Who would have guessed?
INDIANAPOLIS -- For Rhema McKnight, playing in the NFL really wasn't a childhood dream.
Being able to go to school without the threat of violence was. And because that eventually became a reality, McKnight eventually was able to work his way to the NFL Scouting Combine.
The former Notre Dame wide receiver is one of eight Irish invitees at the NFL Draft's most ballyhooed precursor and perhaps the least likely to get here.
The second-leading receiver in ND football history didn't play organized football until his sophomore year in high school. That was facilitated by a move from gang-laden Inglewood, Calif., to live with his aunt and uncle in cul-de-sac-ish Las Palma.
"It really didn't hit me that the NFL could be a reality until you get here," McKnight said of the combine. "I'm just trying to enjoy it and take it in, because a lot of people don't have this opportunity to be in this situation right now."
He said he is not worried at all where he goes in the draft -- either from a round standpoint or a geographical one.
"I would go anywhere anybody wants to put me," McKnight said.
Looking out for No. 1
Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn figures to be ND's only first-round draft choice on April 28-29, though had wide receiver Jeff Samardzija not pushed football aside for a Chicago Cubs contract, the Irish would likely have had two.
That's as many first-rounders as ND produced from 1995-2006 (center Jeff Faine in 2003, offensive tackle Luke Petitgout in 1999).
And should all eight combine participants get drafted, it would be ND's largest draft class since the Irish sent 10 to the NFL -- including three first-rounders -- in 1994.
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