2012 NFL Draft: Premature Look at the Potential Stars in Next Year's Draft

With NFL teams still unable to improve through free agency, it shouldn't be too early to look ahead at the impact-making prospects that should arrive via the 2012 NFL Draft.

With consensus No. 1 Andrew Luck and several other west-coast players, the Pac-12 stands out as having much more talent than previous years. They could easily churn out five Top 10 picks.

Behind Trent Richardson and several menacing defensive players, Alabama and the SEC again are putting out top talent. 

Miami and North Carolina also seem to putting out a number of players that could go in the first round.

Here's a look at the top 2012 prospects by position.

QB: Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck is the 2012 No. 1 pick pretty much anywhere you look. If a team without a quarterback need gets first pick, another one will find a way to trade up. Hes that good. 

I've seen comparisons to Peyton Manning. I've seen comparisons to Matt Ryan. I've seen comparisons to Aaron Rodgers.

The Stanford junior has a rocket arm, good pocket presence and terrific field vision. He's incredibly smart (who would have thought, a Stanford player—smart?) and looks like a can't-miss prospect.

As a Seahawk fan, I don't think I would mind a, um, record-tanking season if it meant acquiring Luck. Again, he's that good.  

Other QB's to Watch

Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Matt Barkley, USC

Nick Foles, Arizona

RB: Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson, who spent his first two seasons behind Mark Ingram, will get a chance to shine as Alabama's main weapon this season.

At 5'11" and 220 pounds, Richardson is incredibly strong and hard to take down. He's also very explosive for his frame, and should make for a talented, multi-threatening running back in the NFL.

Richardson's draft stock is high right now, but it may skyrocket after a full season as the No. 1 in Tuscaloosa.

Other RB's to Watch

Knile Davis, Arkansas

Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

LaMichael James, Oregon

Chris Polk, Washington 

WR: Alshon Jeffery

Many pundits probably like Justin Blackmon as the top wide receiver prospect, but I am more impressed with Alshon Jeffery. 

Jeffery, the South Carolina junior, hasn't had the privilege of playing in the pass-happy Oklahoma State offense, yet still pulled in 88 catches for over 1500 yards last season. Blackmon had over 100 catches, yes, but I would guess that he got more targets.

Jeffery is bigger than Blackmon, and has a frame similar to Calvin Johnson. Although he isn't as fast as Johnson, he still possess good speed and will make for a nice target in the middle of the field and in the redzone.

Other WR's to Watch

 Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.

Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M

Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame 

TE: Michael Egnew

Michael Egnew is a very intriguing prospect, to say the least. He stands at 6'6" and has the hands and speed to be a terrific receiver. However, at 235 pounds, he is quite skinny for his height, and might lack the blocking skills of a top-tier all-around tight end.

The Missouri senior reminds me a little bit of Aaron Hernandez, not in terms of frame, but in terms of receiving versus blocking skills.

Other TE's to Watch

David Paulson, Oregon

George Bryan, NC State

OL: Matt Kalil

Mike Pouncey showed earlier this year what a brother in the NFL can do to your draft stock. Matt Kalil, younger brother of NFL star Ryan, might have the same fate in 2012.

Mike Pouncey, who enjoyed a great year at Florida, saw his stock rise also because of his twin brother's play in Pittsburgh.

Ryan Kalil, Matt's older brother, is enjoying immense success with the Carolina Panthers, and NFL scouts should see lots of similarities in Matt.

Matt Kalil, a left tackle, displays terrific technique, footwork and overall strength, and should be snatched up very early in the first round.

Other OT's to Watch

 Jonathan Martin, Stanford

Nate Potter, Boise State

Riley Reiff, Iowa

Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State 

DE: Quenton Couples

Quinton Couples might remind some people of a former UNC defensive end who is enjoying a bit of success in the NFL: Julius Peppers.

Like Peppers, Couples stands 6'6" and 275 pounds, and is bigger than the average defensive end.

Couples runs a 4.85 40, so he doesn't quite have the speed of Peppers, but he makes up for it with his raw strength and athletic moves.

North Carolina seems to producing lots of good defensive products as of late, and Couples is the best of the bunch. 

Other DE's to Watch

Donte Paige-Moss, UNC

Brandon Jenkins, FSU

Devin Taylor, South Carolina

Jared Crick, Nebraska

DT: Marcus Forston

The Miami Hurricanes have their fare share of churning out great defensive tackles (Warren Sapp, Cortez Kennedy), so Forston is definitely in good shape.

At 6'3" and 305 pounds, he is the perfect size for a defensive tackle, and displays uncanny speed for a man his size.

He is clocked in a running a 4.95 40-yard dash, and at 305 pounds, that is mighty impressive. 

The freshman All-American showed last year that he could return from injury, so any talk of an injury-prone player should subdue if he has a standout junior season. 

Other DT's to Watch

Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

Kheeston Randall, Texas

Tydreke Powell, UNC

LB: Vontaze Burfict

As a Washington Husky fan, I will be glad to see Vontaze Burfict leave.

Burfict, who has good size at 6'3" and 250 pounds, displays the speed, power and general nastiness (pictured above) of an all-star linebacker. 

The Arizona State junior became the first Sun Devil since Terrell Suggs to be named to the All-American first team, and he has the skills to produce like Suggs in the NFL.

Other LB's to Watch

 Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

Zach Brown, UNC

Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

Don'Ta Hightower, Alabama

Kenny Tate, Maryland 

CB: Cliff Harris

Cliff Harris might currently be the top-rated cornerback for 2012, but he has some work to do if he wants to stay there.

According to the Ducks website, Harris' 40 time was clocked at 4.79. If he were to do that at the combine, it would probably be historically slow for a corner. The same site has Harris listed at 165 pounds, which is about 15 pounds lighter than most scouting websites have him listed at.

Throw in his off-the-field problems, and you have three things that scouts love to use to downgrade a player.

Harris has the skills to be a Top-10 pick, no doubt, but he will need to be careful if he doesn't want to see his stock fall. 

Other CB's to Watch

Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

Alonzo Dennard, Nebraska

Chase Minnifield, Virginia

S: Ray Ray Armstrong

At this point in time, there are no safeties that have put themselves ahead of the pack, or even into guaranteed first-round range, but Ray Ray Armstrong of Miami is probably the front-runner.

The junior from Sanford, Florida is 6'4" and 220 pounds, making him extremely big for a strong safety. Ray Ray, as I like to call him, has the speed of a defensive back and the power and tackling ability of a linebacker.

He should draw comparisons to the late, great Hurricane, Sean Taylor. 

Other Safeties to Watch

Robert Lester, Alabama

Mark Barron, Alabama

Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech