Prior to the 2012 NFL season, JJ Watt had a successful rookie season for the Houston Texans, notching 5.5 sacks to go along with 56 tackles. Not too shabby for a first round selection who was playing with one of the best pass rushers in the league, Mario Williams. This past season for JJ Watt, however, was one of the finest seasons in the history of the NFL for a defensive end, let alone any defensive player. Wrecking every offense he went up against each week, Watt recorded 20.5 sacks, 81 tackles, and 16 passes defended, a statistic that is unheard of by a defensive end. Knocking away balls left and right from all quarterbacks through 16 games, JJ Watt soon enough earned the nickname "JJ Swatt". At the end of the season, he earned himself many accolades, but none more valuable than Defensive Player Of The Year. Watt's sensational year is what one would call a "breakout season". These seasons can put a player on the map, earning them trips to the NFL's all-star game known as the "Pro Bowl", or help make a strong case for a new contract. Watt wasn't the only breakout player last season, with players such as Dez Bryant from the Dallas Cowboys, C.J. Spiller from the Buffalo Bills and Richard Sherman from the Seattle Seahawks also making their presence felt on the football field. In a league where you constantly have to prove yourself and put forth bigger and better statistics, these breakout seasons can support a player for years to come. However, it's hard to predict just who will breakout. So how can one see the signs for a potential breakout star? Usually, it involves a player having an opportunity where they can be the main guy for their respective position for the first time. Other signs include how the player performed towards the end of the prior season, giving a sign of what's to come. Richard Sherman is a great example of both of these attributes. After playing well his rookie season, Sherman went on to get the chance to start at cornerback for the Seahawks. Needless to say, he exceeded expectations. Just like Sherman, there are many players with prime opportunities right in front of them to display their skills. Check out these five players that have a good shot of breaking out in the 2013 season:
5. Nick Fairley
If Nick Fairley can keep his head on straight and stay healthy enough for a 16 game season, we could see a man who was plenty capable of being the number one selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Leading up to draft day, Fairley was a popular choice for the first overall selection, but character concerns and disappointing measurments brought Fairley's momentum down, dropping to the Detroit Lions with the 13th pick. Fairley's rookie season was a disaster, but Fairley's second season showed the potential many thought he had all along. Playing only 13 games due to injuries and problems off the field, Fairley managed to record 34 tackles, along with over five sacks. In his third season, Fairley is getting the opportunity to start on a defensive line that also has another Pro Bowler, Ndamukong Suh. When Fairley fell in the draft, many analysts considered the Lions to have the steal of the draft. This is the year for Fairley to prove those analysts correct.