2012 Draft Nuggets - Tony Dye, UCLA, SS

Tony Dye, UCLA, 5110 205

Three-year starter who is a strong run support player. Strong physical tackler with good body control. Will cut, block, or wrap tackle. Quick to read his keys. Willingness to force the action. Plays with strength to contain the edge. Aggressive when playing off blocks. Attacks the line of scrimmage. Productive and active in his play. Good instincts to break and undercut a route. Plays the ball to slap away or intercept. Has the awareness, anticipation, vision, range, and ball reactions to play halves coverage. Competes for the ball in the air. Good position on receiver and plays ball with good timing and leaping ability.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Mark Barron, Alabama, SS

Mark Barron, Alabama, 6020 218

Three-year starter who is experienced in special teams’ coverage units. Has a thick strong safety build with long arms. Plays square like a linebacker within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Has the physical ability to stay on his feet and play off blockers. A full contact player with a nose for the ball. A heavy hitter who is aggressive and active in his play. Gets downhill quickly to fill running lanes and force the point quickly. Well schooled in disguising coverage. If he takes a bad angle he has the ability to recover and a closing burst to make the play. Does a good job communicating coverage in the secondary. Animated and active getting players lined up.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State, FS

Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State, 6006 202

Three-year starter who is interchangeable as a free or strong safety. Has the ability to key and diagnose a play quickly. Reads patterns and anticipates with quick reactions. Explosive hitter when he breaks up on the ball. Runs through the receiver. However he is not always under control and gets some untimely penalties and will take bad angles at times. A physical enforcer in the secondary. Receivers know where number 10 is at in the secondary. Long arms with good jumping ability. Can cover tight ends and backs out of the backfield. Can stick his foot in the ground and drive quickly on a ball in front of him. Quick burst. Has some hip tightness. Plays the ball. Takes a direct line to the receiver. Has the speed and range to overlap the corner down the field. A confident and daring safety who will undercut a route to make a big play.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, DC

Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, 5096 204

Three-year starter who majors in man to man coverage. Gets position and plays with good technique. Has natural instincts and reactions. Always in position to make a move on the ball. Will lay out. Can get his hand on the ball to knock it away. Will line up nose to nose to jam a receiver. Good stance, balance, and strength. Physical striker. Doesn’t overextend or lunge. Smooth backpedal with a good base and quick feet. Can stay in backpedal as long as possible. Can transition out of pedal to all route angles. Good stop and go quickness. Quick plant and drive. Has a burst to close quickly on the ball. No false steps. Competitive and tough minded in his play. Plays with confidence.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Zach Brown, North Carolina, OB

Zach Brown, North Carolina, 6020 230

Started parts of two seasons with the bevy of standout linebackers backing up the Tar Heel line. He is all about speed and athletic ability. Runs track at Carolina where he set the indoor 60-meter record at 6.72 seconds. He has also run the 100-meters in 10.6 seconds. Major contributor on special teams’ coverage units. Can stick his foot in the ground and get downhill fast. Sideline to sideline player who will play best as a weakside fast flow linebacker. Active but out of control as a tackler at times. Must learn to adjust his speed on the run and keep leverage on the ball carrier. Quick acceleration with excellent catch up speed. Hard to block because he’s a moving target.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Lavonte David, Nebraska, OB

Lavonte David, Nebraska, 6006 223

Two-year starter and a junior college transfer from Fort Scott Community College. Was the Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year and a first team All-Big 12 pick. A tackling machine, he set a Cornhusker record with 152 tackles, averaging about 11 per game. He also had six sacks for 50 yards in losses. A special teams’ standout on coverage teams. Natural and instinctive in his ability to recognize and react to run or pass. Has a nose for the ball. An impact hitter who loves contact. Reacts immediately to keys. Good football aptitude. Very competitive. Aggressive and physically tough. Explodes downhill quickly on run throughs. An athletic knee bender who plays with balance. Slips blocks and stays on his feet.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, IB

Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, 6016 270

Two-year starter who played in numerous games but waited to start during his first two years with a talent laden Alabama defense. He was devastating in the win over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl, racking up 5 tackles, 3 which resulted in losses, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. He was named the game’s Defensive MVP. For the year he made 52 tackles, 14 ½ for loss, and tallied 7 sacks. Upshaw played on the edge of the defense, not in the middle where he is projected. Plays well on his feet. High motor, quick twitch athlete who is off on the snap of the ball. Plays with good knee bend and explodes from the ground up when taking on a blocker. Has excellent speed and good range to cover his assignments. Keeps blockers off his body. Uses his hands effectively and can string out a blocker to the sideline. Takes smart angles. Hustles all out and has the speed to make an impact hit. Does not get hooked. Plays with good outside leverage and controls his area in the run game. Reacts well to run or pass.