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With all the time off from real football and growing increasingly tired of paying attention to courtroom football, I grew an extreme fondness for spending hours upon hours watching bad game tape (thanks CW).  That is good news and bad news for my readers.  Here’s the good; I broke down over 45 players in roughly three months and came to a solid preseason rankings which I have been unveiling periodically for about three weeks.  Here’s the bad; I overanalyzed each prospect to the point that readers were emailing asking me what the hell I was thinking ranking Janoris Jenkins, Janzen Jackson, Sean Spence, or whoever else that high.

Well, I am please to announced that my new top 100 2012 NFL Draft prospects list is ready to be unveiled.  As always you can refer to it here anytime but please be gentle because you know I’m sensitive.  Enjoy. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2012 safety prospects will be graded overall on a curve.  On the surface this appears to be a weak class with some potential breakout stars amongst it.

The juniors will lead the way with talents like Robert Lester, Ray Ray Armstrong, T.J. McDonald, and the troubled Janzen Jackson.  The senior class is fairly weak with just Mark Barron and Kenny Tate as possible top 100 players.

Here’s a look at the 2012 safety prospects:

1.  Robert Lester, S, Alabama

Height: 6’2  Weight: 210

Lester emerged with a solid sophomore campaign racking up 52 tackles and 8 INT’s.  He has ideal size and elite athleticism.  Lester has the ability to knock out pass catcher or play centerfield with the best of them.  If Lester comes on strong again as a junior he could crack the top 15 in the 2012 NFL Draft.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 20

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The 2012 cornerback prospects class is as talented as it is deep.  That’s saying a lot if some of the top juniors declare for the 2012 NFL Draft.

This class will be highlighted by a potential top 10 corner in Dre Kirkpatrick.  Not far behind Kirkpatrick are juniors, Stephon Gilmore and Jayron Holsley.  With Alfonzo Dennard, Janoris Jenkins, and Chase Minnifield representing the senior talent we may see as many as seven first round corners taken in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Here’s a look at the 2012 cornerback prospects:

1.  Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Height: 6’3  Weight: 192

Kirkpatrick is the early frontrunner for the Thorpe Award and deservedly so.  A physical specimen at 6’3 and 190 pounds, Kirkpatrick has drawn comparisons to elite NFL corners such as Nnamdi Asomugha and Champ Bailey.  He finished 2010 with three INT’s and seven passes broken up.  Kirkpatrick may grade out higher than number five overall pick in the 2011 draft, Patrick Peterson.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 10

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The 2012 inside linebacker prospects are TALENTED.  If and only if several juniors declare for the 2012 NFL Draft.  The seniors on this list are underwhelming to say the least but the crop of juniors make up for it.

The 2012 inside linebacker prospects are led by the talented and temperamental, Vontaze Burfict.  Burfict is the most feared ILB to come out of college in a long while.  Not as physically gifted as Patrick Willis but makes up for it with a sensational meanstreak.  Sometimes to mean.  The other juniors are nothing to shake a stick at either.  Manti Te’o and Luke Kuechly are close seconds to Burfict in the talent department and make for a strong class of ILB’s.  As many as four 2012 inside linebacker prospects could be taken in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.  That would be impressive.

Here’s a look at the 2012 inside linebacker prospects:

1.  Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State

Height:  6’3  Weight: 245

Burfict is in the Patrick Willis department as talent goes.  If he could eliminate the dumb penalties in 2011 he could be the rare top 10 ILB.  Burfict brings the most physical style of play to the game but will have to prove he will be willing to become a student of the game to warrant a top 10 selection.  The comparisons to Ray Lewis are fair but he will have to show that he’s a student of the game (ala Ray Lewis) to fully become that type of talent.  Burfict lacks no physical tools to be a successful NFL ILB and is scheme diverse.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 15

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With a ton of teams transitioning to the 3-4 defense, the outside linebacker position has drastically changed over the last several years.  The influx of smallish 4-3 ends turned into rush linebackers has made it difficult to rank the 2012 NFL outside linebacker prospects.

I broke down the OLB’s by guys I thought were certain to make the transition from college DE to NFL OLB (Brandon Lindsey and Bruce Irvin, for example) and left borderline guys on my DE rankings (Brandon Jenkins and Vinny Curry).

Here’s my best guess on the 2012 NFL outside linebacker prospects:

1.  Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

Height: 6’2  Weight: 233

Travis Lewis did himself well by staying in school for his senior season after a noteably poor junior season for the Sooners.  H e is a 4-3 WILL linebacker that has notched 41 games played in three seasons.  He excels because of his outstanding athleticism and instincts.  He is phenomenal dropping into coverage as evidenced by his 8 INT’s and 10 pass breakups in his career.  Lewis will have to prove that his poor 2010 season was an anomaly and come into 2011 hungry again to maintain the top spot in the 2012 outside linebacker prospects list.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  1

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The 2012 NFL defensive end prospects are probably just an average class right now.  But I see some breakout potential throughout this class and come next April we may be changing our tune on overall grade for this class.

The class is headed by Quinton Coples.  Coples is a top five pick and I have him as the second best prospect in the 2012 draft.  There are some underclassmen who will make or break the overall grade for this class.  If Donte Paige-Moss, Brandon Jenkins, Devin Taylor, and Alex Okafor declare for the 2012 NFL Draft this class will be considered deep and strong.

Here’s a look at the 2012 NFL defensive end prospects:

1.  Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Height: 6’6  Weight: 280

If Coples can prove he can stand up against the run he could emerge as a Mario Williams-type talent.  His combination of height, weight, and speed make for a dominate factor on the end in any scheme.  He would definitely be a better fit in a base 4-3 but could fit in the 3-4.  His sophomore season he finished with five sacks and 6.5 TFL’s.  As a junior, in Robert Quinn’s absence, Coples registered 15.5 TFL and 10 sacks.  In 2011, expect Coples to see a ton of double teams and if numbers don’t dip he will solidify his spot amongst the top 5 in the 2012 NFL Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Projection:  Top 5

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The 2012 NFL defensive tackle prospects lack any firepower at the top of the draft.  Fans of the position have been spoiled by back to back solid DT classes.  This one won’t produce a dominating presence like Ndamukong Suh or Marcell Dareus.

This class is marked by upside.  The top two candidates (Marcus Forston, Jerel Worthy) to come off the board in the first twenty picks are underclassmen.  They are raw prospects with high ceilings but have yet to produce at a consistently high level.  There are several candidates to be 2012’s version of Nick Fairley.  I will stay away from listing these guys in my rankings but there are some talented Nick Fairley-types out there (Quinton Dial, Jesse Williams, Sylvester Williams, and Jonathan Jenkins).

Here’s the list of 2012 NFL defensive tackle prospects:

1.  Marcus Forston, DT, Miami

Height: 6’3  Weight: 310

Forston is the most talented DT amongst the 2012 NFL defensive tackle prospects.  However, he has yet to produce at the expected level.  Injuries and inconsistencies will be the only thing keeping Forston from breaking the top 10 in the 2012 NFL Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Projection:  Top 15

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For NFL teams having a top offensive line anchor is becoming more and more important.  The 2012 NFL center prospects will not disappoint.

The class will be headlined by the experienced OSU center, Michael Brewster.  The 2012 NFL center prospects may have as many as 12 draftable centers amongst it.

Here’s a look at the 2012 NFL center prospects:

1.  Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State

Height: 6’5  Weight: 295

Brewster defines the term anchor.  He has anchored the OSU line since stepping foot onto campus.  His experience and exceptional technique will make him a rare top 20 prospect at the center position.  Brewster has all the characteristics of a future Pro Bowler at the position and may challenge former OSU standout Nick Mangold for tops at the position.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 20

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The offensive guard position is the least sexiest position in the game.  Guards don’t get the recognition or pay of a tackle or the responsibilities of centers.  You won’t find many youngsters getting ready for pee-wee football saying “hey coach, I really want to be like Steve Hutchinson, so play me at guard.”

That said, the 2012 NFL offensive guard prospects may be the most underrated and definitely undervalued groups in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Leading the way in a strong group of guards will be David DeCastro.  He along with top 2012 NFL offensive tackle prospect, Jonathan Martin form the best left side in college football.  The group gets stronger with a few collegiate tackles sure to move inside in the NFL…Kelechi Osemele, Nate Potter, and Matt Reynolds.

Here’s a look at the 2012 NFL offensive guard prospects:

1.  David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Height: 6’5  Weight: 307

DeCastro is a dominating run blocker that is emerging into a solid pass protector.  If DeCastro can improve his technique as it relates to footwork in the pass game he will be a top 25 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.  He is capable of coming in day one and starting for most NFL offensive lines.  The left side of the Stanford line will go quickly in next April’s draft.

2012 NFL Draft Projection:  Top 25

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