The life of an undrafted free agent in the NFL is one of constant limbo and uncertainty. There are only 55 spots on an NFL roster, and every year there are seven rounds in the draft for teams to throw more players into the competition for those positions.

After that, teams often sign several of the players that weren't taken in those seven rounds. They have to fight with the veterans and the players that were selected over them, and beat out a lot of people just to wear an NFL uniform when the season starts. Even if they do get it, that uniform often doesn't even get dirty during the season.

The life often forces such players to make many moves from place to place, and for players that were starters at major colleges, it can be a big wakeup call. However, if any of this year's graduates of the Penn State football program have to go through it, they don't have to look far back for inspiration.

Former Nittany Lion defensive end Justin Kurpeikis is among a number of recent Penn State grads to solidify a spot on an NFL roster after going undrafted. Though he has only two career tackles, he is second on the depth chart at outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers after former pro bowler Joey Porter.

Graduated Penn State guard Tyler Lenda, who is likely going to be following the free agent route, is good friends with Kurpeikis, a 2001 graduate. He's gotten good advice from his elder.

"He told me you've got to be in shape and be ready to go," Lenda said. "He told me to go in there and work hard, because if you're playing better than the guy they drafted, they're not going to be afraid to cut that guy."

By following that line of thinking, Kurpeikis has put himself in a dream position for a free agent. The Pittsburgh Central Catholic graduate is playing for his hometown team and learning from two of the best outside linebackers in the game in Porter and Jason Gildon.

It was tough at first because Kurpeikis was expecting to be drafted. It was a tough blow, but he used it to his advantage. "I just took it as a slap in the face," he said. "I was out to prove to everyone that I deserved to be drafted, and I knew that if I worked harder than everyone else and played better, they'd have to notice me."

Former Penn State wide receiver/running back Kenny Watson also got his coaches to notice him and has managed to make himself a key cog in the Washington Redskins offense. As a backup tailback, Watson rushed for 534 yards and a touchdown last season. He also pulled in 32 receptions for 253 yards and a score. This was despite getting limited time at tailback in college, finishing with less than 150 career rushing yards as a Lion.

"I got a fair chance and that was all I could ask for," Watson said. "Things went well, and I had a lot of good guys in my corner to help me out."

Quite a few other Lions have been taken as free agents. Among others, former quarterback Kevin Thompson, tailback Eric McCoo, and wide receiver Eddie Drummond currently play for the Minnesota Vikings, Redskins, and Detroit Lions respectively.

Pushing through it all seems tough from the outside, but all of these players have one thing in common that makes it easier, and it is one thing the players from this year's undrafted free agent class will have to have -- a burning desire to continue playing.

I just love the sport," Thompson said. "My family and friends are the ones for whom it's nerve-wracking. I just remain positive and work as hard as I can and hope something works out."