Wednesday's Pro Day at Nippert Stadium was as crowded as I've ever seen.  Much like last year, the weather turned out perfect with temperatures hovering around 60 and no rain.  While it wasn't public, there's only so much you can do to keep fans out of Nippert, so the guys had plenty of coaches, scouts and media on the turf, as well as the passers-by in the stands.

I assure you, this event has come a long way since its days of being held in the Armory Fieldhouse in front of friends and family.

The usual suspects were on hand trying to get a pro look.  Tony Pike, Mardy Gilyard and Jeff Linkenbach would seem to be the lead-pipe locks to be drafted.  However, UC has several interesting commodities like Alex Daniels, Marcus Waugh, Mike Windt and..Craig Carey.

Craig Carey?

Well, his UC career started as a quarterback where he faced a logjam, eventually causing him to move to defense.   As a LB/DL he had a decent end of his college career, but he never dominated the position like Connor Barwin did in his one-year switch that got him NFL work in Houston.

However, Barwin was a tight end prior to the switch and now he's trying to help his old teammate Craig Carey give it a "pro go" back on the offensive side, catching the ball.  While a hamstring issue kept Carey from doing sprint drills.   He did line up to take passes from Tony Pike to prove he could play the position he formerly played at Elder High School (he didn't QB 'til his senior year).

"I think I did alright," said Carey.   "Obviously, I wanted to catch a few more balls, but I just did whatever Tony (Pike) was able to do. He did all of his throws-I felt like I had soft hands-but I'm never satisfied with what I did.  I'm always trying to get better."

For the record, Carey looks the part.  He's at 6-4, 242 pounds by official measurement.  His bench press was the lowest of those that tried (16 reps of 225 pounds) but he's never been a "strength" player.

Despite being moved to defense and special teams, Carey always found a way to stay "involved" offensively.

"During the season, during special teams, I would go down and have all the quarterbacks throw with me-Pike, Chazz Anderson, Zach Collaros-I was always trying to catch balls (thinking) maybe a scout at practice would see what I could do,"  said Carey.

The problem this past season was having Ben Guidugli, Adrien Robinson, Marcus Waugh and some talented youngsters also on the roster at tight end.  Carey's need was on defense to shore up some holes and he actually did have a "catch" of note-the interception that sealed the Fresno State game last fall.

"That was a crazy play," said Carey.  "It happened to end up in my hands.  Heck of a game, I guess heck of a play."

But, it was still not anything that stole his desire to play offense.  The appeal of catching and/or throwing touchdowns is strong and the feeling never left Craig Carey.

"Always," agreed Carey.   "I was always trying to do whatever I could.  It didn't work out as far as them moving me over to the other side of the ball.  I would've liked to.  It would've been fun."

While the scouts were probably more interested in Tony Pike scattering the ball around, Carey was one of the receivers in Pike's throwing drills along with Mardy Gilyard, Alex Daniels, Marcus Waugh and Jacob Ramsey.  He made most of his catches, but it remains to be seen if he generated any interest.

"It's tough to tell," said Carey.  "Nobody has any film on me at that position.  I have it my bookbag if they want to see it.  It's tough if they don't have tape on me.  I've never played the position (in college) I was just trying to showcase my abilities out here today.  Hopefully, somebody saw me and likes what I can do."

You never know.

One-time walk-ons here have slapped on NFL jerseys (Troy Evans, Mike Wright and Ryan Manalac to name a few).  Rod Monroe was a blocking tight end for one year in 1997 and a power forward for Bob Huggins prior to that.  Antonio Gates played against UC in basketball for Kent State and is now the top tight end in the game.

Carey knows the stories and he has some extra motivational help from former Bearcat Connor Barwin of the Houston Texans.  Barwin joined fellow Bearcat NFL players Haruki Nakamura, Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith in watching the latest crop of talent at Pro Day.

"Connor's been in for about the past month and a half or so and we've been hitting the weights,"  said Carey.   "He's been doing everything he can to get me ready.  He's been a big help.  I allowed him to stay with me.  He's been kind of annoying (laughter).  He does whatever he can to help me.  Me and him have been friends forever, he does whatever he can."

It's in those quotes that Carey shines.   He's always been a likable guy, is usually smiling and is not beyond clowning around for a camera or microphone.   Sometimes, the best impression a player can make to an NFL scout is with your personality.   Like Barwin, Carey's been as accommodating an interview as you'd ever want.

"He hasn't big-timed me,"  Carey said jokingly of Barwin.  "Pike's kind of big-timed me-I've got a bone to pick with him.  He doesn't return my calls, he doesn't return my texts."

The teasing continues for Carey who has no shortage of friends among the Bearcats.  These are the guys that you root for to make it.  Sometimes, it just takes that proverbial "one shot".

"Before today, my agent told me worse comes to worse, I've got mini-camp with the Chicago Bears whenever that is,"  said Carey of his upcoming plans.   "Then, I have the local day with the Bengals.  So far, that's all I've got right now.  That's all I'm asking for. One shot, get into camp and hopefully stick.  I just need one shot, that's all I'm looking for."

The odds are long, but in life sometimes the longshot wins.