BCS Bowl Games: The Top 10 Future NFL Stars Starting in BCS Bowls

The five BCS bowl games do no necessarily contain the 10 best teams in the country, but all 10 teams do have some players who will be playing on Sundays next season. 

There is a lot of talent playing in this year's BCS bowl games on both sides of the ball.

Not only future NFL players, but future NFL stars will be taking the field for their respective teams. 

Here are 10 future NFL stars playing in BCS bowl games this season. 

10. David Decastro: Stanford

Stanford senior David DeCastro is one of the best offensive linemen in the country, and is projected to be a mid first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 

At 6'5" and 310 pounds, DeCastro has good size for a guard and has been playing in an NFL offense with Andrew Luck, another name certain to be on this list.

DeCastro will be a mainstay and possibly a future Pro Bowler in the NFL for years to come.  

9. Geno Smith: West Virginia

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is only a junior and if he comes back for his senior season, he will be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2013 NFL draft. 

Most projections have Smith going in the middle of the first round in 2013 and with a solid season he could go even higher. 

Smith is having a productive year for West Virginia and also has NFL size at 6'3" and 214 pounds.

He certainly has the talent to be an NFL starter for years to come.  

8. Courtney Upshaw: Alabama

Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw is the anchor on the best defense in the country. 

He is a large linebacker at 6'2" and 265 pounds. 

Upshaw is a four-year player who has a chance to step in and start right away at the next level. 

He has a chance to crack the top 10 in the draft, but will more likely find himself toward the middle of the first round. 

7. Trent Richardson: Alabama

Trent Richardson is a lock to be the first running back selected in the 2012 draft.

The junior is likely to come out after having a Heisman-like season. 

At 5'11" and 224 pounds, Richardson has the power to get the tough yards in the NFL. 

He is slated to go somewhere around No. 10. 

6. Morris Claiborne: LSU

LSU cornerback Chris Claiborne could go anywhere from No. 3 to No. 10 in the 2012 draft if he elects to come out. 

Odds are, the junior will. He is the best cover corner in the country and is a lock to be the first cornerback (and perhaps first defensive player) taken.

At 6'0" and 185 pounds, Claiborne has the NFL build to be a future star for years to come. 

5. Jonathan Martin: Stanford

Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin is a large man. 

He stands 6'6" and 305 pounds and has spent the season protecting the blind side of quarterback Andrew Luck. 

He is one of the best offensive tackles in the country and will likely be picked between No. 5 and No. 10 in the draft. 

4. Justin Blackmon: Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State junior Justin Blackmon will be the top receiver selected in the 2012 NFL draft and, with a good combine, could go as high as No. 2 overall.

Blackmon has increased his draft stock this season more than anybody and will likely go anywhere from No. 2 to No. 7. 

Blackmon can go get it for somebody who is only 6'1" and 212 pounds. He will make an immediate impact on an NFL team next season and be a Pro Bowler for years to come. 

3. Tyrann Mathieu: LSU

The "Honey Badger" is the most explosive player in the country, but he is only a sophomore. 

He will have to wait until 2013, where he will likely be a top five selection.

Mathieu is a cornerback who can also do it on special teams. 

He will likely be the first cornerback drafted in 2013 and could immediately have a Devin Hester-like impact on special teams.

2. DJ Fluker: Alabama

Besides USC's Matt Kalil, Fluker may be the best offensive tackle in the country and he is only a sophomore. 

He stands 6'6" and 340 pounds, and with a solid 2012 campaign he has a chance to be the first overall player selected in the 2013 draft. 

Fluker plays right tackle, but could make a nice living playing left tackle and protecting his quarterback's blind side for the next decade. 

Future Pro Bowls look like a strong possibility for Fluker and he is a virtual lock to be a top five pick in 2013. 

1. Andrew Luck: Stanford

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck benefited from having a great offensive line in front of him. 

With that being said, he is a sure-fire lock to be the first player taken in the upcoming draft.

The junior is the most NFL-ready quarterback since Peyton Manning. 

He has all the tools to be one of the all-time greats, and if he can live up to the hype, he will be a future Hall of Famer.