The NFL draft starts on Thursday night, and a number of Orange players are starting to really get anxious to hear their names called. While that won't happen in the 1st or 2nd rounds, Delone Carter is expected to be the first SU player picked, and could go as early as late Friday night.

"I've had conversations with a number of teams who are out there that have shown interest in Delone," explains Carter's agent Wes Bridges, "and we've heard anything from 3rd to 5th. Some teams have said that if there's run of running backs early that Delone could potentially be a 2nd round pick but routinely we've been hearing anything from 3 to 5."

Center Ryan Bartholomew along with linebackers Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith are expected to be late round picks, but according to Derrell's agent, his stock has gone up based simply on his personality.

"When he speaks to you it's genuine," says Michael Courter, "you can tell that it comes from an honest and truthful place, and that's one of the things that attracts them. They're making an investment, not just for a first contract, but they see Derrell as a guy who could be in the league a long time."

Of course, everybody would like to see kicker Rob Long picked after the effort he put in preparing for Pro Day after having a brain tumor removed and going through chemotherapy, but he'll more than likely get an opportunity with an NFL team after the actual draft is completed. Other SU players in the same situation are cornerbacks Mike Holmes and Da'Mon Merkerson and Strong safety Max Suter.