UNH star Dylan Laube's stock 'soars' after Senior Bowl. NFL Combine and draft up next.

Dylan Laube may have only carried the ball three times for maybe 10 yards, returned a couple of punts and played some special teams, but the University of New Hampshire football senior couldn’t be happier about his showing at last week’s Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

“I barely played in the game, but there really wasn’t anything to be nervous about it,” said Laube on Wednesday night from X3 Performance in Fort Myers, Florida, where he trained for eight weeks before departing for the Senior Bowl. “For me, a small-school guy, there was nothing to lose. I just went out there and played. I was prepared. I was ready to go. With preparation, there was no need to be nervous, I knew I was ready for it.”

The week at the Senior Bowl consisted of a full week of practices, meetings with NFL front offices and the game at the end of the week.

Laube’s ‘stock soars’

In multiple post-game reports, including a story in the www.thedraftnetwork.com, Laube was mentioned as a player whose "stock" soared from the Senior Bowl as much as anyone going into next month’s NFL Scouting Combine ahead of April’s NFL Draft.

Dylan Laube's NFL Draft Stock Rising After Senior Bowl Practices (thedraftnetwork.com)

Laube was one of four players at the Senior Bowl from the schools in the Football Championship Subdivision, which is the second tier of Division I. He agreed with the assessment others were giving him.

“All the other guys from the top schools already had the hype around them because they were from bigger schools,” Laube said. “Coming in from a smaller school, people didn’t know if the (FCS) guys were going to be that good because of the competition we faced.”

This season at UNH, Laube had team highs in several categories, including rushing yards (749), receiving yards (699), receptions (68), rushing touchdowns (nine), receiving touchdowns (seven), and total touchdowns (18). Laube, a Westhampton, New York native, finished with 45 career touchdowns.

Laube, who is listed at 5 feet 9 inches tall and 210 pounds, quickly made those in attendance know he belonged with the best college football seniors across the country.

“I thought I did a really good job running the ball, catching the ball and winning my one-one-one matchups,” Laube said. “I think everyone was like, 'This kid is pretty good,' and my stock rose.

“I think (the scouts) would’ve been impressed if was an FBS player, but since I was coming from the FCS, I think they were like ‘shoot, coming from a small school, he did a great job. We know he belongs.’”

Laube knew he belonged on the first day.

“We were doing these drills, and my first rep I was going against one of the best linebackers in the country,” Laube said. “I beat my man on an option route, and made a clean catch. From there on, I was like ‘it’s time to go, baby.' I gained so much confidence throughout the day. That first day really set the tone for me.”

Meeting with two all-time NFL greats

Last Friday, all the running backs were able to meet and talk football with two former great NFL greats in Shaun Alexander and Thurman Thomas, both running backs themselves. Alexander, most notably with the Seattle Seahawks, and Thomas with the Buffalo Bills.

Laube said he was a like a sponge and soaked in as much information as he could.

“We talked for two hours,” Laube said. “Two great running backs, NFL legends. We picked their brains, and they were telling us stories. It was so cool hearing their how they experienced the game and how their careers in the NFL went, it was super cool.”

Laube, other players meet with all 32 teams

All the Senior Bowl players had quick 10-minute meetings with all 32 NFL teams. Laube called it almost like a “speed dating, getting to know each other' event.

“Teams were asking about us, our families, our background, our story," Laube said.

Laube did speak on a longer basis with eight teams, including Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“That was awesome,” Laube said. “Such a great guy, it was cool talking to him.”

What’s next for Laube?

Laube returned to Florida after the Senior Bowl, and will continue to train there for the next three weeks before heading to Indianapolis for the combine. Running backs are scheduled to work out for teams between March 1 and 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts.

“I think the combine, with all of its drills, was built for me,” Laube said. “I’ve been training for this since I was a kid. The combine shows who’s an athlete and who’s not. I am excited to show that I am.”

What will separate Laube from others at the combine?

“My speed,” Laube says. “All these teams were saying I looked fast on film against the competition and skill level I was at, but they didn’t know if that could translate to the NFL. I think I showed at the Senior Bowl that I am an explosive, fast player."

‘Surreal’ moment approaching

Laube said he has watched the combine every year since he was 8 years old, and now he’s knocking on the door for his turn to live out his childhood dream next month.

“This is such a surreal thing,” he said. “It’s an honor to even be asked to go to the combine. ... I’ve seen all the greats and always wanted to be there. Now, I am actually going. It’s crazy man.”

How did Laube turn those childhood dreams into reality?

Simply put, hard work and dedication.

“A lot of people don’t understand what it takes to get to this point,” Laube said. “They see what you do on the field, but they don’t know what you did behind the scenes. All of those early morning workouts and winters in New York, lifting twice a day, and playing with a chip on your shoulder.”

Laube has been knocking that “chip” down every year.

“Every single year from middle school to high school, to college, and now to the NFL everyone said, ‘Hey it’s going to get faster, people are going to be stronger, faster, quicker, we don’t know if you will be able to handle that,’” Laube said. “And every single year, I prove them wrong. I keep proving everybody wrong, and it’s such a privilege for me and my family to show all the hard work I’ve put in.”

Forming a relationship with a 'Super' family

Laube has long said he tries to emulate his game after San Francisco 49er and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.

At the Senior Bowl, Laube played with McCaffrey’s younger brother, Luke, and the two struck up a friendship. Luke played his college football at Nebraska and Rice.

At the end of the week, Laube was introduced to McCaffrey's father, Ed, who played in the NFL, and his mother, Lisa.

“It was great to meet football royalty,” Laube said. “Such a great family, super nice. Luke is a heck of a player. That family is such an inspiration.”

Will San Francisco become Super Bowl champions on Sunday after their game against Kansas City?

“Of course, I am going with the Niners,” Laube said. “I am going San Fran, 34-31.”

And who’s going to win MVP honors?

“It’s going to be guy, Christian,” Laube said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: UNH star Dylan Laube's NFL Draft stock 'soars' after Senior Bowl