Top 2012 NFL Draft UDFA

By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
April 29, 2012

Top Undrafted Free Agents Available

Chris Polk, RB, Washington – Signed with Eagles
Polk had injury concerns that caused him to go undrafted. During his final collegiate career, Polk showed some NFL ability as a runner. He played with good vision, cutting ability and hit the hole quickly. The junior also ran well behind his pads, powering through defenders.

Polk ran for 1,488 yards (5.1 average) and 12 touchdowns in 2011. He also caught 31 passes for 332 yards and four scores. Polk averaged 5.4 yards per carry with 1,415 yards and nine scores in 2010. Plenty of undrafted running backs have found success in the NFL, and Polk could be the next in line.

Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia – Signed with Redskins
After notching two interceptions per season as a freshman and sophomore, Minnifield broke out with six picks in 2010 opposite Ras-I Dowling. He also had 48 tackles with one sack and four passes broken up. Minnifield’s numbers declined as a senior since most teams threw away from him. He totaled three interceptions plus 50 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and eight passes broken up in 2011.

Minnifield missed the end of the season with a knee injury that caused surgery. His stock took a big hit when he measured in at 5-10 at the Combine, significantly shorter than his listed height. Then, Minnifield didn’t work out on the field, and he had the lowest bench press total (seven) of any defensive back.

His father, Frank Minnifield, was a Pro Bowl defensive back in the 1980s. The knee injury was the main reason that caused Chase Minnifield to be undrafted.

Austin Davis, QB, Southern Miss – Signed with Rams
Davis (6-2, 219) had a mixed outing at the East-West Shrine, and he didn’t stand out at the Combine. Davis completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,848 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. At times, he displayed some quality arm strength and accuracy. Davis came up with a huge game to upset Houston on the road in the conference championship, but he played poorly in the Hawaii Bowl against Nevada.

Davis could be a third quarterback worth developing. He broke into the lineup as a freshman and threw for 3,128 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. An injury cost him half of his sophomore season. He returned to throw for 3,103 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2010.

Cliff Harris, CB/PR, Oregon – Signed with Eagles
Harris barely played in 2011 because of suspensions. His off-the-field issues caused him to go undrafted. Harris totaled six interceptions, 33 tackles and 17 passes defensed in 2010. He also was a dynamic punt returner, with four punts brought back for touchdowns that year.

At 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, Harris needs to add some bulk to his frame for the NFL. He is a man-cover corner who plays the ball well.

Gerell Robinson, WR, Arizona State – Signed with Broncos
Robinson is tall and has some straight-line speed, but was a one-year wonder who lacks explosion. He ended his career well by torching Boise State’s secondary to the tune of 13 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown.

Robinson didn’t have much production entering his senior year, but he came on strong late in the year for Arizona State. The 6-foot-4, 222-pounder recorded 785 receiving yards in the final five games. Robinson made 77 receptions in 2011 for a total of 1,397 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a decent week at the Senior Bowl.

Mike Brewster, C, Ohio State – Signed with Jaguars
Brewster entered 2011 as the top center prospect, but he had an inconsistent season. As a blocker, Brewster performed reasonably well, but he had some struggles with his snaps at times.

Late in the season, Brewster had a rough game against Penn State with some mental mistakes and bad snaps. It seemed that going against defensive tackle Devon Still was in Brewster’s head and causing some lapses. That performance definitely hurt his stock.

Brewster (6-4, 312) had an inconsistent Senior Bowl, but he is put together well and carries his weight better than many center prospects.

Brewster took the starting center position as a freshman and consistently racked up awards, while becoming an All-American. Hewas a solid run and pass blocker in college. Brewster definitely would be a good signing by a team that needs center help.

Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State – Signed with Buccaneers
Johnson had a strong senior season and followed that up with a good showing at the Senior Bowl. He totaled 72 tackles, eight passes broken up and one interception in 2011. Over three years of playing time, Johnson had four career interceptions and 19 passes broken up.

The 5-foot-9, 198-pounder has some man-coverage skills and isn’t afraid to get physical with receivers. Iowa State put him on an island as senior and Johnson held his own. He had a disappointing showing at the Combine with a 40 time of 4.65 and a middling performance in the field drills.

It isn’t exactly clear why Johnson went undrafted.

Cordarro Law, DE, Southern Miss
Law (6-2, 261) was productive in 2011. He had 64 tackles with 22 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Law had big games against Louisiana Tech and Rice, but versus Marshall and Virginia, was held in check. He had a monster performance in the conference championship versus Houston.

Law has a nice combination of size and speed. He had 11.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks in 2010. He had 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss in 2009.

Law is a sleeper prospect who could reward a team that picks him up. He looks like a potential fit in a 3-4 as an outside linebacker. The reason Law fell out of the draft is concern about his motivation.

James Brown, OT, Troy – Signed with Bears
Brown opened a lot of eyes at the Senior Bowl. He held his own as he fought and scraped with the better competition. Brown was the starter for Troy at left tackle. He is a good athlete who could, potentially, be moved around the line. His best fit in the NFL could be at guard. The 6-foot-3, 307-pounder has some strength and quickness.

Matt Reynolds, OT/G, BYU – Signed with Panthers
Reynolds looks like a right tackle or guard prospect. One negative is that he will be a 25-year old rookie, but as a player, he had a quality career for BYU. Reynolds is a well-rounded blocker, but he isn’t overwhelming as a pass protector or run blocker. At the East-West Shrine Game, Reynolds had some good practices and some bad practices. He also weighed in smaller than expected at 6-foot-4, 310-pounds.

Reynolds is experienced and mature. For teams that are looking for depth on the line, Reynolds could be a good signing.

Ronald Leary, G, Memphis – Signed with Cowboys
Leary (6-3, 325) is a heavy guard who was tested daily in practice by going against Dontari Poe. Leary started out his senior season at left tackle before moving inside to guard because of injuries. He projects as a guard at the next level. Leary had a quality showing at the Combine.

Notable Signings:

Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State – Cowboys
Josh Bellamy, CB, Louisville – Chiefs
Kourtnei Brown, DE/OLB, Clemson – 49ers
Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State – Bengals
Matt Conrath, DE, Virginia – Rams
Aaron Corp, QB, Richmond – Bills
Ryan Davis, DE, Bethune Cookman – Jaguars
Donnie Fletcher, CB, Boise State – Jets
Chase Ford, TE, Miami – Eagles
Marcus Forston, DT, Miami – Patriots
Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M – Dolphins
CHris Galippo, ILB, USC – Colts
Cory Harkey, TE, UCLA – Rams
DaJohn Harris, DT, USC – Titans
Alex Hoffman-Ellis, OLB, Washington State – Rams
Emil Igwenagu, TE/FB, UMass – Eagles
Janzen Jackson, S, McNeese State – Giants
Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina – Texans
Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M – Broncos
Case Keenum, QB, Houston – Texans
Jarrett Lee, QB, LSU – Chargers
Marquis Maze, WR, Alabama – Steelers
Julian Miller, DE, West Virginia – Bengals
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State – Lions
Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa – Vikings
Lucas Nix, G, Pittsburgh – Raiders
Chris Owusu, WR, Stanford – 49ers
Ernest Owusu, DE, California – Vikings
Eric Page, WR, Toledo – Broncos
Quentin Saulsberry, C, Mississippi State – Vikings
Jacquies Smith, DE, Missouri – Dolphins
Philip Thomas, S, Syracuse – Eagles