2012 Senior Bowl: Despite missing players, rosters full of talent

This year's Senior Bowl rosters have several top players missing. Injuries knocked out quarterback Ryan Tannehill, wide receiver Kendall Wright and defensive tackle Devon Still. Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd pulled out. Stanford tight end Coby Fleener and West Virginia defensive end are simply nowhere to be found on the roster sheets.

What that means for other players is opportunity. Without Fleener, for instance, Missouri's Michael Egnew will get more attention from scouts. The lack of the top two wide receivers could help Texas A&M's Jeff Fuller and Wisconsin's Nick Toon resurrect their slipping draft stock.

Arguably no single team at the Senior Bowl has more top talent than North Carolina. The Tar Heels have three possible first-round picks playing in outside linebacker Zach Brown, defensive end Quinton Coples and wide receiver Dwight Jones. Each comes into the Senior Bowl with questions. Can Brown be physical enough in the run game? Did Coples really coast through his senior season in anticipation of being a high draft pick, or was his great 2010 season a fluke? Can Jones show consistent hands and speed during the week?

Alabama also has numerous players in this year's game, with none being better than outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. With a number of 3-4 teams needing a pass rusher, Upshaw could be a popular player amongst NFL scouts this week. Teammate Mark Barron, a strong safety, pulled out of the game with an injury.

The talk of every Senior Bowl is the quarterback group. Without Tannehill, this year's Senior Bowl signal callers are lacking in a legitimate first-round prospect. Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is the most physically gifted of the quarterbacks in attendance and needs to show he can play in a traditional offense. At Arizona, he relied on the short passing game and slants, which are neutralized more in the NFL. Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden will also receive a lot attention, especially since he'll be coached by the quarterback-needy Washington Redskins head coaches. Then there are fan favorites Russell Wilson of Wisconsin and Kellen Moore of Boise State. This week will prove if they can make it in the NFL.

The single most intrigue in this year's game is North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins. In 2010, he had the look of a future top 20 pick in the draft. But after spending a year at a lower level, he'll need to prove himself again. If he looks good, he secure a spot as the third cornerback drafted this year.

Scouts will also find out this week just where South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram profiles to in the NFL. He's lined up at end, tackle and outside linebacker this season and looked good at each. But his NFL position to this point is uncertain.