Wisconsin vs. Michigan State: Grading the Top 2012 NFL Draft Talent on Each Team

The first time they met, it provided one of the most memorable finishes to a game in the 2011 college football season.

And tonight, Michigan State and Wisconsin will face off once again, this time in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.

Will they be able to provide viewers with a contest as exciting as the Spartans' 37-31 victory against the Badgers on Oct. 22? That one ended on a completed Hail Mary.

To get to this point, each team had to have talent.

But how good is the talent?

Here is a look at the top draft-eligible NFL prospects from this game.

Nick Toon

The son of former Wisconsin and New York Jets' wide receiver Al Toon, Nick Toon also is a quality prospect.

Standing 6'2" and weighing 220 pounds, Toon isn't the fastest receiver out there (running in the 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash). But he runs good routes, has outstanding leaping ability and initial quickness.

Look for Toon to be among the first five receivers off the board come April.

Kevin Zeitler

As is often the case, Wisconsin has its share of burly NFL prospects on the offensive line.

One of the best this year is Kevin Zeitler, a 6'4", 318-pound guard.

He won't wow anyone with his natural athleticism, but Zeitler is a technician in the trenches who can run and pass block at an NFL level.

In great part because interior offensive linemen rarely get selected early, look for Zeitler to be drafted in the middle rounds.

Jerel Worthy

A force in the middle of Michigan State's defensive line, Jerel Worthy could be a top-10 selection in the 2012 NFL draft should he decide to leave school after his redshirt junior year.

At 6'3", 310 pounds, Worthy has tremendous quickness for a young man his size and also can bull-rush offensive linemen.

Enjoy him now because it would be a real surprise if Worthy returns to MSU next season.

Peter Konz

Arguably the nation's best center, Peter Konz could be selected in the first two rounds should he choose to exit Wisconsin after this, his redshirt junior year.

At 6'5", 315 pounds, Konz is taller than most centers, but he has similar size to recent first-rounders at the position, Maurkice (Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010) and Mike Pouncey (Miami Dolphins in 2011).

The matchup this Saturday night between Konz and Michigan State defensive tackler Jerel Worthy will be worth watching.

Kirk Cousins

If this were any other year, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins might be considered a second-or third-round prospect for the 2012 NFL draft.

But with expected entries like Stanford's Andrew Luck, Southern California's Matt Barkley, Baylor's Robert Griffin III and Oklahoma's Landry Jones, the 6'3", 205-pound Cousins could find himself waiting until the middle or late rounds.

Montee Ball

One of the most unappreciated stars in college football, Montee Ball will end his career with numerous school and Big Ten rushing records.

But, even in a season where quarterbacks have taken the spotlight, Ball isn't even talked about on the same level as Alabama's Trent Richardson or Oregon's LaMichael James.

Just a junior, the 5'11", 212-pound Ball has changed his body this season. Once a 230-pound bruiser, Ball still can run over a linebacker, but he has added quickness and speed.

That should help him at the next level where he ranks as a second- or third-round pick.

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson doesn't fit the "traditional" mold of an NFL quarterback.

He's not 6'5". He's not 230 pounds.

But Wilson is a playmaker.

At 5'11", 210 pounds, Wilson is one of college football's faster quarterbacks, and he has an accurate arm. His skill set has allowed Wisconsin to change its offense from bang and bruise to a more wide-open system.

Will his game translate to the next level? The former North Carolina State quarterback has a minor league contract, so might he stick with baseball?

Look for NFL scouts to ask those questions quite a bit between now and April.