2012 NFL Draft: Prospects Who Must Capitalize on Stock and Enter This Year

Every year there are a few surprises to the NFL Draft regarding who enters and who returns to school.

More often than not we're talking about the mistakes some players make entering the draft without truly being ready. It is rare for us to talk about a player returning as a mistake, but it does happen. Andrew Luck did it last year and Jake Locker the year before that.

Luck is still the likely No. 1 this year and Locker ultimately fell to No. 8 in the 2011 Draft.

This year there will undoubtedly be some players who should not enter early, but there are some who must capitalize on their rising stock now. 

Matt Barkley, QB, USC

The reports out of USC stating that Barkley is still 50-50 about whether to enter or not may just be a way to keep the bowl-less Trojans in the news. Or, Barkley could honestly be struggling with the decision.

Either way, there are a number of quarterback-needy teams in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft who will be after him. Barkley closed the season in similar fashion to Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, but didn't receive the recognition because of the media's aversion to USC during their two-year postseason ban. Barkley was snubbed as a Heisman finalist but had better numbers than two previous USC winners (Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer).

Barkley can do a lot of things if he returns: assure himself the No. 1 pick next year, possibly win a National Championship with the returning and incoming talent and would be the Heisman favorite entering the season.

He could also get injured.

In a sport with so much uncertainty, and the chance of being a top 10 pick, Barkley needs to ride his junior campaign into the NFL because there is a strong possibility he could be taken one pick after Andrew Luck this year.

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Whether you know his name or not, there is no denying that a guy with 109 receptions from Rutgers needs to ride his best season into the pros right now. However, a report from Metro news indicates he may return for his senior season.

This could be a mistake as the athletic department has said that no players have made a decision yet, but if he does return it will be a mistake.

If you know anything about the Scarlet Knights, it is probably that they have arguably the least amount of consistency at the quarterback position of any team in the country in recent years.

Since the graduation of Mike Teel, Rutgers has gone through a number of talented youngsters and managed to screw up a good amount of them too (including the school's most heralded recruit ever, Tom Savage, which forced him to transfer).

There is no guarantee that Sanu will have the opportunities he saw this year if he returns. The Scarlet Knights also have a number of young wide receivers who will continue to develop and be part of the game plan. Sanu is in no way, shape or form scared of the competition, but it could severely cut into his production as Rutgers looks for ways to win.

Sanu is supremely talented, has unique versatility, possesses good overall size and speed and has a ton to offer NFL teams as it is. He's shined in his only true season as a receiver and will learn better first hand once he's in the NFL.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

You can be sick of hearing about RGIII all you want by now, but this is only the beginning if he does what he should.

The reigning Heisman candidate could make a run at back-to-back trophies, but that hasn't worked out for other quarterbacks in the past.

The most RGIII could accomplish next season is another Heisman and potentially the No. 1 overall pick. However, defenses, coaches and scouts will be looking to find flaws in his game. Much like Cam Newton a year ago, a guy who wasn't close to first-round consideration at the start of the season and wound up riding a Heisman and National Championship to become the No. 1 overall pick, RGIII needs to ride his buzz as well.

People are fascinated with his potential at the next level as well as the progression he's made as a player in the last few years.

Like Barkley, RGIII could lock up a potential No. 1 spot in next year's draft if he returns, but he'll never have buzz like he has right now.