The last month has been the equivalent of one long plane ride for Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem.

Minnesota, New England, Buffalo, New Orleans, Kansas City, San Diego, San Francisco and Tennessee -- they've all been stops on Meachem's pre-NFL draft tour.

"I've been about everywhere," Meachem joked earlier this week.

When the draft begins today (TV: ESPN, noon), the potential first-round draft pick will be back home in Tulsa, Okla., waiting for his name to be called.

In March, only a few months after completing the most productive season for a wide receiver in Tennessee history, Meachem said he'd be in the driveway shooting hoops during the first round of the draft to relieve the stress.

That won't be the case.

"My mom said I can't do that," he said.

What Meachem won't be doing is sweating out the picks.

For him, the worst part of the whole pre-draft poking and prodding has been the road trips.

"The only thing that's stressful is the plane rides," he said. "Going from plane to plane to plane. You might be on a crop duster flying in."

This weekend could be a little more nerve-wracking for some of his former teammates.

Defensive tackle Justin Harrell is projected by many to be a late first-round pick.

Offensive lineman Arron Sears could be the next Vol off the board, but likely won't be chosen until the second round.

Sears, an All-American tackle last season, is projected to play guard in the NFL. That position change likely will keep him from the first round.

"For you to draft a guard (in the first round), he has to be going away, without a doubt the best guard out there that's going to be a Pro Bowl-caliber player," said former Tennessee Titans general manager turned ESPN analyst Floyd Reese in a pre-draft teleconference.

Defensive lineman Turk McBride is another player who could be selected as early as the second round today, along with defensive back Jonathan Wade. Some analysts have even said fullback Cory Anderson is a possible first-day pick.

The last time Tennessee had that many players selected in the first two rounds was the 2000 draft.

By all accounts, though, Meachem is the most desirable of the Vols in this year's class.

His 4.39-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine put him in the middle of a deep group of wide receivers.

Meachem said he's been told a lot of teams have him ranked second behind Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson on their list of wideouts.

Others have placed Meachem behind Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. and LSU's Dwayne Bowe.

"Where Meachem may stand out and go ahead of that bunch is his athleticism is better," said Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, which projected Meachem in the second round. "He's a little faster and quicker all around. I don't think he's as polished as other receivers in the draft. Of the guys after Johnson, Ginn and Bowe, I think he's got the most."

Meachem, who said he could be one of the first 15 players taken, isn't putting much stock in the projections. But he is putting stock in family.

Just recently, he bought his mother a brand new Lexus 430.

"That's one of the best feelings in the world," he said. "She got a car before I did."

No doubt Meachem will get one soon. And a few more plane rides, too.

***

Other Tennessee players eligible to be taken in this weekend's NFL draft:

• Cory Anderson, Fullback, 6-foot-1, 242 pounds
  
  The Skinny: "The Chiefs are interested. He has some of that Tony Richardson potential. That's the high upside."
  
  Projection: 3rd to 4th round

• David Ligon, Offensive Line, 6-4, 301
  
  Projection: Free Agent

• Matt McGlothlin, Defensive Tackle, 5-11, 300
  
  Projection: Free Agent

• Marvin Mitchell, Linebacker, 6-3, 240
  
  Projection: Free Agent

• Antwan Stewart, Cornerback, 5-10, 187
  
  The Skinny: "He seems like another project-type player."
  
  Projection: Free Agent

• Jayson Swain, Wide Receiver, 6-1, 210
  
  The Skinny: "It's hard position because teams compare the guys' speed. That hurts him."
  
  Projection: Free Agent

• James Wilhoit, Place Kicker, 5-9, 200
  
  The Skinny: "You won't have many specialists getting drafted. People look at all kinds of kickers in free agency."
  
  Projection: Free Agent