Terry Moss has a letter from the Baltimore Ravens sitting on a table in his hometown of Huber Heights, Ohio.
However, the eyes of the senior wide receiver have yet to see it. That will have to wait until this weekend when he heads home to watch this weekend's National Football League Draft.
The only information he knows about the letter is what has been relayed to him from someone else.
"I don't know it word-for-word but it said, 'Stay in shape,'" Moss said. "If I don't get drafted or anything, they want to bring me in as a free agent."
While Moss' chances of getting drafted are slim, his big-play production in college has drawn the attention of NFL teams. Moss, who played in January's Hula Bowl, said he has also received phone calls from Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and Jacksonville.
He only caught 27 balls last year but accounted for 685 yards 25.4 yards per catch and eight touchdowns.
Of his eight touchdowns, five were 30 yards or longer, including a season-high 81-yard touchdown reception against North Dakota State University. He also has TD catches of 41 (twice Northern Illinois University and the University at Buffalo), 34 (Western Michigan University) and 30 (Kent State University). He also hauled in a 62-yard pass against the University of Michigan, setting up a Larry Bostic touchdown run that cut the Wolverines' lead to 34-26.
"I think he was very productive as a senior," coach Brady Hoke said. "He catches the ball well, and he runs well. He's got speed, and he's got the ability."
Moss' best time in the 40-yard dash is 4.38, according to Scout.com
Internet sites do not think Moss will be drafted. Scout.com ranks him the highest, listing Moss as the 61st-best receiver in the draft and says he'll be a free agent pick-up. Pro Football Weekly ranks him at 111 and NFL Draft News at 108.
"I really just want to get into a camp," Moss said. "If I get drafted that is a plus. I just want to get into camp and go from there."
Another Ball State player hoping to be picked up as a free agent is safety Erik Keys. The All-MAC Second Team selection led the Cardinals with 90 tackles in 2006. He also had four tackles-for-loss, four fumble recoveries and one interception, which he returned for a 35-yard touchdown against Michigan.
"I should get picked up as a free agent, at the very least," Keys said. "My agent has talked to some [teams], but I haven't. I'm just waiting to see what's going to happen."
Like Moss, Internet sites also vary on Keys' chances at the next level. Rivals.com rates him as the 20th-best safety in the draft. However, that probably isn't high enough to get drafted. New Era Scouting rates him 30th, and Pro Football Weekly pencils him in at the No. 32 slot.
MSNBC's Web site was also critical of Keys' abilities.
"Keys has had problems with balance but struggles to open up and turn his hips while in coverage," the Web site said. "Another shortcoming is that his football speed doesn't quite match up with his timed speed. [Keys] has no pop making a tackle and is poor in the open field."
Scout.com said Keys had a shot at the next level if he contributes on special teams.
Regardless, Hoke said the 5-foot-10, 210-lb safety possesses the ability to contribute at the next level.
"I think Erik's physical-ness as a safety is his best ability," Hoke said. "I think that's something they would look at."
Hoke said he would be very shocked if both didn't get the opportunity to go to a camp.
"I think they both are quality-type of kids and good enough to get that opportunity," he said. "The NFL works in strange ways to some degree, but I think both have shown enough with their volume of work and things that they accomplished here to do that."
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