During the week of practice at Senior Bowl more often than not you tend to hear NFL scouts discussing players of interest. Some may not be in attendance and this year was no different.

Ohio University RB Kalvin McRae was the talk of some scouts in Mobile. Although the three-time All-Mid-American Conference performer wasn't invited to play in the Senior Bowl, that didn't stop him from creating a buzz.

Apparently, McRae made quite the impression with his performance two weeks earlier at the Hula Bowl. However, one scout expressed his disappointment with the Hula Bowl saying that he would have loved to have seen McRae carry the ball more in the actual game, but saw enough to know that the back has a future at the next level.

Another scout took it a step further saying that he would have preferred to see McRae perform in Mobile rather than Kentucky RB Rafael Little, who bombed at the Senior Bowl. The point was made that McRae rushed for 1,434 yards and 19 touchdowns behind a less than stellar offensive line and that's putting it mildly. While Little reaped the benefits of running behind a stout Kentucky offensive line and received a ton of national media hype.

McRae is preparing to show scouts that he is worthy of a serious look. He's been working out in Florida with three-time track Olympian Dennis Mitchell since playing in the Hula Bowl in preparation for the Combine next month.

Speed or lack thereof is the dark cloud hovering over the running back's head as he prepares for Indy.

"I'm getting my body ready to run the 40-yard dash for scouts," McRae said. "I feel that I have the best trainer in the world to prepare me to run the 40. I think throughout my career I have shown everyone what I can do on the field as far as being a complete running back, but the one thing that has been a question for scouts is what I will run in the 40. So I am just working my hardest right now to try and run as fast as I can."

Some experts believe that the 40-time is slightly overrated and that game speed is often overlooked. McRae is one who would agree.

"I feel like it is overrated," he said. "It's not like you're going to run 40-yards on every play. That's how I look at it. However, you can't control what they view as important. All you can do is go out there and prepare your hardest and best to be successful when that time comes."

According to Ohio's offensive coordinator and running backs coach, Tim Albin, what McRae may lack in speed he makes up for in all other areas of his game.

"Kalvin is a complete back," Albin said. "He's a very intelligent player and a guy who can carry the ball 25 to 30 times a game. Kalvin is durable, very strong and leads by example. He will be sorely missed at Ohio."

The coach gave a testimonial to the strength of McRae.

"We have an award on our team called the Super Iron Bobcat from our strength coach," Albin said. "Kalvin has obtained the highest honor that we offer in our program, the Super Iron Bobcat. Prior to this coaching staff being here we had four or five guys who obtained this honor and that was a goal Kalvin set and obtained this past summer. "Going into his senior year, I really wanted Kalvin to push himself in the weight room to obtain his goal. He got it on his last lift prior to starting fall camp in August. He's a very strong kid."

Albin added that if McRae has a good showing at the Combine the sky's the limit.

A number of teams that include New England, Indianapolis, Cleveland, San Francisco, New York Jets, Philadelphia and Baltimore have expressed interest in McRae's ability thus far.

McRae is looked upon as a late round draft pick, but word travels fast in the NFL and teams have taken notice.

Big C's scouting report:

At 5-10, 208-pounds McRae is a tough inside runner with the vision to bounce the ball outside. He's outstanding in short yardage and goal line situations ala Maurice Jones-Drew. He is tough to bring down and usually gains positive yards after initial contact. McRae doesn't have explosive speed, but does have a second gear. He's more of a one cut runner and not a Solid Gold Dancer at the line of scrimmage.

McRae has great hands making him a reliable receiver out of the backfield. He's an ideal check down receiver on third down and could be used in an offense much like the way Kevin Faulk is used with the Patriots. He picks up the blitz well and is an every down back.

Like Maytag, McRae is as durable as they come and is a workhorse. He carried the ball 92 times in three games that were played in a 12-day span, which is unheard of. McRae saw a lot of eight and nine-man fronts while at Ohio and still managed to put up some pretty impressive numbers — very productive.

With explosive speed and initial burst in the hole being the only drawbacks, McRae could make for a bonafide sleeper in this year's draft.