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Big 12 The college football season is around the corner http://www.thebearslockerroom.com/authentic-joel-iyiegbuniwe-jersey , which means that the next few months will be full of major upsets, nail-biting finishes, Cinderella teams, and flat-out entertaining football. They also serve as a time for NFL Draft nuts to find the best player in the upcoming draft class, discover a few hidden gems, and determine which prospects would be good fits on their favorite professional team.For the next couple of weeks, we’ll be going to be going from conference to conference, finding the best player, a potential Chicago Bears target and a sleeper to give you all a general idea of what to keep an eye on in the coming college football season. We did this concept last year and enjoyed doing it, so we decided to bring it back for another year. In this edition, I’m joined by our own Josh Sunderbruch as we look at what the Big 12 has to offer in terms of NFL prospects.Cream of the cropJacob: Denzel Mims, WR, BaylorWhat if I told you that the best NFL prospect in the Big 12 came from a team who finished 1-11?Although Will Grier is likely the highest player drafted from the conference, he’s not the top Big 12 player on my board. That distinction goes to Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims, who finished the 2017 season with 61 catches, 1,087 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He has all of the tools to be a top-end receiver in the NFL, despite not having a lot of hype around him.At 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, Mims has a long, yet muscular frame built for the NFL. He has a fantastic catch radius, due in part to his long arms and impressive leaping ability. The most impressive aspect of his game is how athletic he is for his size. A track and field star in high school, Mims accelerates off the ball with speed befitting of someone three inches and ten pounds his inferior. He has good straight line speed, fantastic body control, and good overall footwork on his routes. Although Mims is not a great yards-after-catch receiver and is fairly raw from a route running standpoint, the Baylor standout can potentially turn into a top-end X receiver at the next level.Given Chicago’s investment in the wide receiver position this past off-season, it is highly unlikely that they consider one early on in the draft. Nevertheless Womens Nick Kwiatkoski Jersey , Mims is an exciting prospect who should generate more buzz in draft circles in the coming months.Top Bears targetsJacob: Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas StateBobby Massie’s contract is up at the end of the 2018 season, and it appears likely that this season could be his last with the Bears. If they want to look for a replacement for him, then someone like Dalton Risner, who started on Kansas State’s offensive line alongside Cody Whitehair in 2015, could fit that bill.Admittedly, Risner might not play offensive tackle at the next level, as he could potentially move inside as a guard or a center. The three-time captain does project as a good offensive tackle prospect, though, which is likely what the Bears would see him as if they were to draft him.The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Risner is a powerful blocker that has a good anchor in his lower body. He excels at getting inside leverage on his defenders and playing with a balanced frame. He takes good angles on pull blocks and screens, and he consistently plays with great pad level. While not the most athletic offensive lineman in the world, Risner is a tough and strong player whose versatility could help him rise up draft boards.I currently project Risner as a second round pick, which is inconvenient for the Bears, since they lack a second rounder in 2019 due to the Anthony Miller trade. However, if the team does well and Risner shows off more lateral quickness, then the two would be a good match in the back half of the first round.Josh: Breckyn Hager, OLB, TexasHager is over 250 pounds and has a 38-inch vertical. That’s not “jump out of a pool” stuff, but the man was named one of college football’s most freakish athletes. He’s explosive, powerful, and he turns a corner well on pass rushes. I have seen him with third and fourth round grades. I’ll admit that most of Hager’s best film comes from 2016, since he had a dip in production in 2017. In all honesty, even if there are reasons for that outside of Hager himself, it’s concerning when someone becomes less productive as they develop.However, I still think Hager is the kind of player Ryan Pace is going to want to target Prince Amukamara Jersey , especially since his father, Britt, played nine years in the NFL. In this case, if Hager does fall, another Pace project might be a steal. He has a relentless drive to get to the quarterback, and even if he’s only a situational pass-rusher as an outside linebacker (one of the knocks against him), that’s an area the Bears could use help. A mid-round talent with a knack for turning the corner sounds like something Chicago likely needs next year just as much as they are missing it this year.Late-round sleepersJacob: Dakota Allen, LB, Texas TechThe Bears are in good hands at the inside linebacker position with Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan as the starters, and Nick Kwiatkoski and Joel Iyiegbuniwe as solid depth. However, Chicago could be in a position to truly draft the best player available in later rounds this year, regardless of need. That player could someone like Texas Tech linebacker Dakota Allen.The Bears don’t typically draft players with questionable pasts: Allen was kicked off of Texas Tech after being arrested for robbery in his freshman year. But he seems to have put his past behind him on all accounts. The 6-foot-1, 235 pound linebacker stood out at East Mississippi Community College in 2016 and was a focal point of the ‘Last Chance U’ documentary series that season. He then returned to Texas Tech and totaled 101 tackles, two interceptions, and two sacks.Allen is a consistent tackler who takes good angles to defenders in space. He has good closing speed, good acceleration off the snap when blitzing up the A or B gaps, and is a fluid mover in space. He’s great at working off of blocks to make plays against the run, and often jumps on top of gang tackles to further ensure that his teammates bring the ballcarrier down. Allen is not polished from an instincts standpoint, and one would figure that he could play at a much higher speed with more efficiency if he had better pre-snap awareness. However, he seems to be a prime candidate to stand out as a special teamer early on in his career before possibly settling into a starting role with experience under his belt.As previously mentioned, the Bears don’t need an inside linebacker, so the selection of Allen could be unlikely even without mentioning his off-the-field track record. He’s a high-upside developmental player, though, and he figures to be a solid late-round draft pick wherever he’s drafted.Josh: Rodney Anderson, RB, OklahomaThis one comes with an asterisk or two. Some boards I’ve seen suggest that Anderson is taken in the first round, and they consider him the second best running back in the draft. Obviously http://www.thebearslockerroom.com/authentic-adam-shaheen-jersey , that would not make him a late-round sleeper. However, other boards have Anderson out of the top 100. Why? When he’s healthy, the 6-foot-1, 219-pound Anderson plays the position extraordinarily well. However, that’s an important qualifier, because his health has not been exceptional. His running style also subjects him to punishment, exacerbating that issue.Anderson also has significant character red flags. As Jacob points out, the Bears normally stay away from those concerns, and Pace has been cautious since his first couple of months in Chicago with Ray McDonald. However, it’s hard to tell how things look in 2019, and regardless of how some feel about it, the Bears could end up pushing boundaries they would normally steer clear of.On the other side of things, Anderson is a dual-threat back with the ability to play as a receiving weapon as well as a runner. He does not shy away from contact either. If Anderson’s 2018 campaign is shaky and the health concerns re-emerge, then he might slide. Pace has shown himself willing an interested in taking running backs often in the draft, and he doesn’t shy away from an injury history. If, and only if, Anderson comes out and then slides, do I think the Bears could pull the trigger. However, it’ll be interesting to see which Anderson plays in 2018. In that case, it’ll also be interesting to see if Pace maintains his standards regarding the types of players he targets and their character.Jacob Infante is a Chicago Bears and NFL Draft writer at SB Nation’s Windy City Gridiron. He also covers the NFL Draft for USA Today SMG’s Draft Wire. He can be reached through Twitter @jacobinfante24 or emailed at jacobinfante1208@gmail.com. Orlando now has a large population of Bears, as Kyle, Cody, Mitch, Charles, Akiem, Eddie and Tarik do that Pro Bowl thing"Being who you thought we were since 2005!Log In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBearsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsThe Bears DenNotesXs and OsSuperfansBreaking News:The Bears' 2019 Draft class is complete!脳The Bear’s Den, January 25 Womens Mitchell Trubisky Jersey , 2019New,56commentsOrlando now has a large population of Bears, as Kyle, Cody, Mitch, Charles, Akiem, Eddie and Tarik do that Pro Bowl thingCSTShareTweetShareShareThe Bear’s Den, January 25, 2019The Bears At The Pro BowlBEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!BEARRRSSSSMedina: Mitch Trubisky is Turning Lemons into Lemonade After Postseason Heartbreak - Bleacher Nation - Mitch Trubisky is looking forward to bigger and better things in 2019.Medina: Antonio Brown Could Be Traded This Offseason, and It Sure Is Fun to Dream - Bleacher Nation - Antonio Brown dropping a cryptic tweet on a Thursday is what the NFL offseason is all about.Hughes: The Case for the Bears Pursuing Kareem Hunt - Da Bears Blog - The most popular “football” rationale for not bringing Hunt to Chicago is the perceived disruption of a locker room that developed a fun-loving identity in 2018 under head coach Matt Nagy.George McCaskey: Family Plans To Own Bears 'Until The Second Coming' - 670 The Score - The Bears have remained in the Halas-McCaskey family for their entire existence.Bernstein: McCaskey Makes Potential Kareem Hunt Pursuit Into Something More - 670 The Score - George McCaskey maintains he's learned from his decisions of the past.Bears' George McCaskey On Khalil Mack: 'Transformed The Team, Not Just The Defense' - 670 The Score - "You got to seize the moment," George McCaskey said of acquiring Khalil Mack.George McCaskey On If Bears Are Open To Signing Kareem Hunt: 'We're Not There Yet' - 670 The Score - "If circumstances are right, a second chance is warranted," George McCaskey says.Emma: Back On The Sidelines, Chuck Pagano Strives To Bring Even Better Out Of Bears Defense - 670 The Score - "Our vision for this defense is to be the best," Pagano said.5@5: How Many Pro Bowls Will Mitchell Trubisky Appear In? - 670 The Score - The Mully & Haugh crew debates a five-pack of questions every weekday.Bears Offseason Discussion: Pagano's Presser, Pro Bowl Week, Senior Bowl Prospects (And More) - The Chicago Audible Podcast - In this jam-packed episode, the guys hit on a multitude of topics pertaining to the Chicago Bears from Chuck Pagano to the Pro and Senior Bowls, and much more.Stankevitz: Bears’ DC Chuck Pagano says he's not interested in being a head coach again - NBC Sports Chicago - Chuck Pagano said he's "done that" when asked if he wants to be a head coach again, dismissing that thought as he was introduced as the Bears' new defensive coordinator on Thursday.Stankevitz: How Chuck Pagano will aim to make the Bears the best defense in NFL history - NBC Sports Chicago - Chuck Pagano is embracing the lofty expectations that come with taking over Vic Fangio's defense, and wants to make those expectations even loftier.Ellis: Matt Nagy just keeps winning Coach of the Year awards - NBC Sports Chicago - A trip to Home Depot for a new mantle might be in order soon.Mayer: Bears players excited to work with Pagano - ChicagoBears.com - Pro Bowlers Eddie Jackson and Akiem Hicks are among the Bears players who are eager to meet and begin working with new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.Mayer: Pagano grateful, thankful to join Bears staff - ChicagoBears.com - At his introductory press conference Thursday at Halas Hall, veteran coach Chuck Pagano described the chance to coordinate the Bears defense as the “opportunity of a lifetime.”Chalk Talk: How many Bears QBs have made Pro Bowl? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses how many Bears quarterbacks have been selected to the Pro Bowl Pat O'Donnell Jersey , how Matt Nagy’s first season compares to other NFL coaches and how many countries the Bears have played games in.Medina: The Bears Will Want to Invest in a Developmental QB and the Senior Bowl Is a Great Place to Start - Bleacher Nation - The hunt for quality quarterbacking is never over, even when QB1 is entrenched.Medina: New Bears DC Chuck Pagano Speaks - Wreaking Havoc, KILLer Acronyms, Expectations to be the Best (Ever), More - Bleacher Nation - Chuck Pagano has set a high bar upon arrival.POLISH SAUSAGESaints’ Benjamin Watson calls out Roger Goodell – ProFootballTalk - One of the NFL’s most respected players is calling out the commissioner. Saints tight end Benjamin Watson put a statement on Twitter today ripping Roger Goodell for his failure to address the missed pass interference penalty that went against the Saints late in the fourth quarter of the NFC Champ...KNOW THY ENEMY2018 Detroit Lions roster review: Ezekiel Ansah limited, yet again, by injuries - Pride Of Detroit - Once a premier pass-rushing talent, the game of football has taken its toll on Ansah.VIDEO: Mic’d up Darius Slay talks trash about Kirk Cousins, others at Pro Bowl - Pride Of Detroit - Mic’d up Darius Slay is the best Darius Slay. Ken’s Note: Slay is funny, this one’s worth a watch.Which Minnesota Viking would make the best UFC fighter? - Daily Norseman - In case you haven’t noticed, it’s the offseason.Packers interviewed Tom Quinn for special teams coordinator job, per report - Acme Packing Company - Quinn led some very good and some very bad special teams units with the Giants over the last decade.One key to fixing Packers offensive attack: revive the quick passing game - Acme Packing Company - Aaron Rodgers has long been the king of the improvised big play, but Matt LaFleur must focus on getting the rhythm passing game back on track.Which other Packers could end up as salary cap casualties in 2019? - Acme Packing Company - We know about Jimmy Graham and Nick Perry, but are there any other players who might be on the chopping block?IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRONZeglinski: New defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano knows he has a lot to live up to with the Bears. 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