25 Underclassmen Who Could Go High in the 2012 NFL Draft

Eleven of the first 14 players selected in the 2011 NFL Draft were underclassmen, after 10 of the first 15 picks were in 2010.  This trend is likely to continue and possibly even increase in future drafts.

Typically, the most talented players in the draft are prospects who chose to forgo their senior season and move to the NFL.  Though there are many exceptions to this rule, it is always a good idea to look at players who are not yet in their final year of eligibility.

Every year, people are wondering who they should be watching in preparation for the upcoming draft.  Here's a look at 25 players who could be off the board early in 2012.

Ray-Ray Armstrong, S, Miami (FL)

At 6'4", 215 pounds, Armstrong is a huge safety, but he is much smoother and quicker than would be expected.  His size and speed make him a good player in run support, but he is not quick enough to handle wide receivers in coverage. 

If he is left off of wideouts and assigned to tight ends, Armstrong does well in coverage and rarely gets beat on short patterns.  His size will always leave him less quick than is desired, but his natural athleticism makes him a possible first-round pick.

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne is a great athlete and was a productive offensive player in high school.  While lacking in size, his ability to play the cornerback position has made him a very productive and valuable player for LSU.  He needs to refine his technique, and his size will always be a huge factor in his potential, but at least Claiborne should provide a good playmaker and nickelback.

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

While Sanu's production dropped off in his sophomore season, he is still a very nice athlete with good size.  Capable of playing multiple offensive roles, Sanu is a playmaker.  He needs to work on his route running and the finer aspects of playing wideout, but if he is able to improve in those areas, his ceiling is very high.

T.J. McDonald, S, USC

As Taylor Mays's replacement, McDonald has big shoes to fill, and he has more than met expectation.  The 6'2", 205-pound safety may not be as big as Mays, but he also possesses the ability to play physically and deliver a blow.  With three interceptions in 2010, McDonald can play in coverage and is a fair player in deep zone coverage. 

Robert Lester, S, Alabama

A true ball hawk in the secondary, Lester recorded eight interceptions during the 2010 season.  While Lester has good size at 6'2", 210 pounds, he struggles to tackle and is often blown onto his back when trying to bring down the ball carrier.  Hopefully this can be corrected, because the ability is there to be a high draft pick if he can improve in the run game.

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

A high school quarterback as well as a corner, Gilmore is a great athlete.  Though he is not exceptionally fast, Gilmore has good quickness and smooth hips in coverage.  The South Carolina defense rarely puts Gilmore in man coverage, so his press skills are somewhat of an unknown.  He is, however, a good tackler who plays with aggression.  Also a punt returner, Gilmore offers versatility and value on special teams as well.

Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina

The 6'7", 260-pound Taylor is a great athlete with huge upside as a pass-rusher.  In some way similar to Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants, Taylor has very raw technique but his physical skills allow for him to produce.  If he can refine his technique and continue to produce, he could end up as a top-20 pick in the 2012 draft due to his first step and athleticism.

Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

Hosley is quite small, at around 180 pounds, but is a terrific athlete and an interception machine.  His speed and ball skills led to the Virginia Tech cornerback compiling nine interceptions during the 2010 season. 

While he can be overpowered by receivers when going up against speed-based players, Hosley is a great cover corner.  Unfortunately, his size may limit him to covering the slot in the NFL, and it is unlikely he will be able to play well on the outside.

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

A former tight end, Reiff is a quality athlete with good quickness and feet.  Though he still needs to work on his technique, Reiff's natural athleticism makes him a good pass-blocker, capable of holding his own against great speed.  If Iowa's offensive-line staff does its usual magic, Reiff could easily be a top-15 pick in 2012 should he declare for the draft.

Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina

Paige-Moss has pass-rushing ability, but lacks the speed and quickness to truly be great at getting to the quarterback.  A strong base and powerful legs make Paige-Moss an excellent bull-rusher, but he has few other moves. 

While he does have a good first step, the quickness to get around blockers just isn't there yet, though it could still be developed.  Strong hands help him to disengage blocks and he is a good run defender for his size.  Though he still needs a lot of work, Paige-Moss' burst and power give him nice potential as a pass-rusher.

Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State

As of this point, Jenkins is a bit of a project.  The 6'3", 265-pound defensive end has great natural ability, but needs to refine his technique in order to become a dominant pass-rusher.  A good first step helps Jenkins off the edge, and he has a nice spin move and dip as well.  He does need to add strength to aid in powering through blocks and making plays in the run game.  Jenkins' athleticism and fluidity make him a potentially great edge-rusher, but he needs to continue to work on his game.

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

A good natural athlete, the 6'7", 295-pound Kalil uses his quickness and technique to stonewall defenders in the pass game.  His long arms are incredibly helpful in keeping rushers at bay, and he is also capable of packing a powerful punch in the run game. 

He does need to bulk up, however, and he is not great at the point of attack.  If Kalil can add 15 pounds and improve in the power game, he could be the first offensive tackle selected.

Marcus Forston, DT, Miami (FL)

In 2010, the 6'3", 300-pound Forston demonstrated great ability to penetrate, racking up 12 tackles for loss and three sacks.  Though not a truly dominant player yet, Forston has the quickness and agility to be a great interior player.  A great leader, Forston has excellent intangibles and plays with intensity and passion.  While many defensive tackles have motor concerns, Forston most definitely does not.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

As Andrew Luck's blindside protector, if Martin messes up, the whole world knows it.  While not incredibly physically talented, Martin excels by using good technique and playing with intelligence.  He has great arm extension and does a nice job of keeping rushers at a distance while using angles to his advantage.  A good burst helps him get to the second level in the run game, and he finished blocks with vigor.  Martin has reasonably quick feet, but they are far from elite and are holding him back from being a special player.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

The previous two drafts excelled at the defensive tackle position, and while Worthy is no Ndamukong Suh, he is a fine player.  Good agility and quickness make Worthy a fearsome interior pass-rusher.  The 6'3", 310-pound Spartan has had 4.0 sacks each of the past two seasons and makes plenty of other plays in the backfield as well.  Though he is not elite, Worthy will be a highly sought lineman.

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict is one of the most physically talented and intimidating players in football.  A speed demon with deadly power, Burfict often lights up opposing players and leaves receivers scared.  With this impressive skill-set, Burfict truly does have the ability to be the best linebacker in the game. 

However, Burfict has some character concerns and is a bit of a hot head.  He also needs to continue working on the mental game but, if he progresses, he could be an immediate impact player.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

In 2010, Blackmon was far and away the most productive NCAA receiver, catching 111 passes for 1,782 yards.  With great hands and decent size, Blackmon flashed as a sophomore and should be even better in his junior campaign. 

The only thing limiting Blackmon is a lack of great speed and playmaking ability.  However, his catching and yard-after-the-catch ability make him a very solid pro prospect and he should be an early first-round selection.

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

A smart, productive and versatile player, Kuechly is one of many extremely talented linebackers who could potentially be available in the 2012 draft.  While not overly big, Kuechly is a tackling machine with superb instincts and a nose for the ball. 

This is not to say that Kuechly is a bad athlete; he has decent speed and good coverage ability as well.  Despite being so young, Kuechly is extremely disciplined and is rarely out of position.  As the prototypical defensive captain, Kuechly should be a high draft pick.

Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

Te'o is a rare player at linebacker; great in every situation.  With sideline-to-sideline speed, Te'o is excellent in coverage and takes great angles in pursuit.  At 6'2", 255-pounds, he has great size to go with his athleticism and is a more than adequate run defender. 

His lateral movement isn't great and he could be better at attacking the line of scrimmage but, on the whole, Te'o is a complete player and the total package at linebacker.

Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

The successor to Sam Bradford, Jones is yet another extremely productive Sooner quarterback.  Jones is both propelled and hindered by the Oklahoma spread offense.  On one hand, his production is excellent and a lack of numbers will never be a concern surrounding him. 

But the offense limits Jones' opportunities to truly show what he can do, and the benefits of the offense will always make people wonder how good of a passer he truly is.  Jones possesses good arm strength, size and accuracy, and with another good season in 2011, he could be a top-10 selection.

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is a talented player with a good combination of size, speed and technique.  The 6'3" Alabama corner is great in press coverage largely due to his natural length.  A shoulder injury has lingered with Kirkpatrick since high school, and this could present an issue with some teams. 

However, if he checks out well at the scouting combine, it likely will not be an issue. With cornerbacks being selected in the top 10 picks the last two years, Kirkpatrick could make it a third consecutive year in 2012.

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Every once in a while, a truly phenomenal running back comes along: Ricky Williams and Adrian Peterson are two of them.  Trent Richardson may be the next.  A physical specimen at 5'11", 225 pounds, Richardson has great speed and is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. 

But what makes Richardson stand out is his power.  He is incredibly strong and busts through tackles with ease, leaving quality defenders in his dust.  Mark Ingram was a quality prospect and a worthy first-round pick; Trent Richardson is much better and should be off the board in the top 10 picks.

Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Barkley is a quality prospect and arguably has the best physical tools of any draft-eligible quarterback.  Great size and a strong arm make Barkley an appealing player to any evaluator or coach.  A starter since his freshman year, Barkley has shown great progress during his time at USC and should develop into a great player in his final season.  Only Andrew Luck keeps him from being the likely first-overall pick of the draft.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

A.J. Green was a sensational wide receiver prospect; Alshon Jeffery may be better.  Jeffery offers a massive 6'4", 233-pound frame with some of the best hands in football.  No ball is uncatchable and no cornerback is unbeatable. 

Jeffery is a downright nasty player, and he is not at all afraid to get physical with cornerbacks.  Few are better at beating press coverage and getting open.  While not a burner, Jeffery does possess enough speed to separate and has excellent yard-after-the-catch ability.  While Jeffery isn't at Calvin Johnson's level as a prospect, he isn't too far either.

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

What NFL draft list doesn't have Luck at the top?  He's the dream prospect who, barring a minor miracle, will be the first pick of the 2012 draft.  With a sophomore season worthy of accolades in the books, Luck has already proven all he needs to in the NCAA—once he completes his degree, he will be a wanted man by just about every NFL team.