Our countdown of the top 25 players in 2012 continues.
You can see our preseason top 25 here.
No. 12: Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State
2012 numbers: Poyer had 51 tackles, including five tackles for a loss and two sacks. He had seven interceptions, 14 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Preseason ranking: No. 17
Making the case for Poyer: The consensus All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 performer was the leader of a secondary that ranked third in the Pac-12 and 20th in the nation in pass efficiency defense. His seven interceptions ranked first in the Pac-12 and second in the nation. A second-team All-Pac-12 performer in 2011 after grabbing four interceptions, Poyer took another step forward in 2012 and his payoff likely will come shortly in the NFL draft, where he's expected to be an early-round draft pick. A solid 6-foot, 190 pounds, Poyer is rated the No. 5 cornerback by ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.
No. 13: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
No. 14: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
No. 15: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
No. 16: Trent Murphy, OLB, Stanford
No. 17: Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford
No. 18: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
No. 19: David Yankey, OL, Stanford
No. 20: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon
No. 21: Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State
No. 22: Ed Reynolds, S, Stanford
No. 23: Michael Clay, LB, Oregon
No. 24: Taylor Kelly, QB, Arizona State
No. 25: Reggie Dunn, KR, Utah