SLIPPERY ROCK — The beginning of Brandon Fusco's NFL career is days away — in a manner of speaking.

Projected to be selected anywhere in rounds three through six during this weekend's NFL draft, the Seneca Valley and Slippery Rock University graduate will have to wait for his first mini-camp.

With the NFL labor dispute and lockout ongoing, the 6-foot-4, 306-pound center won't be joining his prospective new team anytime soon.

“Normally, the rookies get flown in for a mini-camp the Sunday after the draft,” Fusco said. “Meet the coaching staff, some players, start learning the system and playbook right away.

“With the labor situation, they can't do anything except draft guys until after the whole thing is settled.”

Fusco is OK with all of that, so long as his name is selected by somebody at some point this weekend.

“My immediate goal hasn't changed. Get drafted and take advantage of the opportunity,” he said.

Sporting News magazine had Fusco going to the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of its mock draft two weeks ago. NFLDraftScout.com rates Fusco as the fourth-best center in the draft, trailing only Rodney Hudson of Florida State, Stefen Wisniewski of Penn State and Kristofer O'Dowd of USC.

“Anything's possible,” Fusco's agent, Alan Herman, said of his client being chosen in the third round. “More realistically, with him being a Division II guy, I expect the fourth or fifth round, leaning more toward early in that period.

“When the other centers go will have a bearing on all of that, too, of course.”

Herman said roughly a third of the NFL teams “have shown serious interest” in Fusco, meaning they've sent at least offensive line coaches to meet with, work out and interview him.

“When you get coaches rather than scouts coming to see you, that's a pretty good gauge that they're interested,” Herman said. “Teams are very protective about what they plan to do in the draft. Situations vary ... It's hard to tell where or when anybody's going to go.”

Fusco was flown in to visit the Philadelphia Eagles coaches April 5 and the New York Jets coaches on April 10. NFL teams are permitted to fly in no more than 25 draft eligible prospects.

Fusco said close to 15 teams have asked him for his draft-day phone number as well.

“We have good facilities at Slippery Rock, but touring the facilities of those pro teams was pretty amazing,” Fusco said. “It's incredible, the stuff they've got.

“I've talked to a bunch of teams a few times, but my agent told me I may be picked by a team that's never said a word to me. It's an unpredictable deal.”

SRU has not had a player drafted by an NFL team since running back Greg Paterra was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in Round 11 of the 1989 draft. Paterra played in 10 games for the Falcons that season, his only year with the team.

The NFL draft consists of only seven rounds now.

“Brandon will become the earliest player selected by the NFL in our school's history. And he's earned that distinction,” SRU coach George Mihalik said.

“Because of the lockout, he'll get a late start in terms of meeting his new teammates and learning the system, but so will all of the other rookies.

“Brandon's mentally sharp and he picks things up really well. He'll overcome all of that,” Mihalik added.

Fusco plans on having a small family gathering Friday night in case he is selected in Round 3. The first round takes place Thursday night, rounds 2-3 Friday night, the rest of the draft Saturday.

“I'll be keeping a close watch on when those other centers start to go,” he said. “I'm getting more and more nervous as it gets closer, but this is fun, the anticipation and everything.”

Mihalik has enjoyed the experience as well.

“Just watching how much Brandon and the other kids were interviewed at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine ... The behind the scenes stuff has been fascinating,” Mihalik said. “This really is a thorough process.”