It is somewhat rare for rookies to make significant immediate impacts in the NFL. Whereas in sports like basketball or baseball rookies play very key roles on their teams fairly frequently, football tends to involve a bit of a longer learning curve, due in part to the immense size and speed of the professional game. This season, however, the NFL has enjoyed astounding performances from a number of contributing rookies. In fact, if you haven’t gotten a look at some of these rookies yet, you may want to head to http://www.satellitetvfamily.com/ to update your television package and keep an eye on some of the key new faces in the NFL. One player that you will definitely want to watch is Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray, who, despite sliding a bit further than expected in the 2011 NFL Draft, is proving that he could have what it takes to be a star.

For anyone who watched Murray play when he was in school at Oklahoma, the fact that he was not picked until early in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft may have come as a bit of a surprise. After all, Murray’s college career was so stellar that he now holds Oklahoma records for both yards and touchdowns (ahead of, among others, Adrian Peterson, who some would argue is the best running back alive). Murray has good size at 6 feet tall, 213 pounds as of the time of the draft, and is capable of putting up good running numbers and being a strong receiving option as well. Unfortunately, however, Murray also dealt with a few injuries throughout his career at Oklahoma, which apparently led scouts to question his sustainability in the league. Clearly – due to his records at school – Murray was never kept off the field too long by any one injury. However, as a runner who some believe has a somewhat reckless style, and who has injury history, Murray wasn’t a sure thing in the eyes o f many NFL teams, which makes his draft slide more understandable.

Once the Cowboys did select Murray, they placed him at third on their depth chart, behind starter Felix Jones and veteran second string option Tashard Choice. However, after an injury to Jones, Murray got his first real chance to carry the ball against the St. Louis Rams, and ran for 253 yards, which broke a Cowboys’ single game rushing yards record previously held by the great Emmitt Smith. Since then, the Cowboys have looked considerably stronger, and Murray has continued to put up strong numbers, leaving many to wonder if the former Sooner might actually go down as the steal of the 2011 NFL Draft.

• Every year there are players who seemingly come out of nowhere to emerge as legit pro prospects. Coming into the season Notre Dame RB Jonas Gray wasn’t even mentioned in the pre-season National or BLESTO reports, but the Golden Domer is quietly having a terrific senior campaign and is really starting to open some eyes in the scouting community.

    Gray may be underrated now but that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, coming out of high school Gray was the nation’s fourth best running back recruit and #72 player overall according to Rivals. Despite that impressive prep resume Gray struggled to get on the field his first few years in the program, in large part due to ball security and maturity issues. Heading into his senior season the underachieving Gray had career totals of just 75 carries for 309 yards and 0 touchdowns and appeared destined to go down as a major disappointment. Gray still had one more chance to turn things around though and he has taken full advantage of the opportunity. So far this season Gray has rushed for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns while splitting the workload with junior Cierre Wood, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Gray also seems to be improving each week, most recently going for a career high 136 yards and 2 touchdowns against Maryland. Checking in at a stout 5-10 and 230 pounds, Gray is built like a bowling ball and is a powerful runner between the tackles. Gray is also a good athlete though, with nimble feet, some elusiveness and sneaky good speed for such a big guy. Just ask the Pittsburgh defense, who Gray outraced for a 79 yard touchdown earlier in the year. On the downside Gray still has some trouble holding onto the ball, is largely unproven as a pass catcher out of the backfield and must continue to improve as a blocker. With that said, Gray certainly has the talent to play at the next level and there may not be another running back prospect in the senior class with a better combination of size, speed and athleticism. There is always some trepidation among scouts when it comes to one-year wonders, but it looks like the light has finally come on for Gray and he could end up being one of those guys who's a better pro than college player.

    At this point Gray is still considered to be more of a late round possibility but he is emerging as a very intriguing prospect in what is widely considered to be a lackluster crop of senior running backs. Gray may also have a chance to boost his draft stock even further in the coming months at an all-star game or the Scouting Combine. In recent years a number of late round and undrafted running backs have made significant impacts in the NFL, including Ahmad Bradhsaw, Fred Jackson, Pierre Thomas, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Peyton Hillis, Mike Tolbert, Arian Foster, James Starks and LeGarrette Blount. Gray eventually adding his name to that list is obviously a long shot. However, teams in search of a short yardage / goal line runner with some upside in the latter stages of the 2012 NFL Draft could do a whole lot worse than Jonas Gray.

• One of the major challenges when evaluating small school prospects is that they are rarely matched up against top quality competition. In fact, there are times when highly-regarded sleepers are the only players on the field with a legitimate chance of playing at the next level. As a result it’s difficult to determine whether they are merely big fish in a small pond or if they really do have what it takes to make it in the NFL. Scouts usually have to wait until the postseason all-star games to get an answer to that question but just this past weekend Appalachian St. WR Brian Quick and Furman CB Ryan Steed actually squared off in a head-to-head battle. Not only are Quick and Steed two of this year’s top sleeper prospects, but they are among the best players available at their respective positions period. As luck would have it Josh Buchanan of JBScouting.com lives in the Greeneville, SC area and had the opportunity to scout the game in person. The following are some of Buchanan’s impressions:

    There was quite a buzz before the game, with pro scouts and personnel roaming the sidelines. Some of the teams that were represented include the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There were a number of potential prospects to check out on both squads but Quick and Steed were clearly the headliners.

    The Mountaineers did not throw to Quick nearly enough, especially when Steed was on him. Quick has an outstanding field presence, looking like a first round pick physically and with the way he moves and plays. A tall, long target who can run, Quick ran precise routes and showcased his soft hands and ability to make the difficult catch. Quick also did an excellent job as a blocker. Quick finished with just 4 catches for 60 yards on the day and it would have been nice to see ASU get their star more involved. With that said, Appy St. has a young quarterback who struggled to find Quick even when he was open. Quick has all of the ability in the world but the type of impact he makes in the pros will be solely determined by how bad he wants it. As long as Quick is right mentally he has all the physical tools to be a dynamic playmaker in the NFL.

    Steed really showed up to play and essentially shut down whoever he was covering. Steed also didn’t back down from the challenge and was talking back and forth with Quick throughout the game. Early on Steed came away with an interception, which highlighted his ball skills and footwork, and he almost looked like a running back during the return. While Steed is not the most physically imposing player he is intelligent, strong, mentally tough and as determined as anyone in the nation. Those intangibles combined with adequate height, weight and speed are what make Steed an early round possibility.

    In the end the slight edge on the day probably goes to Steed, although in all fairness Quick never really got the chance to show what he is capable of. Regardless, I feel that both of these prospects are future NFL starters with Pro Bowl potential and they each have what it takes to enjoy long pro careers.

    A special thanks to Josh Buchanan for providing that insight and analysis. Nobody, and I mean nobody, covers the small school prospects better than JB Scouting so make sure to check them out over at http://www.jbscouting.com.

    There were other games that received more attention and hype last weekend but any die-hard draftnik will surely recognize how uncommon it is to see a matchup like Quick vs. Steed at the small school level. At this point both Quick and Steed project as early round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft and should each come off the board in either the second or third round. In the coming months Brian Quick and Ryan Steed will continue to be tested at all-star games and in workouts but this contest proved that both prospects are indeed the real deal.

• Most would agree that tight end is the weakest position in the senior class and that will probably remain the case even after underclassmen are factored into the equation. With that said, don't be surprised if a couple of juniors ultimately sit atop of the tight end rankings by the time the 2012 NFL Draft rolls around.

    Clemson boasts one of college footballs most high-powered offenses and Dwayne Allen is an underrated cog in that machine. While freshman sensation Sammy Watkins gets most of the attention and headlines, Allen is quietly having a terrific season in his own right. Through nine games Allen is third on the team with 38 receptions for 470 yards (12.4 avg.) and his 5 touchdowns are second only to Watkins. The best way to describe Allen’s game is probably well-rounded. In fact, one could say that Allen is the type of player who does everything well but nothing great. Checking in at 6-4 and 255 pounds with speed estimated to be in the 4.7 range, Allen is a reliable pass catching option in the short to intermediate areas but is not overly explosive and isn’t going to stretch the field vertically. Allen isn’t a dominant blocker but he does put forth a solid effort and is able to get the job done both in-line and in space. Allen actually compares quite favorably to Lance Kendricks and he could carry a similar pro grade when all is said and done. If Allen isn’t the first tight end off the board next April, that honor may go to Orson Charles of Georgia. Even though Charles lacks the ideal size that you look for at 6-3 and 241 pounds, he more than compensates with outstanding speed and top-notch athleticism. In fact, Charles is a prime candidate to be one of this year’s "Workout Warriors" and there has been speculation that a 4.4 forty isn’t out of the question. A dangerous weapon in the passing game, Charles is versatile enough to line up all over the field and is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Charles is a bit one-dimensional and doesn’t offer much as a blocker, but a creative coaching staff should be able to work around those shortcomings. Charles won’t be a fit for everyone but in the right system he could be a dynamic H-Back along the lines of Dustin Keller or Aaron Hernandez. Needless to say Allen and Charles are two different types of players but each has plenty to offer a team in their own way at the next level.

    Last year was the first time in more than a decade that a tight end wasn’t selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. It’s still early, but at this point it appears as though that could be the case once again this year. Stanford’s Coby Fleener and Missouri’s Michael Egnew are widely considered to be the top seniors available at the position and should be selected somewhere in the Top 100 overall. However, assuming Allen and Charles opt to leave early to play for pay they could both leapfrog their upper class counterparts. Neither Allen or Charles profile as elite prospects at the position, but each projects as a potential Day Two pick with an outside chance of sneaking into the back end of round one. As always underclassmen will play a major role in the 2012 NFL Draft and no position needs the help more than tight end. Fortunately Clemson's Dwayne Allen and Georgia's Orson Charles are poised to provide that infusion of talent.

• There was a time not all that long ago when NFL teams simply did not value interior offensive lineman enough to select them in the first round of the draft. From 1998 through 2004 there were a total of five guards or centers selected in round one, which is an average of just .71 per year. However, since then there seems to have been a philosophical shift in front offices because from 2005 through 2011 there were eleven interior blockers chosen in the first round for an average of 1.57 per year. That means teams have been more than twice as likely to use a top pick on a guard or center the past seven years than they were the seven years prior. At least statistically. That trend will most likely continue in the 2012 NFL Draft, with David DeCastro of Stanford leading the way.

    Quarterback Andrew Luck obviously dominates the headlines at Stanford, and rightfully so, but DeCastro isn’t even considered to be the top pro prospect on the Cardinal offensive line. That honor is usually reserved for left tackle Jonathan Martin. DeCastro might get overshadowed by teammates at high-profile positions but he is an outstanding player in his own right and the scouting community has taken notice. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2008, DeCastro has been a three-year starter at right guard in a pro style system in Palo Alto. DeCastro certainly fits the physical prototype for the position, checking in at 6-5 and 310 pounds. Perhaps the most impressive thing about DeCastro is his brute strength and he will undoubtedly impress in the bench press at the Scouting Combine. Not only is DeCastro extremely strong but he puts all that muscle to good use on the field with a physical style, aggressive demeanor and a killer instinct. DeCastro is a super competitive blocker who gets an outstanding push in the run game and can also hold his ground at the point of attack but he is also a sneaky good athlete. In fact, those who have evaluated DeCastro have come away impressed with his ability to pull, get out in space and engage at the second level. To top it all off DeCastro is very intelligent with good instincts for the game and the work ethic necessary to maximize his potential. Stanford Head Coach David Shaw has compared DeCastro to eight-time All-Pro Steve Wisniewski, who he saw up close and personal while on the Raiders staff from 1998 to 2001. DeCastro even had the opportunity to work with Wisniewski and pick up some tips from the future Hall of Famer. So just to sum it up, DeCastro is a terrific all-around player with everything that you look for physically as well as top-notch intangibles plus a ton of experience against quality competition. It’s hard to ask for much more.

    DeCastro is only a junior but assuming he opts to come out early most have him pegged as either a late first or early second round value at this point. However, in the past three years there has been at least one interior offensive lineman selected in the middle of the first round and DeCastro could easily come off the board in that same range. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that DeCastro could be the first true guard / center to be selected in the Top 10 overall since Chris Naeole back in 1997. For those who struggle with math, that was fifteen years ago! That may be a bit optimistic but it does give you an idea of just how highly-regarded DeCastro is. When all is said and done there will likely be three Stanford prospects selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. DeCastro doesn't get a lot of press but he may not have to wait too much longer than Luck and Martin to hear his name called on Draft Day.