If only everyone could be as lucky as David Carr.

Carr, the former Fresno State quarterback, is a lock as the No. 1 overall pick in this weekend's NFL Draft by virtue of a seven-year contract signed Monday with the expansion Houston Texans.

While Carr has nothing to be worried about as the selections begin on Saturday, plenty of other players around the country do. Several former Penn State football players will be anxiously waiting to hear about their professional futures as the draft's seven rounds unfold.

"All I can do now is watch and wait," running back Omar Easy said. "It's like a chess game. Anything is possible."

Easy, who was the Nittany Lions' third-leading rusher last season, has been projected by some publications as a possible mid-round pick based on his pure athletic ability.

The Everett, Mass., native took part in March's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis along with former teammates Eric McCoo and Bruce Branch. While he had pre-draft visits with both Baltimore and New England, Easy is unsure where he will end up and said he will stay glued to the television to find out.

"I can't be scared," Easy said. "I did what I had to do, now I'm going to just enjoy watching the whole thing and wait for a phone call."

Since their college careers ended, several members of 2001's senior class participated in all-star contests to display their skills for NFL scouts.

Eddie Drummond, Shamar Finney and Easy took part in the Blue-Gray Classic on Christmas Day, with Easy earning the game's Offensive MVP award. Former Lion Bob Jones played as a defensive end and long-snapper in the Hula Bowl, while Branch and McCoo played in the East-West Shrine Classic.

McCoo, who was the lead rusher in the East-West game, said his performance might have boosted his prospects in the eyes of NFL scouts.

"I think that might have gotten me into the combine," McCoo said. "A lot of guys saw me there and liked me. It was a fun experience."

McCoo said he has had at least a phone interview with all of the NFL's teams. Former tight end John Gilmore has had pre-draft meetings with Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Chicago.

"Cincinnati and Chicago are really high on my blocking ability," Gilmore said. "They're excited about me helping out their teams with blocking and hopefully catching some passes."

Jones, the Lions' co-captain in 2001, has had private workouts with several squads and has talked extensively with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"A couple of teams have said as a pure snapper, he's the best in the country," Jones' agent Josh Wright said. "There's no question he'll end up going somewhere. If he went on Saturday, we'd be having a party."

This year, there will likely be no Penn Staters taken in rounds one through three on Saturday.

In 2000, former Lions Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington made headlines by being selected with the first two picks, Brown by Cleveland and Arrington by Washington.

Last year, three Lions were chosen in the third round: cornerback Bhawoh Jue by Green Bay, safety James Boyd by Jacksonville, and tackle Kareem McKenzie by the New York Jets. Tight end Tony Stewart went to the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round, while defensive end Justin Kurpeikis signed with the Steelers as a free agent.

Branch said he would definitely go the route of free agency if NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue does not call his name this weekend at the podium.

"Some of the great ones were free agents," Branch said. "It wouldn't be a problem for me."

McCoo added that going as a free agent might have its advantages.

"It's everybody's dream to get drafted," McCoo said.

"But if you have to go free agent, you're in a position where you can choose the best situation that's right for you."