clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2012 NFL Draft: Prospects that Require Homework

Feb 27, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Whitney Mercilus does the shuttle run during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE
Feb 27, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Whitney Mercilus does the shuttle run during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Matt Bowen of the National Football Post has posted an article today looking at some prospects who performed really well at the combine but still need to really be evaluated on film. Bowen lists five players in this article. Two of them have been commonly linked to the Titans in mock drafts, Whitney Mercilus and Dontari Poe. SuperHorn's boy, Stephen Hill is also on the list.

Here is the point that Bowen makes on Mercilus:

ercilus came into the Combine after posting 16 sacks this past season at Illinois. Wasn’t perfect in positional drills, but displayed enough athletic ability to align as a 4-3 DE or drop into coverage as a 3-4 backer. But what you are looking for is that 4.63 speed he posted in Indy that will give you a first-round edge rusher in both fronts. Plenty of discussion that Mercilus is a one-year wonder…let the tape be the judge of that.

Every time I sit down to write about Mercilus I cannot help but think that I said the same things about Jason Pierre-Paul. Even knowing that, Mercilus is a guy that seems a whole lot more likely to be a bust than a star in the NFL.