Kris Kasparek doesn't expect to see his name on any NFL team's draft board Saturday. On Sunday, however, things could get interesting.

Kasparek, a New Brighton High School product who started at tight end for Akron the past three-and-a-half seasons, has a chance to be drafted in the sixth or perhaps the seventh -- and last -- round. Then again, he might not be drafted at all.

"There has been more interest in the past couple of days," said Bill Parise, Kasparek's agent and president and CEO of the Beaver County YMCA. "I've probably had seven phone calls about Kris. Still, you never know who to believe."

What Kasparek has going for him is his size -- he's 6 feet 6 and 273 pounds -- and a soft pair of hands that rarely dropped the few passes that came his way in Akron's offense last season.

He finished with seven receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns. For his college career, he hauled in 57 passes for 677 yards and three scores.

Those are hardly head-turning statistics, but he has been known to have big games. He caught six passes for 81 yards against Northern Illinois in the MAC title game in 2005, then pulled in six passes for 70 yards in the Motor City Bowl that same year.

"Kris has very nifty feet, he understands the passing game well and does a good job getting open," said Bill Bleil, Akron's tight ends coach.

He added that he will be surprised if Kasparek doesn't end up in some team's training camp come August.

Parise is of the same mindset. He believes Kasparek will be drafted in one of the late rounds, especially after interest picked up this week.

"There just aren't a lot of kids out there with his size who are fairly fast," he said, adding that Kasparek was timed in the high 4.7 seconds range for the 40-yard dash.

Kasparek was slowed by a sprained MCL toward the end of last season, but said there have been no lingering affects from the injury. He participated in three pro days and believes he might get drafted.

His name has shown up on a few NFL draft Web sites, with most listing him as a sleeper or a late-round pick.

Of course, there is always the possibility he won't be drafted at all. If that's the case, he should be in demand as a free agent.

"It'd be nice to be drafted, but if that doesn't happen, I'll see what my options are," he said.

He isn't the only Beaver County athlete with a shot of being drafted. Rory Thomas of Beaver Falls, who played center and tackle at IUP, is listed as a possible late-round pick as is Jermaine Moye of Rochester, who played wide receiver and returned kicks this past season at California University of Pennsylvania. Moye had played in the Vulcans' secondary.