The Senior Bowl is a great opportunity for established collegiate players to show they can perform in a professional setting, stand out against other motivated amateur talent and prepare themselves for the 2012 NFL Draft process. NFL scouts and talent evaluators keep a very close eye on team practices to see which players fit NFL prototypes and which can't match the physical demands of the professional game. Wes Bunting of the National Football Post has watched all of the team practices very closely, and after three days of the experience he has listed his top 10 prospects for the 2012 Senior Bowl and potential fits with NFL teams.
Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Brandon Boykin and Clemon Tigers defensive tackles Brandon Thompson are the two top-10 players listed as good fits for the Denver Broncos in the 2012 NFL Draft. Boykin is ranked the No. 7 overall player on Bunting's list and makes up for his lack of ideal size with a physical style and competitiveness that may make him an asset in press coverage and re-directs on wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. Thompson came in at No. 8 on the list due to a quick first step and a proper approach to gaining leverage at the point-of-attack. Bunting sees the DT as a one-gap penetration player that can work in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. A distruptive player like Thompson would certainly help free up Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller to rush the quarterback against single-coverage from the edges.
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