DRAFT TRACKER 2012

Quarles is a tall, smooth-moving safety who has started for three years for the Demon Deacons. He is consistently active in run plays and likes to deliver hits in the pass game. He is a quick reactor who relies on his burst to get to plays more than his pre-snap reads. He's an intriguing prospect who could rise throughout his pre-draft process as he is an impressive-looking athlete and one who makes plays on the field. He could play early and contribute on special teams and for that, teams should give him late-round consideration as an NFL-ready safety.

Corp has completely transformed his game at Richmond since transferring in 2009 from USC, where he fought for the job with Matt Barkley before breaking his left fibula. Long marketed as a dual-threat quarterback with speed, Corp overcame a knee injury in his redshirt junior season at Richmond that has changed him into a more stoic pocket passer who has had to rely on his accuracy and judgment. This bodes well for his NFL draft status, as Corp has rising value and could be selected in the mid-to-late rounds.

Harris has started every game the past three years for Fresno State. He is an interesting prospect in that he entered school as a 230-pounder struggling to fit in, but he has made himself into a 300-pound NFL prospect at the position. Given that history, he is athletic and displays strong, technically savvy footwork for the position. He is a bit of a developmental prospect for the aforementioned reasons, but he has value late in the guard as a versatile backup.

Paulson has been a reliable pass-catching tight end for Oregon. He struggles to get open, but he plays well within the Ducks' scheme to make plays when the ball is thrown. He has been a consistent and durable starter who has always been capable of keeping the chains moving within the offense. He can make the spectacular catch and has sixth-round talent based off his experience and capabilities in-route.

Troutman has started for three years at Penn State at offensive guard and is a fierce blocker when finishing plays. He is able to use arm strength to hold on and sustain his blocks, but he has some hitches in his footwork that limit him in pass protection. As a mover he gets to the second level well and can stay on his man. He is a much better run blocker than pass blocker and should find a role as a backup player in the NFL. For this, he has late-round value, but he hasn't blown anyone away and needs a strong performance in the pre-draft process to ensure he'll be drafted after showing up as a disruptive mover against Houston in the Ticket City Bowl.

Lewis has good size for the position and is a thick, well-balanced athlete who is tough to bring down once he has the ball in his hands. He has a lengthy transfer history, but he collected himself at East Carolina, where he has started the past two years (though he missed three games with foot and knee injuries in 2011). He is a good underneath receiver who understands defensive zone schemes. He has sixth-round value.

Payne is an intriguing receiver prospect out of UNLV. He is tall, at over 6-foot-3, and more of a possession type than he is one to stretch the field deep. He has been productive for UNLV and has shown a skill set that could be utilized in certain situations at the next level. He excels at making a play on the ball once it's in the air, but he has a tough time getting himself open. He has late-round value based off his production and ability to be inserted into certain schemes where he could be effective at the next level.

Ganaway has been a nice supplementary asset to the Baylor offense. He had an impressive showing against Washington in a bowl game and showed why he is more than just an afterthought to Robert Griffin III in Baylor's offense. While he may have benefited from the holes that his Heisman-winning quarterback and top-wide receiver prospect (Kendall Wright) opened up for him in the run game due to their stellar pass play, Ganaway is a legitimate prospect in his own right. He shows good initial quickness, a burst through the line, and seriously imposing size that give him fourth- or fifth-round value.

Guyton has prototypical size and quickness for the defensive tackle position and the type of frame that could be attractive to 3-4 teams looking for ends within their scheme. He was a reliable player in his senior year for Cal after not starting many games early on in his career because of the team's depth at the position. Guyton is a fast player with a motor that doesn't stop, which has helped him be an active player in his senior year and gives him sixth-round value in the draft.

Hanks often played second fiddle to late-round prospect Marquis Maze throughout his time at Alabama, but there were many characteristics displayed by Hanks that could make him the better all-around pro. First off, he has the size. He has the hands to compete and start at the next level, and he runs good routes to get himself open and create plays for himself. He is a smooth mover who looks like a natural receiver. He came into his own as a redshirt sophomore, where he started half of the games and went on to start 95 percent of the rest of his career. He suffered a shoulder injury as a freshman and had some durability concerns throughout his career, but the natural feel of his game and his experience playing at a high level make him a late-round value to a team hoping he can learn to play special teams as well.

Tyson has been a reliable interior lineman for an effective and explosive Bulldogs defense. He has the size to play both the 3 and 5 techniques at the next level and is very strong against the run. Tyson has the size and competitiveness to be inserted early and be a force in an NFL rotation. He understands his role within a defense and has some versatility working across the line. If he can display greater athletic ability and speed than he showed on film throughout his collegiate career, look for him to be a possible late riser and be selected in the sixth or seventh round come April after showing up as a strong run-defender against Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.

Whitehead is a good all-around linebacker prospect who will not blow anyone away with his play, but he is serviceable and will be a good special teams player at the next level. He is a competitive defender who likes to play against the run but is even better at mauling tight ends off the ball and keeping them out of their routes. He doesn't do as well to stay with the man downfield, and he shouldn't be relied upon much against the pass in any capacity. Whitehead is a solid prospect with fifth- or sixth-round value.

Marshall has started every game over the past three years after starting six games as a freshman for Nevada. He isn't very tall, but he is a lanky player and has a large "tackle radius" in which he can make plays on guys by diving from yards away. He led Nevada in tackles in his junior and senior years. There are some issues with his height and athletic ability as it translates to the next level, but Marshall is a sixth-round talent based off his production and energy.

White is an up-and-coming prospect out of Samford who has great size for a cornerback and could be moved back to safety at the next level given his skill set. He has been a consistent tackler and run defender. He could benefit from playing at the back of a defense and working toward the line of scrimmage to be more involved in run support than he would be from his corner position. He could struggle athletically at corner. Look for him to be taken in the late rounds as a project and special teams contributor.

Pleasant has been a consistent and durable starter during his time at Oregon. He can struggle in pass defense but is good in run support and has been a productive tackler. His high level of play and productivity make him a late-round option for a team looking for a backup and special teams player.

Fangupo is a lane clogger, and although his play can seem uninspired at times, he actually is very effective in this role and should look to do the same for a 3-4 scheme at the next level. A transfer to BYU by way of USC and Mount San Antonio Community College, Fangupo is an older player who never got a strong chance to establish himself with any team at the collegiate level. He could be a late-riser, as he is said to have serious strength for the position. Look for a team with a scheme in which Fangupo would fit to select him in the late rounds.

Wilber is an big, athletic and strong outside backer from Wake Forest who looks the part of a pro defender and could contribute early for an NFL team. He arrived at Wake Forest as a top recruit from Florida, bringing his size and speed to the defense. He is a bit of a poor man's Aaron Curry, whom he played with early on in his career. He is a high-energy, high-motor player who hasn't played much on special teams at Wake Forest because of the team's needs, but he could easily contribute there early on at the next level. Look for a team needing linebacker depth and special teams contributions to select him in the late rounds and potentially develop him into a starter.

Adams has flashed talent at left tackle for the Buckeyes, not allowing many sacks when actually on the field. Suspensions for violating team rules and his part in Ohio State's "Tattoo Five" scandal, as well as various injuries, have kept him on the sideline too often during his career. He is a rather un-exciting prospect who can do the job and has the frame for the next level, but is more of a backup option at first and would struggle if thrown into a starting role. Based off his experience at a big-time school and frame, he has late round talent at the position.

Robertson is a big man who shows good effort working in the trenches for South Carolina. He has had a lot of experience playing against good offensive lines in the SEC over the years and is reliable when holding up gaps in the interior. He is obviously stiff at times and almost overdeveloped, as his muscle can inhibit his movements and overall play. He has a difficult time reacting to plays and needs to play within a scheme where he can simply rely on his size and strength to hold linemen away from the second level. He won't contribute much in the pass game either, but he is a big man who has good technique and understands his role, making him a late-round prospect and rotational player at the next level. He was disruptive and flew around in South Carolina's bowl game where he had 4 tackles and half of a sack, and he likely will build upon this performance and be a late riser like another classmate, Melvin Ingram.

Reed is a tough cornerback out of Pitt who started for two years. He usually plays the field and is a decent cover man who still needs to develop his ball skills if he is going to be effecting at the next level. He is good to read a man's hips and not get beat deep, but he employs a bail technique on nearly every play to be able to stay with receivers. The fact that he turns his hips and runs immediately off the snap, even in press, shows that he doesn't quite trust his speed. He is an all-around player who is reliable to make a tackle but won't make many special plays.

Shelby has started for four years, lining up at various positions across the defensive line. A decent sized athlete for the position and a bit of a tweener for outside linebacker and end. He would bring power as an edge rusher in a 3-4 set, but could get outsized in a traditional set. Good all-around player who can be inconsistent but is a solid late-round pick and future rotational player.

Rodriguez is an interesting prospect in that teams will have to find abnormal ways to get him the ball in space at the next level. He transferred from West Virginia to Temple after only one semester, and it was an obviously advantageous move for both parties. He stands out as having the physical traits to not be denied a spot on a team in the NFL. Rodriguez has true tweener size and isn't an obvious tight end or fullback. He is a serviceable player at the next level in the short passing game, as he is a reliable pass catcher and has a deceptive wiggle to make guys miss and get the short first down.

Crawford has started for three years at Penn State, but he has only played for five years at the position in his football career. He was a late bloomer who moved to the United States from England to play basketball in high school before picking up the game and an eventual scholarship from Penn State. He is a developmental prospect who has an incredible frame he can fill out as he embarks on an NFL career. He is a late-round prospect who could be taken earlier if a team can live with developing him and not expecting much as a rookie. He is an inconsistent player at this point in his career. He barely showed up against Houston in the Ticket City Bowl and logged only one pass defensed -- a microcosm of his career at Penn State, where he generally just stood up and hoped to use his frame to knock down balls.

Bequette has been a strong player for Arkansas, though his productivity can be attributed less to great athletic ability than competitiveness and intelligence. He stands out as a leader and high-energy player for the Razorbacks. He possesses the strength to rush and set the edge and hold his ground in the run game, where he can battle well against bigger linemen and chase hard until the end of the play. He is a solid tackler once around the ball, and pursues plays from the backside with high effort and consistency. His versatility across the line gives him good value for NFL teams, especially those running a 3-4. Look for him to be a late-round selection for a team looking for versatility and run support along its defensive line.

Jarrett has been a mainstay at the defensive end position for the Sun Devils for the past four years. He is a stocky defensive end who holds the point of attack well and is a force in run defense. He will be attractive to 3-4 teams, who could insert him as a defensive end focused on lane clogging instead of pass rushing. He has late-round talent because of his size and experience at a high level.

Brooks is an undersized corner who has never found a starting role amongst a stacked defensive backfield at LSU. He has been an influential player throughout his four years (after a freshman developmental redshirt year) and is a consummate playmaker from the nickel corner position. He is an attractive selection in the late rounds to a team who wants a defensive back who has the athletic ability and experience to cover out of the slot and be a zone blitzer. He isn't the most physical tackler, but he is explosive and is effective rushing from the edge in all-out blitz looks. He was never able to break into a starting role playing behind the likes of first rounders Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne and other younger, more athletic players; but playing second fiddle to the likes of those players should give him a shot to compete at the next level.

Richardson has elite size and speed, and to be entirely frank, this is about all he is bringing to an NFL team as he enters the NFL draft. Fortunately for him, those two traits are highly regarded for the safety position, especially for rookies who will likely serve as backups and on special teams early on. The name of the game for Richardson will be his ability to learn an NFL defense and develop his skills across the board.

Powell has started at defensive tackle for the past two years for the Tar Heels. He has some inconsistencies and limitations in his play, almost all of which involve his athletic ability. He is a big-bodied interior lineman at over 300 pounds, and he has value as a run defender but little else. Powell could be taken in the late rounds based off his size, but he will need to post strong showings in pre-draft workouts to prove that he is more than just a lane clogger inside and can actually contribute to a defensive line rotation.

Keenum has been one of the most highly productive quarterbacks in college football history, setting the record for overall pass yardage in a career. If numbers were pure projections to the next level, Keenum would be the undisputed top pick. Unfortunately for him, his height might limit him as he moves to the next level. It's obvious that Keenum is an accurate and prolific passer working from inside the pocket. How that production translates to the NFL is the big question.

Sensabaugh has seen his value rise in the past season since starting for Clemson. He is the cousin of Cowboys starting safety Gerald. Displayed good athletic ability, and has value as a sixth-round pick.

Moye was a three-year starter at Penn State where he used his incredible size to gain mismatches against smaller defenders and make plays in the deep game and red zone exposures. He has decent speed but is a build-up strider who could really be effective downfield at the next level. He struggles against man press coverage and could stand to put some weight on a rather thin frame.

Wynn is a two-year starter inside for Rutgers who has a big body and the strength/footwork to match. He is a tough individual and fights until the end to sustain his blocks downfield. He has the base to hold his blocks and has been a go-to offensive lineman to run behind at Rutgers. He helped himself, along with the entire Rutgers offensive line, with a strong second half of his senior season and a strong showing in the Pinstripe Bowl, where the team rushed for over 250 yards against UConn.

Stephenson is a big offensive lineman who has been versatile at the tackle position. Far from a powerful mover, is somewhat of a finesse blocker. Quick in the run game and nasty when finishing plays. Relies more on competitiveness than strength to get the job done, but the fact that he's played both left and right tackle for a major program makes him a late-round pick with backup potential.

Childs' career at Arkansas lacked consistency but showed enough that he should be considered worthy of a late-round pick to a team who can hope to tap into and develop the talent and ability he showed early on his career. Fortunately for Childs, he showed up as an effective playmaker in the last game of his career, the BCS National Championship Game, which could show teams he is capable of being the player he was early on at Arkansas. The single most influential play of Childs' college career was when he suffering a torn patella tendon injury during the 2010 season, which left him obviously uncomfortable when running routes throughout 2011. If Childs can convince teams he is the playmaker they saw in the final game of his career, he could continue to rise.

Ta'amu was a big-boned, powerful inside force for Washington who projects to play the nose tackle position in a 3-4 defense at the next level. He has the ability to hold up lineman and clog lanes to keep linebackers clean, which helps his value. He has been so effective here that there have been some arguably "less-talented" players at Washington who have been extremely productive because of his presence inside on the line.

Thompson is an intriguing and big safety from little-known South Carolina State. He is a very athletic player and dominated at times throughout college. He is not great to make a play on the ball in coverage and struggles at times reacting in zone, but he is a very athletic mover and capable of covering big, fast tight ends at the next level. He is a bit of an unknown but could continue to rise throughout the pre-draft process, and his value could be understated at this time given the emergence of athletic tight ends in the NFL in 2011.

Alexander started for two years at defensive end for Oklahoma, and could have some position versatility given that he has been in a stand-up position occasionally. Has some girth and could be an option at outside LB for a team that could live with a pure rusher there who doesn't cover much in the flats. A high-energy player who uses his length well and could be a good rotational option at the next level. Should be drafted in the late rounds.

Prater is an athletic corner who has the quickness and mental makeup to play early at the next level. He was a three-year starter at Iowa and has been a good player against some strong talent throughout his career. He will be hindered by a poor finish to his senior year that culminated in a rough showing against Oklahoma in the Insight Bowl against some NFL-caliber talent, but in the end he has put a lot of good years on film.

Frederick is an undersized corner who started for Texas A&M and played a variety of roles for them throughout his career. He is slow-footed, and this can be his defining attribute as he struggles off the line playing close in man coverage; he is much more of a zone player. He has played in the slot in nickel looks a lot in his career, which will help him early on in his NFL voyage as younger corners are often called upon to fill this void in defenses. He gets the most out of his athletic ability by being a smart player who takes good angles on the ball.

Draheim was a three-year starter at SDSU, his first two seasons as a center and last at tackle out of team need. He projects much more comfortably to center in the pros, as he would be slightly undersized at tackle at 285 pounds. Tommie is a natural offensive lineman. He is very quick off the snap and understands how to lead and make calls at the line. He is a heady player who would bolster any offensive line in the league, whether as a starter or developmental backup.

Reliford is a big tight end who has serious size for the next level. Unfortunately, he doesn't use this size to his advantage when it comes to the physical aspect of his game. He has a lot of worker to do as a blocker on the line of scrimmage. He can be a soft player at times who truly has only been a receiving option for the Seminoles. Based off his size and athletic ability, Beau has sixth-round value, and a team will need to tap into his nasty side for him to reach his potential.

Cooper was on the receiving end of many Brandon Weeden passes over the years in the explosive Cowboys' offense, and there are certain aspects of his game that project well to the NFL. Cooper could be an effective and heady slot player at the next level who will need to show the temperament to contribute on special teams. Look for a team with a need at the position to select Cooper in the late rounds.

Thomas started every game the past two years. Is undersized for the position, yet had 85 tackles and six interceptions in 2011. He excels in run support and although he wasn't used on special teams in college, is a likely special teams candidate due to his superb tackling skills and overall physicality. Could go undrafted, but has a good chance of making a 53-man roster.

Stoudermire is a bit undersized but physical enough to overcome that at the next level, and is an all-around athlete who has the speed to run with just about any NFL receiver. Has only been on the defensive side of the ball since his junior year, but has been effective. A low-cut tackler and prime candidate to play special teams early. A late-riser who is a gamer and always around the ball. Has late-round value.

Anger is undoubtedly one of the few punters who should be considered for a late-round pick, as he has a strong leg and has been consistent enough to come into training camp and steal a starting spot from a veteran. Teams love being able to pay rookie salaries to their kicking positions, and Anger just might have the skills to be worth the late-round pick come April.

McSurdy went rather unnoticed for much of his career in Montana. He was a force in the Big Sky Conference in his senior year, recording 114 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. He is a thick, short inside linebacker who doesn't have great speed but should be able to use his strength, instincts and tackling ability to find playing time early and often at the next level. He should also be an early contributor on special teams and could be selected in the late rounds to a team seeking linebacker depth.

Meggett split time for much of his career at Maryland where he shared the backfield with some talented backs and didn't start significantly until his senior year. A team captain after three years of playing sparingly, Meggett was an obvious leader for the Terps and carried the load for Maryland as a senior. He is short but thick, and he has some traits that make him intriguing as a late-round prospect in this year's draft.

Blatnick started full-time at defensive end for the first time as a senior, after starting seven games in 2010. He is physical, a bit slow but quick off the ball. He excels as a run defender, and his edge play and overall strength for his size (under 270 pounds) could make him attractive to 3-4 teams looking to move him outside to linebacker. That versatility could allow him to move up as far as the fifth round.