Glover Quin's stomach is probably tumbling like a washing machine on spin dry. He's one step away from realizing something that almost never came to fruition.
Quin has a hulking physique - his biceps ripple. He's a junior college kid. He knows the definition of hard work. The Mississippi native proudly says that he's the only person from his county to play Division I football.
In his senior season with the Lobos, as a cornerback he led the Mountain West Conference in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (16). The Chicago Sun-Times declares that he's "among the top five or six free safeties in the draft."
Wait, free safety?
Quin, although he played cornerback at UNM, is what Nfl.com refers to as a "tweener." He's a hybrid - part cornerback, part free safety. Quin is hailed as one of the most versatile corners available in this year's draft.
Because of that, Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly told the Chicago Sun-Times that he believes Quinn will "definitely get some looks." His ex-teammate DeAndre Wright said Quinn "might go the first day."
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Fifteen to 20 teams have contacted him. But?
"I just talked to him (Wednesday). He's nervous," Wright said.
Why?
"It was always a dream to be a professional athlete," Quin said.
They say it's darkest before the light, but for Quin, the sun almost didn't rise. For Quin, everything that could go wrong in his past, did.
"When I went to junior college (at Mississippi Community College), I felt like I was a Division-I player, but I didn't get the offer," he said. "I was going to the junior college with the expectation that I'm going to play one season, bail out and leave to go D-I. But my first year of junior college, in the second game, I broke my right arm. I was out of the rest of the season."
Quin isn't supposed to be here - in this position - with a chance to be drafted.
"The next year, right before my first game, Hurricane Katrina came," Quin said. "In junior college, you only play nine games. The first two were canceled and it was down to seven. In the fourth game, somebody rolled over my knee, and I sprained my MCL."
Quin was sidelined for two games. In essence, his junior college career was composed of five games. But he had to make up for lost time. In those five games, he had 40 tackles, eight pass breakups and two interceptions - one he returned for a touchdown.
After making enough of a namesake, UNM landed him in 2006. Quin, though, was once again riddled by injury in 2007, his junior year as a Lobo. This time, it was his groin. He gutted through two painful games before being forced to miss two weeks after having surgery immediately following a game against New Mexico State.
But through it all, Quin never doubted his talent, never doubted he was capable of being elite. Not before his injuries, not through them, not after them. And now he's healthy.
"When I went to the combine, I was working out with the No. 1 choice guys and there were guys there from the NFL. I was like, 'Man, these guys aren't that big.' I was like, 'Hey, these guys are like me.'"
Not exactly.
"I'm looking at draft not as a destination, but as my starting point," he said. "I'm not working just to get drafted. That's the starting point."
A point that almost wasn't dotted.
"I've heard some things that make me feel pretty good about this weekend," he said.
Soak it up, Quin. Saturday is but a day away.
"Quincy Black told me to enjoy these times and have fun with friends, because once you get into NFL, your life takes a drastic change. It changes overnight."
Quinn knows that all too well.
Vanessa Strobbe contributed to this story.
