This promises to be an interesting month for Bobby Brandt.
Brandt, the former Manheim Township football and basketball star,is in the midst of a three-week internship at Benchmark ConstructionCo., Inc., where his father is president.
'They're teaching me the ropes,' Brandt, who will graduate fromIndiana University with a degree in public management on May 10, saidThursday.
But mainly Brandt is anxiously awaiting the weekend of April 26-27, when the NFL draft will be held.
Brandt, a three-year starter at offensive tackle and tight end atIndiana, has an outside chance to be taken late in the seven-rounddraft, although it's more likely he'll be signed as an undrafted freeagent.
Pro Football Weekly's 2003 Draft Preview says Brandt is 'likely toplay in the NFL because of his smarts, size, potential andathleticism, but he must answer injury questions among others.'
PFW ranks him as the 32nd-best offensive tackle available andgives him a 4.9 rating, which means he 'should be in an NFL trainingcamp.'
Brandt participated in Indiana's Pro Day on March 25, when scoutsand personnel employees from 18-20 NFL teams put a group of Hoosiersthrough the paces. He also worked out for the Green Bay Packers andNew York Jets last Monday.
Brandt has a lot to offer an NFL team.
At 6-foot-7, 310 pounds, he has the size needed to play on an NFLoffensive line. And he was athletic enough to play tight end in hisfirst two seasons at Indiana, before moving inside to right tackle.
Brandt has one other thing that separates him from most linemen:experience in snapping for kicks. He snapped for punts and placekicksat Township, and for field goals and extra points for three years atIndiana.
The NFL's need for kick snappers was emphasized last season when anumber of teams were hurt by poor snaps, most notably the New YorkGiants in their playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.
'There's a lot of interest because I can do that,' he said. 'It'san asset because not many guys my size can do it.'
Recently, Brandt received Indiana's Al Barsch Award, which isgiven to the football player 'who has hung tough and fought throughadversity.'
He certainly did that, overcoming several injuries to have a solidcareer at Indiana.
In 1998, his first year in Bloomington, he underwent knee surgery.As a redshirt freshman in '99, he played but was slowed by an ankleinjury.
In 2000, he started every game at tight end, catching five passes.As a junior, he moved to tackle and was named as a Big Ten honorable-mention selection.
He missed spring practice in 2002 with a bulging disc in his back,which eventually needed surgery. But he played in 11 of 12 games lastyear, missing only the Penn State game when he underwent arthroscopicknee surgery.
Brandt also had to adjust to a new head coach in his senior yearafter Indiana fired Cam Cameron and brought in ex-LSU head coachGerry DiNardo. The Hoosiers were 3-9 last year, and never went to abowl in Brandt's career.
Still, he's enjoyed his time in Bloomington.
'I had a blast,' he said. 'I would have like to have won more, butI got to play in the Big Ten and I started for three years. I hadgreat fun with it. If I had to do it over, I'd go to Indiana again.'
Brandt says he's healthy now. He played without any problems inthe Paradise Bowl postseason all-star game last January in St.George, Utah.
And after the season he went through a 2-month conditioningprogram at St. Vincent Sports Medicine, dropping his body fat by 5percent. He's also starting a strength-training program under theguidance of Hempfield strength coach Josh Rittenhouse.
In high school, Brandt spent his winters playing basketball, andadmits he didn't spend much time in the weight room. But he knows hiswork off the field will help determine his future on the field.
'I never liked lifting weights,' he said, 'but it's something youhave to do to be your best.'
Brandt has an agent, Buddy Baker of Indianapolis, whose clientlist includes several other Indiana football players.
Several teams have shown particular interest in Brandt, but hesaid that doesn't necessarily mean much. He said one of his ex-Hoosiers teammates, Craig Osika, expected to be signed by one team,but ended up with the San Francisco 49ers, who hadn't shown as muchinterest.
Brandt knows teams might shy away from drafting him because of hisinjury history, but being a free agent could work to his advantage.If he gets multiple offers, he can pick the team for which he has thebest chance of winning a roster spot.
If he had his choice, Brandt would like to stay in theneighborhood.
'I grew up as an Eagles fan,' he said. 'That would be great toplay for them. And I've always liked the Baltimore area. I'd like tostay close to home so my family and friends could see me play.'
But the main thing is just to get a shot at the NFL.
'If San Diego comes calling,' he said, 'that would be OK, too.'
