BOZEMAN -- Former Montana State football players Travis
Lulay and Jeff Bolton are hoping Sunday's NFL Draft brings them a
chance to continue playing football.
"It's a win-win situation," said Lulay. "All you can ask for
is the opportunity. I think I'm going to get one."
So does Gil Brandt, NFL.com's senior analyst and who was vice
president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys for 30 years.
"I think there's a chance he gets drafted, not in the first
day. I think he's one of those guys that's a sixth- or
seventh-round guy."
If he's not drafted, Lulay has a pretty good chance to be signed
as a free agent, said his agent, Bruce Tollner.
"There are multiple teams that like him," Tollner said.
Lulay passed for 10,746 yards and 58 touchdowns in four years at
MSU and engineered numerous late-game comebacks. He was invited to
the NFL Combines in Indianapolis and also made an official visit to
the Seattle Seahawks.
"Everybody wants to be drafted and see your name on the
ticker," Lulay said. "But being drafted in the sixth or seventh
round or being a free agent, there's not a whole lot of difference.
You have to beat people out to win a roster spot anyhow."
Bolton, a versatile offensive lineman who received the Rimington
Award as Division I-AA's top center, is more likely to be signed as
a free agent, Brant said.
"At this point, I just want to keep playing football. It's out
of my hands. If somebody likes me, then I'm there. It's all about
getting the opportunity and making the most of it."
Agent Buddy Baker, said several teams have shown interest in
Bolton, who has played all five positions on the offensive line at
MSU.
"That's a huge piece, the fact that he can play multiple
positions," Baker said.
He said being drafted can bring more money. "But there are
certain advantages if you go undrafted. You get to choose which
team you go to if multiple teams are interested," he said.