Everybody who knows the difference between a hand-off and forward pass understands that the NFL draft, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, is hardly an exact science.

Teams make mistakes and players, even in this era of high-tech scouting, slip through the cracks. The poster child for that is Steelers running back Willie Parker, who wasn't even drafted. All he has done is rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons and added the word "fast" to his name.

It is still not that unusual for a rookie free agent to make it in the NFL, which is why former Quaker Valley High School standout Tim McCutcheon isn't all that worried about being drafted this weekend.

All he has to do is look at former Robert Morris lineman Hank Fraley, who was signed by the Steelers as a free agent in 2000, was cut and claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles. He went on to make the Eagles and is now an eight-year veteran with the Browns.

McCutcheon has been one of the best offensive linemen in the NCAA Division II ranks the past four years while playing for California University of Pennsylvania.

He was named to the American Football Coaches Association first-team All-America squad for the second consecutive year after the 2007 season. And McCutcheon has been one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award -- the award goes to the best offensive or defensive lineman in Division II -- the past two seasons.

He is a four-time PSAC-West first-team pick and played in the Cactus Bowl, a Division II all-star game in Kingsville, Texas, in January. He has started all 46 games during his tenure with the Vulcans.

"I don't know of any Division II lineman who has gotten more honors than Tim," said Bill Parise, president and CEO of the Beaver County YMCA and McCutcheon's agent. "How many guys are All-American at one position [center], move to another position [tackle] and are All-American again?"

McCutcheon, who is 6 feet 4 and 300 pounds, started at center as a junior, but shifted to tackle this past season. He said most NFL teams are looking at him as a center.

"Ninty-five percent like me as a center," said McCutcheon, who took part in two pro days. "A couple said something about guard, but I doubt anyone is looking at me as a tackle because of my height."

He certainly seems strong enough. Parise said McCutcheon bench-pressed 225 pounds 35 times during one pro day.

"I did alright," McCutcheon said when asked about his workout for NFL scouts. "I'm not the fastest guy, but I do pretty well in short bursts."

California University coach John Luckhardt said McCutcheon is faster than he lets on.

"He's gone 5.1 in the 40 and that's good for a guy who's 300 pounds," Luckhardt said. "I think center is his best shot at the next level but he was a heck of a left tackle for us because he didn't give up any sacks.

"That's the thing about him. I think he's versatile enough to play any of the five [offensive line] positions. That kind of versatility might be something teams like about him."

What might keep McCutcheon from being drafted is that he played at the Division II level. Scouts don't know what he can do against players who are, supposedly, rated higher than he is and played Division I.

McCutcheon understands that. All he wants is a shot.

Parise, who has been working as an agent for 25 years and has a number of Western Pennsylvania players as clients, said interest in McCutcheon has picked up the past couple of days. He added that not being drafted in the seventh and final round and signing as a free agent is a two-edged sword.

"If a team drafts you, they have a vested interest in you," Parise said. "Even if it's the last round, you are still one of their draft picks and they aren't as likely to cut you as they are a free agent."

On the other side, a free agent has the versatility of signing with a team he thinks he has a better chance to make.

For example, the Steelers are thin on the offensive line, so a free-agent lineman might take a chance with them instead of, say, the New England Patriots.

"Being a free agent can work for you," Parise said. "Teams want to sign quality guys and you can pick and choose some. But if a team drafts you, even in the last or next-to-last round, it means they've seen something in you they really like."

McCutcheon, who has been working out six days a week while working his summer job as a welder and iron worker for J&K Equipment, said he will probably go lift or run Sunday instead of pay attention to the draft.

"I'll do something to keep my mind off of it," he said. "If it happens and I get drafted, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't and I'll go from there."