It's enough to drive a player crazy.

After three or four or five years of playing college football, their future suddenly depends just as much as tenths of a second or a few extra bench-press reps as all those games they've already played.

For defensive tackle Justin Harrell, it's just part of the process.

"This is the experience I've dreamt of," Harrell said after working out in front of a horde of NFL scouts Wednesday afternoon during Tennessee's pro day at Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.

"This period right here is something that can change your life," he said. "You just approach it like a business. That's what it is. There's only time you're going to go through this, and then it goes back to what kind of a football player you are. This just shows what kind of an athlete you are."

For Harrell, it was all about the bench press.

After bench-pressing 225 pounds 24 times at the NFL combine last month in Indianapolis, he added seven more reps Wednesday.

"I came back here and worked on my bench press, and I'm really pleased with where I got to," he said.

Harrell said the biggest question he gets from scouts and management is about his injury history.

Most recently, Harrell had surgery in September to repair a ruptured biceps tendon.

Each drill completed and each bench press is a step away from those questions.

"My film helped me out a whole lot," he said. "One of the biggest concerns for teams is my injury history, and that's something I'm trying to overcome by just coming out here and showing that all my injuries are healed."

Harrell plans to remain in Knoxville, where he's been since having the tendon repaired.

Instead of leaving town to train like many other top prospects, Harrell stayed here to continue working with UT strength and conditioning coach Johnny Long.

"I've been with him for five years getting ready for the season, so I didn't see the difference in going somewhere else to train," he said.

That approach seems to be working -- Harrell is considered a borderline first-round pick in most mock drafts.

Meachem Runs: Receiver Robert Meachem posted a 4.41-second time after deciding at the last minute to run the 40-yard dash.

"I wasn't concerned about it," said Meachem, who posted a 4.39-second time at the NFL combine last month. "My teammates were out there competing, and I just wanted to show (scouts) I could compete."

Meachem said his goal is to be the second receiver taken overall.

He will meet with the Tennessee Titans this morning -- after meeting with the Titans and Buffalo Bills on Wednesday morning -- and has trips scheduled next month to meet with the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings, as well as a possible meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Made-Over Anderson: Fullback Cory Anderson showed up at pro day about 25 pounds lighter.

Anderson, a former Austin-East High School standout, weighed in at 242 pounds.

"I think if I lost the weight, I'd run faster," he said. "I feel better and I look quicker. I don't know if that will be playing weight or not."

Anderson ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and says he could possibly play some at tight end in the NFL.

The 6-foot-2 Anderson said he will remain in Knoxville until the draft, after having trained in Nashville since the Outback Bowl.

Clausen Throws: Graduate assistant Rick Clausen was a last-minute addition to the workout, albeit not as a scout.

With quarterback Erik Ainge unavailable with a knee injury, Clausen stepped in to throw with Meachem, C.J. Fayton, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith.

"With Rick it was just like the old days," Meachem said. "We were trying to find somebody for three months. He was a last resort, but he came through for us in a big way."

McBride Hamstrung: Defensive lineman Turk McBride was limited because of a slight hamstring injury suffered over the weekend.

"It's definitely frustrating for me," he said. "A lot of people questioned my speed coming off the outside, and I definitely wanted to showcase that."

McBride was able to lift, and posted the third-best performance in the bench press with 30 reps.

Odds And Ends: Defensive tackle Matt McGlothlin posted the best bench-press performance, lifting 225 pounds 35 times. ... Former basketball standout Stanley Asumnu sent a roar through the complex after he posted a 41A 1/2-inch vertical jump. ... Meachem's 4.41-second performance was the fastest 40-yard dash, followed closely by defensive back Jonathan Wade (4.44). ... Kicker James Wilhoit did not kick for scouts, who did not ask him to based on the strength of his game films. ... Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis attended Wednesday's session, as well as Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Dom Capers (a former UT assistant) and Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow.