Jordan Poyer

CB, KR · Oregon State
With the tandem of Brandon Hardin (now competing to be the Chicago Bears' starting strong safety) and Poyer slated to be Oregon State's starters, the Beavers had hoped to feature the Pac-12's most talented cornerback duo in 2012. In what turned out to be a harbinger of the Beavers' ill-fortuned season, however, Hardin broke his shoulder during camp last August and missed the entire campaign, thrusting Poyer into the spotlight. To Poyer's credit, he stepped up his level of play considerably, emerging in just his second season at cornerback (previously was a reserve safety) to earn Second Team Pac-12 honors with career-highs in tackles (57), passes broken up (12) and interceptions (four), including one the second interception of his career for a touchdown. Half of Poyer's six career interceptions came against NFL-caliber quarterbacks, as he picked off Brock Osweiler twice last year and Matt Barkley in OSU's stunning 36-7 demolition of the Trojans in 2010. Not only did Poyer demonstrate the confidence and athleticism necessary to handle the one on one responsibilities expected of cornerbacks in OSU's blitz-heavy scheme, he continued in his role as the Beavers' primary returner, averaging a gaudy 14.1 yards per return on punts (including an 85-yard touchdown vs. UCLA) and carrying a 25.9 career average on kick returns.