2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Latest Look at College Football's Defensive Studs

It still may be an overused cliche, but the fact is, defense wins championships. You can score all the points in the world but it won't matter if the defense doesn't get any stops or force any turnovers.

We have to remember that in this pass-happy offense-oriented movement of football, you can still win low-scoring games and even sometimes when the offense doesn't score.

That being said, here are five defensive studs to keep an eye on as the 2011 college football season progresses to, ultimately, the 2012 NFL Draft.

Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

Arguably the best DB on the nation's best defense, LSU's Morris Claiborne will be a top 10 pick (at worst) come time for the 2012 NFL Draft.

Taking him should be the Minnesota Vikings, who rank No. 28 in pass defense by allowing almost 260 yards per game. In the NFC North, where there are explosive passing offenses, Minnesota needs a shutdown corner.

Last season, Claiborne compiled 37 tackles, including five INTs returned for 101 yards for the Tigers.

This season, Morris has already surpassed his tackle total with 40, has four picks returned for 128 yards, and there's at least two more games left to play (possibly three with the SEC title game pending).

In addition to defense, Claiborne has served well as the team's kick returner and has accounted for 398 yards on 14 returns, including one TD. So not only would Minnesota be getting a stud CB who's a sure tackler that can make plays with the ball, but he's a game-changer.

Any time you can change the field position on defense or special teams, your team has quite the advantage.

Browns: Vontaze Burfict, LB (Arizona State)

If there's anything that the Cleveland Browns are missing on defense, it's attitude. Based on the picture alone, you know that Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict plays with swag, and rightfully so, as the Sun Devils did beat USC earlier this year.

As for his production, Burfict has accounted for 213 tackles thus far in his collegiate career and has five sacks through 11 games in 2011.

In Cleveland, Burfict would be the man, because when playing run-oriented teams like Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati, stopping the ground game is a big advantage. Also, the Browns are missing that one signature player who sort of encompasses their defense.

Sure, Joe Haden is a solid CB, but it doesn't help much when you can't stop the run. In Pittsburgh you have James Harrison, Baltimore has Ray Lewis, and in Cincinnati there's Ray Maualuga.

Draft Burfict to Cleveland and the Browns defense finally has an interior defensive player to pose as a big threat to any offense. 

Eagles: Manti Te'o, LB (Notre Dame)

Notre Dame's Manti Te'o is a complete defensive player. He reads draws and screen very well and is a sure tackler.

For his career he has compiled 299 tackles through 11 games in 2011 and has 4.5 sacks this season.

The Irish are 8-3 and having their best season in quite some time, especially with a defense to back up the offense. In the NFL Draft, a team like the Eagles could use his greatly.

Philadelphia may have a solid pass defense because of their secondary, but their LBs lack the size and speed to read and react, otherwise maybe 2011 wouldn't have been such a disappointment thus far.

Their defensive line still gets good pressure on the QB, so having Manti in the middle will prevent any broken plays going against them. Te'o is also solid in zone coverage and big enough to jam the receiving TEs at the line.

Plus with his presence in the middle, not too many receivers will be willing to run those intermediate passing routes.

49ers: Chase Minnifield, CB (Virginia)

If only the San Francisco 49ers had a pass defense, they would be undefeated right now. They gave up too many big passing plays against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 and it significantly hurt as they lost in OT.

However, Virginia's Chase Minnifield is here to help.

Since his freshman season, Minnifield has been a solid contributor on the Cavaliers defense, but he's really developed the past two seasons.

As a junior, Minnifield recorded six INTs and 48 tackles and this season he's picked off three passes, recorded 47 tackles and also has 1.5 sacks.

So it's obvious that he hasn't gotten challenged nearly as much but is still producing. That said, Virgina still has at least two games left (possibly three if they win this week), therefore Minnifield's numbers are only going to increase.

In San Fran, the 49ers already have a great LB core and defensive line, so the final missing piece is a shutdown corner. Bring in Minnifield and he'll take away half the field and 'Frisco will be the best defense in football across the board.

Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

Although the Packers are lacking in pass defense, a second pass-rusher is needed since most offenses are doing anything and everything they can to limit Clay Matthews' production.

So, why not draft an established playmaker such as South Carolina's Melvin Ingram? As a junior he recorded nine sacks but just 27 tackles, and is a more complete player in 2011.

Through 11 games he has 6.5 sacks to go with 39 tackles and also has two INTs. Not to mention there's still two games left for the Gamecocks, so these numbers will increase and Ingram will become that much more appealing (not to mention he's playing one less game this season since the Gamecocks didn't win the SEC East).

In Titletown USA, Ingram will cause havoc in the backfield with Matthews, but he'll also be useful as a DE dropping back in coverage underneath the slant and crossing patterns.

Also, the man has a knack for finding the football thanks to great instinct and awareness. Something that you can't coach. 

2012 NFL First-Round Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stan.)	17. Buffalo Bills: Janoris Jenkins, CB (N. Ala.)
2. Carolina Panthers: Brandon Thompson, DT (Clem)	18. New York Jets: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
3. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Okla. St.)	19. Cleveland (From ATL): Jeff Fuller, WR (Tex. A&M)
4. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, DB, (LSU)	20. Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro, G (Stan.)
5. Arizona Cardinals: Trent Richardson, RB (Ala.)	21. Detroit Lions: Kevin Reddick, LB (UNC)
6. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	22. Cincinnati (From Oak): Jonathan Martin, OT (Stan.)
7. Cleveland Browns: Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)	23. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR (N.D.)	24. Chicago Bears: Nick Toon, WR (Wisc.)
9. Miami Dolphins: Matt Barkley, QB (USC)	25. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio St.)
10. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, QB (Baylor)	26. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, S (Ala.)
11 .Philadelphia Eagles: Manti Te'o, LB (N.D.)	27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin Still, DT (Penn St.)	28. N.E. (From N.O): Cam Johnson, DE (Virginia)
13. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Ala.)	29. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly, LB (B.C.)
14. Kansas City Chiefs: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Ala.)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Chase Minnifield, CB (UVA)
15. Denver Broncos: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Neb.)	31. Houston Texans: Jeff Fuller, WR (Tex. A&M)
16. Tennessee Titans: Alshon Jeffery, WR (S. Car.)	32. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (S. Car.)

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.