As Bernard Morris and Doug Legursky know, you could do worse than Ahmad Bradshaw.

A year ago, Bradshaw's decision to leave Marshall a year early wasn't looking so smart. He was picked 250th overall in the NFL draft by the New York Giants, very deep in a seventh round swollen by compensatory picks. The running back from Bluefield, Va., was only five spots from being tagged as "Mr. Irrelevant" - the nickname given to the last pick of the draft.

But Bradshaw became very, very relevant to the Giants and their postseason run. As a result, he sports more Super Bowl rings than Randy Moss, Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and a few other MU alums combined.

That has encouraged Morris and Legursky, two former Thundering Herd stars who look to be selected later on Sunday, the second day of the draft. Chances are, one or both will have to fight their way through the free-agent route.

"No matter where you go on the draft board, as long as you can make it on a team, you can prove yourself," Legursky said.

One analyst who has dared to do a full, seven-round mock draft lists center Legursky as a 225th pick overall, a seventh-rounder by the Arizona Cardinals. That analyst is Todd McShay of Scouts Inc, which provides data and analysis for ESPN.com. McShay doesn't think quarterback Morris will get drafted at all.

Morris, 6-foot-3 and 223 pounds, has beaten the odds before, most recently when he fought his way to the NFL combine with solid performances in the college all-star postseason, particularly in the Hula Bowl.

At the combine, Morris was the third-fastest QB (4.679-second 40-yard dash) and was the top at the position in the bench press, lifting 225 pounds 18 times. He also went 9 feet, 1 inch in the standing broad jump.

Still, Morris is ranked just 16th among quarterbacks by Scouts Inc., right below Xavier Lee of Florida State and Paul Smith of Tulsa. (Recruitniks who are convinced the Herd "let one get away" in Omar Haugabook may note Morris is five spots ahead of the junior college product who ended up at Troy.)

Morris receives high marks for his arm strength and poise in the pocket. However, several scouting reports note that he struggles with accuracy when he throws lower-velocity, shorter-distance passes, and they say the MU offensive system was simplified for his benefit.

"The problem is he's a developmental prospect with very raw passing mechanics and decision-making skills," his Scouts Inc. bio says. "He presses too much and he doesn't take care of the football."

His battles with ankle and toe injuries give scouts concerns about his durability, and the battery conviction in connection with a 2004 incident hasn't magically gone away in the NFL's eyes. Fairly or not, he is saddled with a character "flag."

The sort-of-good news? NFLDraftScout.com compares Morris to J.P. Losman of the Buffalo Bills, who is a "tremendous athlete who has been wildly inconsistent making decisions and reading defenses." Losman, for his faults, is pulling an NFL paycheck. Can Morris?

One of Legursky's strengths is, well, his strength. He has long since turned heads for his work in the weight room, and he draws praise with his tenacity and ability to read defenses. But he is ranked ninth among centers.

Why is his stock as low as it is? His height - 6-11/4 instead of his MU-listed 6-3 - goes against him at the NFL level. He also is docked for bending at the waist rather than at the knees, and reports say he needs to trim some baby fat from his midsection.

Technique-wise, Legursky is faulted for playing too high and being vulnerable to effective "rip" moves. "His lack of athletic ability is going to get exposed more at the NFL level, so he may never develop into an every-down center," Scouts Inc. writes.

Legursky has taken steps to bolster his resume, including taking up long-snapping with some tutelage by Mike Bartrum, the ex-Herd star who enjoyed a long NFL career. Legursky also could end up playing guard.

Or all of the above. The more versatility, the better.

"Right now, I'm a center/guard combo," he said. "I showed, especially at the Hula Bowl, I can play both guard and center."

Legursky said he has heard from several teams, especially the Chiefs, Patriots, Jaguars and Colts. But in the final days leading to the draft, teams tend to clam up on their intentions. And today, the long wait begins.

"My old man and a whole lot of people are nervous for me," Legursky said. "I'll let them have the nerves and I'll relax."

Former Herd middle linebacker Josh Johnson is also in the running, but seems to be a more likely free agent. The fact he was dismissed from the Herd won't help with character concerns, and he is criticized for taking too long to read keys and lacking elite natural ability.

To contact staff writer Doug Smock, use e-mail or call 348-5130. His blog can be found at wvgazettecom/smockblog.