John Calipari and Kentucky Wildcats get last word with Cheick Diallo

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Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

As we approach the NFL Draft, it’s time to focus a bit on former Kentucky Wildcat Bud Dupree. In the span of about 10 days, Dupree will realize two of his lifelong dreams: Getting drafted in the first round of the NFL and graduating from college. For a guy like Bud, it just makes you feel good to see his dreams coming true.

"A conventional decision for a draft prospect of Dupree’s stature – a physical specimen at 6-4 and 269 pounds who was clocked at 4.56 seconds for the 40-yard dash — would have been to put school on hold. He could have left Lexington after wrapping up his senior year and fall semester, moved somewhere warm to train and focus exclusively on his draft preparations. He could have eventually finished up his degree. UK’s Bud Dupree now projected first-round pick But Dupree figured he could train and study – and that four hectic months would result in the best week and a half of his life. “It’s not just making myself proud, it’s making my family proud,” Dupree said. Getting himself ready for both the draft and graduation hasn’t been an easy process. It required time management as Dupree juggled four classes and an internship along with an intensive physical training plan to prepare him for the NFL combine and his pro day. Kentucky’s strength coaches and trainers developed a pre-draft plan for him, and Dupree squeezed in his workout sessions around his heavy class load. “I would go to class first, as soon as I got out of class, I’d go work out. I may be working out real late sometimes, sometimes I had to work out real early in the morning. I just had to make sure I got it done,” Dupree said."

Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Bud Dupree is almost certain to hear his name called in the first round of the draft and a recent Bleacher Report article says that the Falcons will pick him at number eight. There have been knocks on Bud due to his size, but his speed and versatility is what sets him apart.

"That speed and athleticism also allowed the Wildcats to utilize Dupreein a number of different roles. He rushed the passer from both two- and three-point stances at Kentucky. He even dropped back into coverage, notching a game-sealing pick-six against South Carolina last year. That versatility may be an even bigger boon to Dupree‘s draft-day prospects than his potential. Sure, it’s possible for an undersized end to be a successful 4-3 edge-rusher in the NFL. DeMarcus Ware of the Denver Broncos and ElvisDumervil of the Baltimore Ravens have both enjoyed long and storied careers despite checking in at fewer than 260 pounds. Still, they’re more exception than rule. Most NFL teams running the 4-3 prefer their ends closer to 270 than 250 pounds, and Dupree‘s showing in Indy demonstrated the ability to carry additional weight without sacrificing speed."

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