NCAA Scouting
Underclassmen Entering the 2012 NFL Draft
by Paul Emery
January 30th 2012
 
This is a record breaking junior class numbers wise and certainly there is some much needed star power added to the top of the Draft. However there are some of these juniors who may not even get drafted… It's easy to say for these guys that it's a mistake coming out early, but they may need the money or just have had enough of college life and be ready to move on.
 
These are my initial comments and I will put together a follow up article when I've completed my detailed study – prospects are listed by college and surname.
 
Dont'a Hightower – ILB – Alabama – big linebacker with experience rushing the passer from DE in nickel looks. Wasn't 100% healthy in 2010, but played very well in 2011.
 
Dre Kirkpatrick – CB – Alabama – big, physical CB will need to adjust even more than other CB prospects to the 5 yard bump rule at the next level. Question his deep speed – if he can run in the low 4.5's at the combine he should be a very high pick. Recently arrested for possession of marijuana.
 
Trent Richardson – RB – Alabama – 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. The RB position has become devalued in the Draft – but Richardson might well be the exception to this rule. Powerful runner who has had some special runs over the course of his career. Better than Saints 2011 first round pick Mark Ingram.
 
Brock Osweiler – QB - Arizona State – 6'8” QB with a strong arm. Played in a wide open offense with many short swing passes. Release is fine at times for a bigger man, but there is some wind up to it at others. A tough prospect to scout with very few NFL type throws.
 
Vontaze Burfict – ILB - Arizona State – has all the talent in the world, but a little too out of control and had a ton of personal fouls. Might be best in a one gap type system where he can just attack.
 
Barrett Trotter – QB – Auburn – moving on to graduate school and throwing his hat into the Draft ring. Lost the starting job midway through 2011, although was forced into action and did OK in the Bowl game.
 
Robert Griffin III – QB – Baylor– a very similar evaluation to Cam Newton. Comes from a primarily one read spread system. Has superb touch and accuracy on the deep ball. Should be a top 5 pick based on pure talent and upside.
 
Max Holloway – DE - Boston College – late round/free agent type. Occasionally threatens the edge, but not a top athlete. Jumped offside three times in the Wake Forest game!
 
Luke Kuechly – ILB - Boston College – a tackling machine. Has a very nice closing burst to the ball, but does struggle getting off blocks a little. Might be slightly over rated.
 
Josh Robinson – CB - Central Florida – primarily played as an off man corner. Is very patient in his backpedal and has a very nice break on the ball. Not real physical in the run game though.
 
Dwayne Allen – TE – Clemson – two way tight end has been very productive as a receiver and is a good blocker. Might just have the edge on Orson Charles.
 
Orson Charles – TE – Georgia – not the biggest at 240 lbs, but a better blocker than his size may indicate. Georgia used him some in pass protection. Natural hands catcher with the speed to stretch the field.
 
Stephen Hill – WR - Georgia Tech – it's amazing how a triple option offense is producing its second top prospect in the last three years. Big receiver with limited production because of the offense where often his primary role is to block.
 
Whitney Mercilus – DE – Illinois – there aren't a great many top pass rushers in this class, so Mercilus is likely to be a high pick. A one year wonder who has a monster 16 sack junior year.
 
Bryce Brown – RB - Kansas State – Tennessee transfer had to sit out the 2010 season, carried only 3 times in the season opener and then left the team in September. Likely will not be drafted.
 
Michael Brockers – DT – LSU – long DT should draw interest from 3-4 teams. Flashes two gap technique. Not yet the finished product, but has upside.
 
Morris Claiborne – CB – LSU – very easily stepped into Patrick Peterson's shoes and delivered a fine year. Man corner with return skills who should be a top pick.
 
Rueben Randle – WR – LSU – limited production (53 catches in 2011, only 44 the two years before that) partly due to QB struggles at LSU. Big play receiver will have to stand out at the Combine to push himself up a very deep WR class.
 
Riley Reiff – OT – Iowa – technically sound lineman should be a first round pick. Question if he has long enough arms/quick enough feet to stay at left tackle as a pro.
 
Janzen Jackson – CB/FS - McNeese State – kicked off the Tennessee team and wound up at McNeese State for one year. Likely late round/free agent type.
 
Dontari Poe – DT – Memphis – a fine player on a poor team. Big man (6'5”, 350 lbs) moves very well for a big man and indeed played DE when Memphis went to 3 man nickel fronts. May be a little tall for a NT despite his bulk – has some Alan Branch about him.
 
Aldarius Johnson – WR - Miami (Fl.) – suspended for the 2011 season and only limited production in his three years prior. Likely late round/free agent.
 
Lamar Miller – RB - Miami (Fl.) – has the speed to break runs and has several long runs. Question his vision at times – his NFL team will need to remain patient, keep giving him the ball and wait for the big play. Against Virginia Tech he did little early in the game, but was simply fantastic later on.
 
Tommy Streeter – WR - Miami (Fl.) – in his first year as a starter and indeed only had 6 career receptions prior to this season. Tall receiver who builds up speed as he moves down the field. Has nice hands and some upside.
 
Brandon Washington – OT/G - Miami (Fl.) – played left tackle but was destroyed off the edge by Quinton Coples in the North Carolina game. Likely pro guard who loses technique when faced with speed.
 
Olivier Vernon – DE - Miami (Fl.) – suspended for the first 6 games of 2011 and limited production when he returned. Flashes some speed off the edge and might be worth a late round flyer.
 
Marcus Forston – DT - Miami (Fl.) – injured his knee in early October and missed the remainder of the season. Needs to build up some momentum in the process as right now he has little. Has had other injury problems, but does have talent.
 
Edwin Baker – RB - Michigan State – runs bigger than his size (5'9” 210 lbs). Ran for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore, but sharing time more in 2011 only had 665 yards and just one 100+ yard day.
 
Jerel Worthy – DT - Michigan State – flash player who has superb quickness off the line. He's always the last man to get set at the line and on quick counts isn't always set. Comes off the field in obvious passing situations.
 
Bobby Massie – OT – Mississippi – big right tackle prospect joins a rather crowded field at the position. Has some power and will interest teams like the Steelers.
 
Fletcher Cox – DT - Mississippi State – had a fine Bowl game, but detailed study in the Georgia game wasn't as positive where he struggled against a big offensive line. Does have upside, but not the finished product yet.
 
Mike Ball – RB – Nevada – kicked off the Nevada team in November for repeated team violations. Downhill runner in the mold of Vai Taua from last year in Nevada's option offense.
 
Kenny Turner – RB - New Mexico State – does have another year of eligibility, but declined to accept it – so not strictly a junior. One of the more interesting stories of this ground. Served five years in prison for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Overcame two knee injuries and arrived at New Mexico State via junior college and enjoyed a 1,074 yard 2011 campaign. Overaged (26) with a medical history plus the prison sentence, so likely a free agent.
 
Donte Paige-Moss – DE - North Carolina – blew out his knee in the Bowl game, but decided to come out anyway. Started the year backing up Quinton Coples, but ended it starting opposite him. Knee injury will make him a day three selection at best.
 
Terrell Manning – OLB - North Carolina State – 233 lb linebacker joins a very crowded weakside linebacker class (David, Brown, Spence, Lewis etc.). Limited getting off blocks and question his speed. Might be a day three pick.
 
Ronnell Lewis – OLB – Oklahoma – 3-4 OLB prospect was suspended for the Bedlam game and the Bowl game (academic issues). Has upside, but only in his first full year as a starter prior to a November knee injury and then the suspended ended his year.
 
Justin Blackmon – WR - Oklahoma State – big play receiver should be a very high pick and certainly will push to be the first WR off the board. Not the biggest, but plays bigger than his size with a large catching radius.
 
Cliff Harris – CB – Oregon – had multiple problems off the field and in the end Oregon lost patience and kicked him off the team. Didn't see a great deal of playing time in 2011, but a superb athlete with kick return ability.
 
LaMichael James – RB – Oregon – hugely productive runner lacks ideal size to stand up to NFL punishment. Jahvid Best type of back who lacks the size to carry the load, but offers dynamic playmaking ability.
 
Darron Thomas – QB – Oregon – not refined as a passer and has had his problems off the field. Likely later round guy at best.
 
Ken Plue – OG – Purdue – didn't play in 2011 due to academic issues and decided not to return in 2012. Tall G prospect (6'7”) who may be a classic tweener.
 
Mohamed Sanu – WR – Rutgers – big receiver can make the spectacular catch (his TD in the North Carolina game for example) but will drop the off routine ball. Still, should be a day two pick.
 
Ronnie Hillman – RB - San Diego State – 5'10”, 190 lb back has been hugely productive, although struggled in the Bowl game. Value may be limited by his size.
 
Stephon Gilmore – CB - South Carolina – has a nice frame (6'1”) and is a good athlete. Didn't always play to his potential in 2011, but does have significant upside.
 
Alshon Jeffery – WR - South Carolina – big receiver actually might be a bit too bulky. Struggles to separate at times, although can make plays by boxing defenders out. Looks like Michael Floyd at this time last year and might not be the to prospect some think.
 
Darrell Scott – RB - South Florida – only one year of real production with 814 yards in 2011. A 240 lb back with decent speed for his size.
 
Jewel Hampton – RB - Southern Illinois – kicked off the Iowa team – one year at Southern Illinois. Short runner with powerful legs – runs bigger than his 5'9” 210 lb frame would suggest.
 
Andrew Luck – QB – Stanford – for me he's the top player in this class by a country mile and indeed the top prosect for many years. Classic pro style QB who is a student of the game. Has to be the top pick in the Draft for me.
 
David DeCastro – OG – Stanford – big mauler of a guard is used to pull frequently and moves well for a big man. I didn't think he played that well in the Bowl game, so more detailed study required – but certainly my impression prior to that was he was a first round level prospect.
 
Jonathan Martin – OT – Stanford – already making some over rated lists. Looked like a top prospect in the Bowl game, but I need to watch his matchup with USC's Nick Perry in the OT game.
 
Dorian Graham – WR – Syracuse – coming out early after 0 catches in 2010 and only 24 in 2011. Later round pick at best.
 
Chandler Jones – DE – Syracuse – intriguing 265 lb DE with long arms. Not quite the finished product yet, but certainly has upside and could well be a high pick.
 
Phillip Thomas – FS – Syracuse – suspended for a year in November, so threw his hat into the Draft ring. Likely late round/free agent type.
 
Bernard Pierce – RB – Temple – highly productive runner with good combination of patience and explosion. Can break the long run. The only question might be his injury history.
 
Jamison Berryhill – FB – Texas – surprising entry – FB and special teams player would have seen more time in 2012 with Cody Johnson graduating, but elected to come out early.
 
Eric Page – WR – Toledo – productive receiver who is also a very dangerous kick returner. Joins a very crowded WR class and may end up going a little later than he hopes, but should prove to be good value.
 
Jonathan Massaquoi – DE – Troy – only 6'2”, but has long arms and was dominant in the Sun Belt conference.
 
Demarius Johnson – WR – Tulsa – was highly productive in 2010, but did not play due to suspension in 2011. Only 5'8” 170 lbs, so likely a later round pick.
 
Matt Kalil – OT – USC – looks to be a top 5 pick, certainly will be very attractive to the Rams at 2 trying to protect Sam Bradford. Has excellent pass protection technique – not a mauler in the run game, but can get to the second level and engage well.
 
Nick Perry – DE – USC – a bit of a one trick pony off the edge – has the speed to turn the corner, but doesn't always take over games. Has athletic upside but will need to develop his array of pass rushing moves.
 
Robert Turbin – RB - Utah State – missed the 2010 season after tearing his ACL. Returned in 2011 and had a big year. Not the fastest back in the world, but runs with good lean, power and patience.
 
David Wilson – RB - Virginia Tech – dynamic back saw more carries in 2011. Also a dangerous kick returner and a good receiver out of the backfield.
 
Jayron Hosley – CB - Virginia Tech – played mainly in a zone based system where he showed a really nice break on the ball. Listed at only 171 lbs but was still able to shut down big Brian Quick in the early season Appalachian State game.
 
Chris Givens – WR - Wake Forest – big play receiver has good speed and shown on a swing pass he turned into a TD against Boston College. Dangerous on crossing routes.
 
Chris Polk – RB – Washington – not strictly a junior entry, did have another year of eligibility remaining but declined to take it. Big and powerful runner who is very good at breaking tackles.
 
Peter Konz – OC – Wisconsin – instantly comes in at number one in a less than inspiring Center class. Comes from a school that has produced a number of top offensive lineman, including three rookies who started some in 2011. Missed some time late in the year with an ankle injury, but returned for the Rose Bowl.
 
Alvester Alexander – RB – Wyoming – started out the season down the depth chart, but quickly moved into the number one role. Has the speed to turn the corner. Rated as a late round guy by most, looks like he could be decent value to me.