TUCSON, Ariz. -- Ka'Deem Carey admits this will be the first time he'll sit through major portions of the NFL draft.
Of course, in this one he has something at stake.
He's seen bits and pieces in the past -- the suits, the smiles, the jerseys. At some point this week, it'll be his turn to have his name called.
And even though he won't be on stage in New York on Thursday night, he'll have his trademark smile ready whenever a team says they want him as part of their future.
"This is definitely a dream," said Carey in a telephone interview from California, where he's been training for the NFL. "Ever since I was a little kid I pictured myself being there."
Carey isn't among the 30 invitees to the Thursday night festivities in New York -- an indication that running backs are in lower demand in the pass-happy NFL. When teams do get around to looking for a hard-running back, however, Carey will be one of the names under consideration. There's just no telling when that will be. Second round? Third?
"I'd pick me in the first round, but it depended on what the team needed," he said. "Maybe second, but that's just me. It's all good. I could fall into the third, it just depends on what happens."
Carey, Arizona's all-time leading rusher and first-time two-time consensus All-American, is likely to be the only Arizona player selected this week, with several other likely to latch on as undrafted free agents.
"Not everyone is going to love you and not everyone is going to want you," said Carey, who finished his career at Arizona with 48 rushing touchdowns, 4,239 rushing yards and 5,483 all-purpose yards, "but it only takes one team to get you. Thinking about (the negative) can just mess with your head and mess up your game."
Since declaring for the NFL in January, the 5-foot-9 Carey has been working on his receiving skills and his speed to become a better football player.
The lack of breakaway speed has been the main knock against him in pre-draft evaluations,but he's going into the draft stronger than ever, adding 12 pounds of muscle (from 202 pounds to 214) in anticipation of what's ahead.
He's been in the weight room and in the film room every day. He feels he's more versatile.
"It's just about being dedicated and focused to the game," he said.
"I'm a lot stronger, a lot healthier. I feel a lot better than when I went into college."
Carey said he'll be back in Tucson to watch the draft with friends and family.
As for which team will draft him?
"They're going to be the luckiest team," he said. "The critics think I'm nobody. They're going to get a crazy person who loves to work. Someone who is talented and is passionate about the game and gives everything for his teammates. They'll get a player who is ready to win the Super Bowl."
Follow Steve Rivera on Twitter
