Despite playing only five games as a senior last season, plenty of NFL scouts and general managers know who Brad Cottam is.

Word tends to get about a 6-foot-7 tight end who plays somewhere like Tennessee.

But now, after strong showings at the Senior Bowl, the NFL combine and again Wednesday at Tennessee's Pro Day in Neyland Thompson Sports Center, those NFL executives have a much better idea of what Cottam can do.

"I feel like everything from Senior Bowl to the combine, I've helped myself every time," Cottam said. "Not a lot of people saw me during the season - I only played five games - but I think I showed what I can do during these three events."

At last month's combine, Cottam posted a 4.69-second time in the 40-yard dash.

Cramping calf muscles kept him from performing agility drills and running routes before a collection of NFL coaches and executives in Indianapolis.

He did get a rather lengthy medical evaluation, which is understandable considering injuries - not lack of talent - limited his time on the field while at Tennessee.

"At the combine I had a long, long medical day," he said. "Everything was fine, but they poked and pulled (a lot)."

On Wednesday, a healthy Cottam performed those drills and ran routes for quarterback Erik Ainge for nearly 30 minutes.

And it's no surprise that Cottam's stock continues to rise.

When the NFL draft takes place at the end of April, Cottam's name likely will be called somewhere from the second to fourth round.

"I had been told that was a possibility," Cottam said. "I think I'm a good enough athlete to be drafted. If I had played the whole season, I think I could have gone in the first round. It's a new process, so I'm not sure. But I know I'm good enough to go in the second round."

On Friday, Cottam will work out for the Atlanta Falcons in Knoxville. On Monday, Kansas City comes calling and a week later the Miami Dolphins will get their up-close look.

Cottam, a self-described "mystery guy," hopes to continue climbing the ranks and he'll keep answering any more questions that come his way.

But so far, at least, he's answered more than enough to ensure that he'll hear his name called on draft day.

"The combine and today are so important you spend two months just working for that," Cottam said. "It's kind of a relief to get through it and get it over with."

Leaping Mayo: After turning heads with his 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine last month, linebacker Jerod Mayo had one wrong to right.

Aside from individual drills Wednesday, Mayo chose to stand by his combine numbers, except for a 32-inch vertical leap.

On Wednesday, Mayo topped out at 40 1/2 inches in the vertical leap, a significant improvement on his previous number.

"I think I did show my versatility and my explosiveness today," said Mayo, who could potentially go in the first round of April's draft. "I showed my ability to run and jump and show the athlete I am."

Pro Day Roster: In addition to Mayo, Ainge and Cottam, linebacker Ryan Karl, tight end Chris Brown, safety Jonathan Hefney and defensive linemen J.T. Mapu, Antonio Reynolds and Xavier Mitchell, tailback Roy Olasimbo, offensive lineman Eric Young and safety Jarod Parrish worked out for scouts.

Two former Vols - fullback and Austin-East standout Corey Anderson and tailback Gerald Riggs Jr. - also participated. They also caught passes from Ainge.

Former UT sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin also worked out for scouts, although his best 40-yard dash time clocked in at 4.42 seconds.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.