Apr 25, 2015 4 min read

To quote musician Tom Petty, the waiting is the hardest part.

That’s what Canon-McMillan High School graduate and former Penn State linebacker Mike Hull has found as he inches ever closer to the NFL.

The former Penn State standout has participated in the Senior Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine and on-campus and private workouts. He’s been questioned, poked and prodded.

Finally, this week, he’ll learn where he’ll get an opportunity to establish himself as an NFL player when the league holds its draft, starting Thursday.

“I’m a little anxious,” said Hull, who has been working out in State College with several other former Nittany Lions, trying to stay in shape. “It’s been a long wait.”

Hull (6-0, 237) knows it will be worth it in the end, regardless of where he ends up.

After a stellar senior season in which he was named the Big Ten’s top linebacker, Hull had a solid set of workouts at the combine in Indianapolis in February. He was to work out for NFL teams again at Penn State in March but suffered a slight hamstring injury.

“That was a little disappointing because I wanted to show everyone what I could do,” Hull admitted.

He was able to travel to Tampa for a private workout a couple of weeks later for the Buccaneers.

“It healed pretty quickly,” he said.

His numbers at the combine, however, coupled with his production at Penn State, should land Hull firmly in the middle part of the seven-round draft. If that happens, Hull will be the first player from Washington or Greene counties to be selected in the NFL draft since San Francisco made Ringgold’s Anthony Peterson a fifth-round pick in 1994.

He would also follow in the footsteps of his father, Tom, who also starred at Penn State before becoming a 12th-round pick of San Francisco in 1974. Tom Hull spent two seasons in the NFL. He also playing for Green Bay.

“He just tells me that it’s a lot different than college,” Mike Hull said. “It’s a business and you have to work hard for everything.”

That won’t be an issue for the younger Hull, who has always been lauded for his work ethic. He just wants an opportunity to show he can play. And it doesn’t matter where.

“Teams have been saying that I’ll be picked somewhere in the fourth or fifth round,” Hull said. “But I know that can easily turn into the sixth or seventh or even being undrafted. You never know how it will go.

“For me it doesn’t matter who takes me. I just want to make it in the NFL. It doesn’t matter if that’s in Oakland, Calif., or New England with the Patriots. I just want a chance.”

Being selected in the fourth round or later means Hull will be chosen Saturday, the final day of the draft. The first round will be Thursday, with the second and third rounds being held Friday.

Because of the uncertainty of the situation, Hull and his family aren’t planning an elaborate draft party or anything special. He likely won’t even watch the broadcast.

“I’ve heard that can really be tough,” he said.

Instead, Hull will spend time with his family. Then, if and when he’s selected, he’ll finally let loose, at least for a little while.

“I’ll probably do something with some friends,” he said. “It’s good to see some of them before I have to go. As I understand it, it’s a pretty quick turnaround once you get picked. You’re expected to be wherever on Monday.”

At least then, he’ll know what the future holds. And this long process – made longer by the NFL a couple of years ago when it moved the draft back a month – will be over.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I didn’t realize how long this whole thing would be.”