2012 NFL Mock Draft: Under the Radar Players Rising to the Top

Here's a quick look at three players who are currently rising up draft boards with their play this season.

Chris Polk, RB, Washington Huskies

Polk turned in yet another masterful performance for the Huskies on Saturday, carrying the ball 34 times for 144 yards and four touchdowns.

He also caught four passes for another 100 yards and a touchdown. 

On the season, Polk has already hit 1,016 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns. He's been the heart and soul of this Husky team and has shown that he should be one of the first few running backs taken.

At 5'11" and 222 pounds, Polk is a bruising back who never goes down on first contact and always make sure to lay a punishing hit at the end of his runs. Still, though, the former high school wide receiver is also blessed with terrific speed (4.48 40 time) and great hands.

Polk has always been a fantastic runner out of the backfield, but his recent play catching the ball should be vaulting him up NFL draft boards. 

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin Badgers

The other UW school also boasts a terrific junior running back. Montee Ball has had a real nose for the end zone this season, scoring 21 times in just eight games.

Ball is similar to Polk in size (5'11", 210) and speed (4.46 40 time) and has displayed a similar ability of breaking off big gains in the passing game (18.3 yards per catch).

If Ball decides to declare for the draft after this season, he is proving he belongs somewhere at the end of the first round or early in the second round.

Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois Fighting Illini

Mercilus continues to gain national recognition, as he leads the country in sacks and is third in tackles for a loss.

Mercilus, a junior, might not have enough game experience to validate him coming out early, but you can't help but notice his skills.

He possesses tremendous speed to get around the edge to the quarterback. He is still extremely raw in the run game, but his ability to get in the backfield on passing downs could easily make him a first- or second-round pick.

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