UNH's Dylan Laube awaits NFL Draft: Here's what he says about mock drafts and experts

The day Dylan Laube has dreamt of since he first started playing the game of football when he was 8 years old is fast approaching — and it can’t come soon enough.

The University of New Hampshire football standout has watched the NFL Draft each April since his days growing up on Long Island, dreaming of one year hearing his name being called.

This year, it may happen.

“It’s a super exciting moment, I don’t think it has hit me that the draft is coming up,” said Laube on Tuesday afternoon from his Westhampton, New York, childhood home. “I think when draft day comes I’ll be amped and anxious wondering where I am going to end up. But right now, I am just working out at home and spending time with my family.”

The first round of this year’s NFL Draft is Thursday, April 25. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, April 26, with the final four rounds being Saturday, April 27.

“I think the worst part is not knowing where you’re going to end up,” said Laube, who finished his UNH career with 45 touchdowns. “(Getting drafted) would be a dream come true, but you have no idea what’s going on. If it actually happens, there will be a huge sigh of relief and then saying, ‘OK, it’s time to get to work.”

Laube, from all accounts, is expected to have to wait until Saturday to learn his football fate. Most reports have him being drafted anywhere from as early as the fourth round to the seventh round to the possibility of not being drafted and becoming an unrestricted free agent.

“It’s really just a waiting game,” Laube said. “If a team likes me a lot and they want to take me in the fourth or fifth round, that’s awesome. If I go to the sixth or seventh round, or go undrafted, I know I am going to get a chance somewhere.

“That’s the big thing,” Laube continued, “having that chance to make a team. Even if I get drafted in the fourth round, or in the sixth or seventh round, I still have to make the team; I still have to earn my spot on that roster.”

Laube, who had UNH team highs in several categories last fall, including rushing yards (749), receiving yards (699), receptions (68), rushing touchdowns (nine), receiving touchdowns (seven), and total touchdowns (18), will be surrounded by his family during draft weekend.

"We’re going to watch and hope for the best,” he said. “It’s going to be a wild weekend. The earlier the call, the better. Whatever happens, happens. I am going to be super calm and relaxed, and enjoy the weekend with my family.”

What NFL Draft analysts say about Dylan Laube

The FCS NFL Draft Scouting Report projects Laube to be drafted in either the fifth or sixth round.

NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlien predicts Laube will be selected in the sixth round.

“Do-it-all small-school prospect with versatility and production that could create a roster advantage for him in the future,” Zierlien says in his analysis. “Laube's pro potential will likely be tied to how a team uses him. While he can be an efficient zone-scheme runner, he lacks the sudden burst and elusiveness needed as a pro. However, he's a very capable pass-catcher with the ability to run a variety of routes out of the backfield or from the slot. While Laube won't blow NFL teams away as a runner, his potential to return kicks and compete for a role on third downs should give him a leg up in a battle for a roster spot.”

Bleacher Report has Laube going undrafted and signing a free agent deal. Its report says “Laube is a short, old running back prospect with just enough juice and receiving flexibility to be of interest to NFL teams.”

What’s for sure is that Laube doesn’t pay much attention to the so-called NFL Draft experts or pundits.

“They have no idea,” Laube says. “I have no idea, and my agent has no idea. I know all these mock drafts don’t have any idea, either. I’ve seen mock drafts having me in the fourth round, and others having me as a free agent. Nobody has any idea, it’s really a waiting game.”

Laube meets with several teams

Laube has had Top-30 visits with both the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots. Each team can bring up to 30 prospects they want to get more information on ahead of the draft.

Laube also had a Pro Day visit with the New York Jets, and has had Zoom meetings with a “bunch of teams”, including the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. A Pro Day is similar to the NFL Scouting Combine where teams have an opportunity to meet with prospects and put them through a myriad of drills.

“It’s been a cool process,” said Laube, who called his meeting with the Patriots “amazing. I talked to the whole staff, met with running backs coach, the OC, the head of security and head of player personnel. it was such a cool experience seeing the whole facility, and touring Gillette Stadium.”

Former UNH Wildcats to get drafted

There have been 17 former UNH players to get drafted into the NFL. It has been 11 years since the last one when Jared Smith was drafted in the seventh round by the Seattle Seahawks in 2013.

Other former Wildcats include Ted Fitandies (1944, fifth round, New York Giants), Clayton Lane (1948, 14^th round, Pittsburgh Steelers), Carmen Ragonese (1948, 15^th round, Boston Yanks), Bruce Mather (1948, 26^th round, Boston Yanks), Paul Lidquist (1961, eighth round, Minnesota Vikings), Dave Rozumek (1976, 15^th round, Kansas City Chiefs), Steve Doig (1982, third round, Detroit Lions), Ken Kaplan (1983, sixth round, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Ilia Jarosthchuk (1987, fifth round, St. Louis Cardinals), John Driscoll (1988, 12^th round, Buffalo Bills), Bob Jean (1989, 10^th round, Cincinnati Bengals), Dwayne Saab (1992, fifth round, New England Patriots), Dwayne Gordon (1993, eighth round, Miami Dolphins), Mike Foley (1996, sixth round, Arizona Cardinals), Jerry Azumah (1999, fifth round, Chicago Bears) and Corey Graham (2007, fifth round, Chicago Bears).

“It was an honor to play at UNH, I had such a great experience there,” Laube said. “Once you are there, you are there forever. If my name gets called in the draft and I see my name and the UNH logo, it will be emotional. It will be a huge honor for me and my family here in New York, and my family up in Durham.”

Laube grew up a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, following in the footsteps of his father and older brother.

"My dad was a huge Steelers fan in the '70s and '80s with the Steel Curtain and that tough-nosed team," Laube said. "Right now, I am not a fan of any team. I'll be a fan of the team I end up on, and I think my whole family will, too."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: UNH football standout Dylan Laube awaits NFL Draft fate