Weber State football: Fullback may be a late NFL draft pick

Editor's note: This is the seventh in a nine-part series previewing the NFL draft on April 25-26. Today's installment is a look at Weber State's Marcus Mailei and the running backs.

Marcus Mailei will soon be able to rest easy.

The former Weber State and Highland High fullback has had some sleepless nights and rattled nerves while anticipating this weekend's NFL draft. Mailei is rated among the top fullbacks in the nation, and he hopes to be a late-round pick.

"There have been a couple of nights where I stayed up 24 hours just worrying about stuff I have no control over," Mailei said. "There are times when I'm kind of doubting myself, and I have to watch my highlight film to make sure I'm in the right profession."

Weber State coach Ron McBride has no doubts Mailei is in the right profession. He said he "absolutely" believes Mailei will make an NFL roster.

"First of all, there are not a lot of guys in the country who can do what he does," McBride said. "Teams are doing more two-back stuff, and there are not a lot of fullbacks out there that are finishers. He's the ideal guy for any team."

Mailei certainly was a bruiser at the Football Championship Subdivision level. His lead blocking was a big reason why Trevyn Smith has won three straight Big Sky rushing titles and gained nearly 4,000 yards at Weber State. Mailei only carried the ball seven times as a senior, but he caught 20 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

Blocking and pass-catching are Mailei's strengths as a player, and those abilities got him invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February. Mailei, however, saw his stock drop a little after he was plagued by the flu at the combine. His 40-yard dash time was slower than expected, clocking in at 4.87. He later redeemed himself, running a 4.70 and a 4.75 at Weber State in front of scouts.

Despite his disappointing 40 time at the combine and the sickness he had while he was there, Mailei said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"I was living it to the fullest, being out there seeing all those (NFL) logos," said Mailei, who had formal interviews with the Jaguars, Dolphins, Chargers, Bengals and Cardinals at the combine. "I was basically living the dream, wide-eyed."