Maryland football’s Michael Dunn is embracing the odds ahead of 2017 NFL Draft

Michael Dunn carved out a nice career for Maryland football after joining the team as a walk-on, and is one of the team’s top NFL prospects now that he’s exhausted his availability.

Dunn, who’s the No. 24 tackle in the draft on CBS Sports’ rankings, wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, held this week in Indianapolis. In an interview Wednesday with Glenn Clark Radio, he explained the shoulder injury he suffered at the end of the season played at least a part in that.

“I, like any other kid, would’ve loved to get an invite,” Dunn said, “but at the end of the day I knew I was most likely not getting the invite, and even if I was I would not be able to perform.”

You can listen to the whole interview here.

He’s still deep in draft preparation, at least as much as he can be. Dunn isn’t sure he’ll be ready in time for Maryland’s pro day this spring, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t communicating with NFL scouts.

“I’ve had times in the past last year that I feel comfortable about that me and my agent have sent to all the teams, and and are really exceptional times and lifts,” Dunn said. “I figured if I can’t reach that goal, then there’s no point in going out there.

“I’ll probably end up missing the pro day too. I’ll be a game-time decision.”

That doesn’t put him in an ideal position coming into the draft. But Dunn’s faced long odds before. He came to Maryland with no guarantee of a scholarship, then gained that and a scholarship by his redshirt freshman year. If he isn’t drafted, he’ll face a similar situation in the NFL.

“Knowing my projection as a Day 3 guy or undrafted free agent guy, I know I’ll be somewhere come August, come training camp,” he said. “I’ve already been in a place where I’ve had zero expectation for me and I’ve proved everybody wrong. I’m confident enough in my abilities that I can do the same thing all over again.”

When I talked to draft analyst Corey Chavous back in September, he mentioned Dunn as a player to look out for when draft season rolled around:

Michael Dunn is an experienced player that is probably going to get some looks because he’s a decent technician and he’s got the necessary footwork. If not on the left side, then the right.

In the tail end of the interview, Clark asked Dunn how it’d feel to get to play for the Redskins or Ravens, and didn’t get the response he’d hoped for.

“My entire life I’ve been a huge Patriots fan,” Dunn chuckled as the host responded with disgust. “I guess I can’t say that down here.”

Then the tackle went on to give the obligatory:

“I was born, raised, went to college in Maryland. Having the chance to play here would be the greatest thing ever.”

In other news

Maryland released another tribute video for Melo Trimble. It has Josh Stirn wondering whether we’ll be getting a full mixtape.

Maryland’s defenders are getting in on the fun on offense.

Maryland baseball’s home opener against JMU was postponed.

Maryland women’s lacrosse is in an espnW short film.

Here’s SB Nation’s swell conference tournament primer.

Maryland’s Isaiah Davis-Allen, Colin Heacock, Matt Rambo, Zoe Stukenberg, Nadine Hadnagy and Megan Whittle made the Tewaarton Award Watch List.