The college football season is winding down with only a few bowl games remaining on the schedule and that means our NFL draft coverage is set to begin.

Many potential NFL prospects have already begun preparing for pre-draft events such as the East-West Shrine game, Senior Bowl and Combine scheduled in the coming months.

The 2009 NFL draft is expected to be special and like no other for the area with a wealth of talent entering the draft from the Miami Valley.

I received confirmation late last week that four area prospects, Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman (Huber Heights), Cincinnati cornerback Mike Mickens (Huber Heights), Notre Dame safety David Bruton (Miamisburg) and Michigan State running back Javon Ringer (Dayton), have accepted invitations to play in the top All-Star event for college players entering the draft, the Senior Bowl.

The players will travel to Mobile, Ala. in January to take part in the pre-draft event with the sole mission to impress NFL coaches and scouts during the week of practice.

One hundred of the nation's top senior draft prospects are expected to be on hand in Mobile.

Freeman, Mickens and Ringer have bowl games remaining on the schedule. Bruton wrapped up his collegiate career with the Fighting Irish on Wednesday in a bowl win over Hawaii (49-21). The ball-hawking safety accounted for four tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in his final game. The Miamisburg, Ohio native made a name for himself while at Notre Dame by coming up with the big play when needed. Bruton has begun preparation for his trip to Mobile.

Former Wayne High School and Purdue wide receiver Greg Orton was surprisingly left off the Senior Bowl invite list, but has trained diligently to showcase his skills before NFL scouts at the East-West Shrine game next month.

Despite the oversight, Orton is viewed by a number of NFL scouts that I have come in contact with as one of the elite senior receiver prospects entering the draft. In fact, one could make the argument that Orton is more deserving of an invite to the big All-Star game than LSU wide receiver Demetrius Byrd, who is slated to be in Mobile.

Orton finished the 2008 regular season with more catches, receiving yards and touchdowns than Byrd.

There is no question that the sporadic play of quarterback Curtis Painter this season hurt Orton's chances of receiving an invite from the Senior Bowl. However, there is an outside chance that Orton could receive a bid to play in Mobile with a stellar performance in the East-West game.