File photo by Juan Villa / The Collegian

He may be known for delivering the collision that left Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan unconscious, but former Bulldog Marcus Riley is getting noticed by NFL scouts for more than just a single play.

After a stellar senior season in 2007 and impressive workouts for scouts, the outside linebacker could be playing on Sundays this fall.

Riley was the leader of the Bulldog defense last season, racking up 132 tackles along with four forced fumbles. He even intercepted a pass from Brennan. His efforts earned him Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Now Riley will try to prove himself at the highest level.

“Who knows whether it’ll be a late round draft pick or free agent possibility,â€Â Riley said. “I think I’m going to end up in an [NFL training] camp somewhere.â€Â

Riley has been contacted by representatives from four NFL teams and will have the best chance of all graduating seniors to be selected during draft weekend on April 26 and 27.

On top of his outstanding statistics in 2007, 51 more tackles than the team̢۪s second-leading tackler, Riley performed well at the Bulldogs̢۪ pro day workouts.

On March 12, with multiple NFL scouts in attendance, Riley ran a 4.66 second 40-yard dash, recorded a 33-inch vertical leap and bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times.

All of his pro day numbers, especially the 40-yard dash time, were above average for outside linebackers except for his height. Riley stands at 5-foot-11, but he is hoping scouts can get past the fact he does not measure 6 feet or taller.

“I knew I was 5-11. It’s nothing I can worry about because it’s nothing I can change,â€Â Riley said. “I feel that when I get on the field and start to play, a couple inches isn’t going to make much of a difference.â€Â

Scouts have also been concerned with the health of his right knee, which was injured in 2005 against USC.

The injury caused Riley to miss the final four games of 2005 and limited his contributions to only three tackles in four games in 2006. But his production and health in 2007 have answered many of the scouts̢۪ questions.

“The way I played this past year and being healthy the whole season, it shows that my knee is back 100 percent,â€Â Riley said.

While NFL executives may be uncertain about his stature and knee, no one has questioned his leadership and maturity both on and off the field.

“Marcus was an outstanding leader; [he is] just a quality person all the way through,â€Â Bulldog defensive coordinator Dan Brown said. “He is one of those guys you don’t have any problem recommending for any situation.â€Â

Following the 2007 season, Riley hired a sports agent and has begun working out at Philippe Sports Institute in Las Vegas. On draft day he will be watching in Las Vegas, but he is not worried.

“I’m not nervous for draft day at all,â€Â Riley said. “I think I have the ability to get drafted. But if I don’t, I know there have been a lot of great players that have played the NFL who didn’t get drafted.â€Â

Riley is hoping he will get the chance to prove himself as a weak-side linebacker with an NFL team that runs four linemen and three linebacker defensive schemes, which would allow him to utilize his speed in pass coverage.

But he will most likely have to begin as a special team player and work to earn a starting position.

“He can play special teams,â€Â Brown said. “He can definitely play on third down and he’ll work his tail off to get on the first and second down [defensive units].â€Â

While Riley continues to work out six days a week in Las Vegas and wait for the draft, the Bulldogs must now try to replace their defensive captain.

In the past three seasons, Fresno State has been very successful with Riley in the lineup, going 17-6 when he starts at linebacker. The team suffered without him while he recovered from the 2005 knee injury, going 4-12 without Riley in the lineup.

“We feel like we always have to replace somebody who is leaving,â€Â Brown said. “It will be somebody else’s job to step up and accept the role that Marcus had, which was great leadership and great play.â€Â