"I'm nervous," Filipe said. "It's hard to focus when I'm in the weight room and running. It's on my mind constantly. I expect to go as a free agent, but lots of people have been talking, spreading the word about going on the (draft's) second day."

Barrett said he wouldn't be too disheartened if Filipe isn't drafted. He's confident that if a team signs Filipe as a free agent, he won't have any problem proving himself.

"If we get him into a camp, it's free competition," Barrett said. "It's open competition and that's all we need. The tragedy of the story would be if they don't invite him to a camp."

Filipe, who earned his degree in political science, just wants to continue playing the sport that's given him so much.

"Football has opened up a lot of doors for me," Filipe said. "It's given me an education, and that's what's most important. But it's not just that. It's given me the strength to overcome tons of adversity that I faced growing up and going through the college ranks. It would be a dream come true (to be drafted), not just for me, but also for my friends and family.

---

E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com