Former Syracuse football defensive end Chandler Jones is climbing the 2012 NFL Draft big boards, blogged ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson Wednesday. Since declaring for the NFL Draft, the Orange's 6-foot-5, 265-pound pass-rusher has caught the eye of ESPN's Scouts Inc. Steve Muench says Adelson:

"We watched Jones last year and felt he was bit of a 'tweener, but too slow to be a quality defensive end and not athletic enough to be an outside linebacker. However, he has added 15 to 20 pounds of good weight since then and now looks like a legitimate end prospect.

"The added bulk has not taken away his good initial quickness, but the most impressive thing we've seen on film is his flexibility."

In the eyes of Meunch, Jones could be a second-day selection (second or third round), which is a better grade than other scouts who almost a week ago projected him to be a third- or fourth-round draft pick.

-- For more on Syracuse Orange football NFL Draft prospects, check back to this StoryStream. Need more reaction to Jones' possible departure, visit the SB Nation blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician.