As time wound down on the Penn State football season at the Rose Bowl, so too did the collegiate career of Penn State tackle Gerald Cadogan.

Next Wednesday, Cadogan and seven other former Nittany Lions will take their first shot at an NFL career when they head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the 2009 NFL Combine.

"It's a great honor, and a great privilege to be invited," Cadogan said. "But with that privilege comes a whole lot of responsibility to perform and be on your A-game all week."

Cadogan will be joined by teammates Lydell Sargeant, A.Q. Shipley, Aaron Maybin, Derrick Williams, Maurice Evans, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood at the Combine, which lasts from Feb. 18-24.

The eight Lions invited to the combine were tied for the third most in the country behind only USC's 12 and LSU's 10. Penn State equaled Ohio State for most Combine participants in the Big Ten.

"It says a lot about our team and coaching staff, helping all eight of us," Cadogan said. "We obviously had a great year and it says a lot -- not just about us -- but credit to the coaching staff and the whole team."

Of the eight Lions, Maybin is the lone projected first-round pick in ESPN.com analyst Mel Kiper's mock draft at No. 10. The NFL draft will take place April 25-26.

But despite the high draft status, NFL.com analyst and former Dallas Cowboys vice president Gil Brandt said he was convinced Maybin should have stayed in school for at least one more season.

"I hope he works out good next week -- he's a real talent," Brandt said. "I wish he would've stayed in school, get some more experience and gain some weight, but he's got some pass-rush ability."

Maybin led the Big Ten with 12 sacks, and finished the season with 49 tackles.

Brandt said Maybin's athletic ability was one of the best in the 2009 draft class, but said he wasn't impressed with the redshirt sophomore's performance in the Rose Bowl.

"I didn't think after the first couple of plays in the Rose Bowl that he played all that well," Brandt said. "But I wouldn't take that to the grave with me."

But unlike Maybin, Brandt said fellow Penn State All-American Derrick Williams improved his draft status with his postseason play.

"I think Derrick Williams really helped himself at the Senior Bowl,"

Brandt said about the senior's two catch 19-yard performance. "They found out that he is a better receiver than they thought he was. I think they wish he was a little bigger and stronger, but he can catch a ball, and he's got real big hands."

Williams' father Dwight said his son was spending the week trying to boost his 40-yard-dash time and his bench press to impress scouts.

He said he expected his son to perform well next weekend based on previous positive results at workouts.

"He's always done pretty well at camps," he said. "We're hoping he can continue to do his very best next week."

Williams returned a punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2008, and was second on the team with 44 receptions. He finished fourth on the Lions in rushing as well.

Dwight said that while Williams is proud of his Penn State teammates, he wasn't worrying about them in the days leading up to the Combine.

"The only thing Derrick is concentrating on is himself," Williams' father said. "He gave his best for Penn State when he played there and he's obviously very happy for his teammates, too. But this is a time for everyone to focus on themselves."

Fellow starting receivers, Norwood and Butler, will accompany the 6-foot Williams to Indianapolis.

Butler finished his collegiate career as Penn State's all-time leader in receptions with 179, while Norwood finished second on the team in receiving yards, average and touchdowns.

Cadogan said he and some of his teammates had set specific goals for the Combine, but the tackle was unwilling to share them before next week's events.

"I've got some set numbers in my head," he said, "However, I want to keep those numbers in my head until after the combine and see how I do."