fast, physical corner with playmaking ability and practically no mileage for his age. If Browner puts together another strong season in 2012, he could establish himself as one of the NFL's better cornerbacks for the next five years.

Donald Brown, RB: Indianapolis

Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown is entering his fourth year in the league, and he is primed to breakout.

The Colts organization has undergone a total overhaul, looking to start from scratch and rebuild anew. One of the best ways to become established is to have a solid ground game, which Brown can provide in this new regime.

At 5'10", 210-pounds, Brown can carry the load for Indianapolis.

This offseason, new head coach Chuck Pagano called Brown an "every-down back," as the Colts will look to establish a new identity. In the Colts' abysmal 2011 campaign, Brown managed to average 4.8 per attempt on 134 carries. In a season in which yards and scores did not come easy for Indianapolis, Brown accumulated 731 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. 

In one of Indianapolis' two wins of 2011, Brown had the most touches he had all year with 16, accumulating 161 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

It would also be irresponsible to ignore the obvious addition of Andrew Luck and the value he adds to Brown's game. Besides Luck posing the obvious passing threat, he will be able to accurately check down to Brown and throw him open.

The Colts also drafted two young strong tight ends to set the edges for him, in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. They are more known as pass-catchers, but two-tight end formations will prove to be effective run sets for Brown and Indianapolis.

Brown is also a sturdy all-purpose back that can catch out of the backfield and cut up-field. He should have a lot of opportunities to touch the football this coming season. If Brown gets his carries in 2012, he'll be a 1,000-yard rusher.

I interviewed Donald Brown during his Pro Day at the University of Connecticut, and I found him to be a very humble student-athlete. Watching his games as a Husky, Brown was always a powerful, downhill style runner with great focus and determination.

He is ready to be a full-time starter at this level largely because of his passion for the game and playing with heart on the field.

Jonathan Baldwin, WR: Kansas City

In 2011, the Kansas City Chiefs made Baldwin their first round selection at 26th overall, clearly falling in love with his rare combination of size, speed and build.

In today's league, Baldwin is the prototypical wide receiver teams look for in that he is a big, fast deep threat. With his speed, he is a threat to kill teams deep and with his height and leaping ability, he can be considered open even when he's covered.

In his rookie year, the 6'4" Pitt product had 21 receptions for 254 yards and a touchdown. There is certainly room to improve, but in his first year he averaged 12.1 yards per catch. What was positive about his rookie year were the flashes of brilliance, hinting at the possible bright future in store.

Baldwin has great focus, and he should excel and achieve a more prominent role in the offense opposite Dwayne Bowe. The second-year receiver has the tools and ceiling to take the No. 2 spot from Steve Breaston in Kansas City's offense.

Reggie Bush, RB: Miami

For the first five years of his pro career, Bush missed out on a lot of carries being part of the Saints backfield with their philosophy of attack-by-committee. He never had a chance to be an every-down back in the league until his first year with the Miami Dolphins.

In his first season as a full-time starter, Bush had his first 1,000-yard season as a pro. He carried the ball 216 times for 1,086 yards and 6 touchdowns.

As the starting back for Miami, Bush averaged 5.0 yards per attempt.

2012 will be the determining season of Reggie Bush's career—can he be a consistently productive back capable of churning out back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons?

Coming out of college in 2006, Bush was one of the most prolific running backs in NCAA history, having a tremendous career with USC that included a Heisman Trophy. If Bush remains healthy and gets his touches, he will be one of the most dangerous all-purpose backs in 2012. He has game-breaking speed and can make cuts on a dime, so the tools are there for him to be one of the league's better rushers.

Martellus Bennett, TE: New York

Former Dallas Cowboy tight end Martellus Bennett is now a member of one-time NFC East rival New York Giants.

A big target, Bennett has spent four years in the league and never had a chance to start, which is understandable when you're on the same team as Jason Witten. For almost half a decade, Bennett learned behind the All-Pro, learning the way he prepares and plays the game—now the former backup has an opportunity to shine.

It's also verifiable that Eli Manning likes his tight ends, developing a rapport and having success with a number of players at that particular position. Out of Jeremy Shockey, Jake Ballard and Kevin Boss, the shortest was Shockey at 6'5". Like Ballard and Boss, Bennett is 6'6", but is faster than both with a 4.6 40-time.

We've seen how impactful 6'6"-plus tight ends can be in this league, so Bennett is in position to make an impact. He can be a serious role player for the Giants in his first year, as he is a perfect fit to the offense they run under offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.

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