By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

The unpredictability of the NFL Amateur Draft will affect several Purdue football players this weekend.

Defensive tackle David Nugent, wide receiver Chris Daniels and cornerback Mike Hawthorne are among the Purdue seniors who could be drafted by an NFL team looking to add depth its roster.

But it is hard for anyone to say where exactly the Purdue players — or any player for that matter — will be selected in the draft. Draft experts have Nugent and Daniels listed highest among the former Purdue stars.

Although no Boilers are predicted to be picked early, Nugent is projected to be the first Boilermaker chosen. But no one knows for certain what will happen when the draft begins at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN and continues through Sunday on espn2.

"The NFL Draft is bizarre," said Purdue offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. "You never know what to think."

For now, the Purdue players, who have been attending scouting combines and working out since soon after the Boilers' season ended on New Year's Day, can't do much other than wait.

"I'm just real anxious and a little nervous," said Nugent. "It's been the longest week of my life. I'm really looking forward to this weekend."

Nugent said he has been attending class as usual and working out, but the anxiety has made the week seem longer than ever. He said he hopes his numbers from the combines and his statistics from last season will help land him a spot on a pro roster.

His best time in the 40-yard dash was 4.99 seconds, and his vertical leap was 32 1/2 inches at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Instead of recording a one-time, maximum bench press lift, the pro scouts have the players bench press 225 pounds as many times as they can consecutively. The 6-foot-5 301-pound Nugent lifted the weight 37 times.

Last season, Nugent had 46 tackles, 15 of which were for a loss, to go along with two sacks.

"I did all the things I had to, and now there's nothing else I can do," said Nugent. "It's just time to sit back and wait."

Nugent, who will wait for a team to call with his parents at his apartment, said he doesn't really mind which team he plays for.

"I'd like to go anywhere," he said. "But, then again, everybody has their places they'd really like to go."

A native of Collierville, Tenn., Nugent said playing for the AFC Champion Tennessee Titans would be nice but if he had a choice, he would like to play for either Tampa Bay or Minnesota. He knows several players on both teams, including the Buccaneers' Mike Alstott, an all-pro fullback and former Boiler.

Tampa, Fla., is close to where Nugent's teammate and fellow NFL hopeful, Chris Daniels, will be this weekend. The 6-3, 215-pound Clearwater, Fla., native will be at home waiting for a phone call from an NFL team.

"I'm not really nervous," said Daniels. "It's something I really can't control; it's out of my hands. The only bit of nervousness I might have is just about not knowing where I'm going to be. I'm lucky enough to know that I'm going to get a shot somewhere."

Daniels said he has been contacted by the New York Jets, who recently traded all-pro receiver Keyshawn Johnson to Tampa Bay. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have also contacted Daniels.

"But I've heard of guys getting drafted by teams they never even talked to," said Daniels. "You don't really know if they're interested or if you're on their board."

Daniels hopes his playing résumé will earn him a phone call from a pro team. Last season, he averaged 103 yards receiving per game en route to setting the all-time Big Ten record for receptions with 121. He also had 1,236 yards and seven touchdowns.

But Daniels isn't certain his workouts were impressive. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds.

"If I was a lineman, maybe 4.7 would be good," said Daniels. "I was wanting to run a 4.6 but I'm not a track athlete; I'm a football player."

Daniels said he knows he can overcome his less-than-stellar speed.

"I made it happen somehow here, so I'm just going to try to carry it on in the league," he said.

If a third Boiler is selected in the draft, it will likely be the 6-3 196-pound Hawthorne.

"Mike's extremely athletic and he can run," said Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack. "Plus, he's got good size."

Spack said linebacker Willie Fells, Purdue's leading tackler last season, also has a chance to be selected in the last round. If Fells is not selected, he can sign a free-agent contract with any team who wants him.

Center Jim Niedrach, wide receiver Randall Lane, punter Danny Rogers, safety Adrian Beasley and linebacker Mike Rose will likely have to make it to the NFL via free agency also. But Spack said the free-agent contract process is also unpredictable.

"The NFL guys are pretty quiet, and they don't like to tip their hand early," said Spack. "We've had plenty of guys come through here and ask us about kids, but what we tell them really doesn't matter. It's up to the players to prove themselves on tape."