Mike Hart has been dreaming about this weekend for a long time. It’s the weekend he realizes his dream of being drafted to play football in a professional capacity.

He is back at home in New York this weekend to let it all play out. His hometown news station, CBS5, has conducted and posted a very nice one-on-one video interview on Mike as he returns home for draft weekend. The interview is conducted on the field at his old high school in Onondaga.

Mike says a number of teams have been contacting him ahead of the draft, including the Baltimore Ravens. He expects to be drafted in rounds 3 or 4, which take place on Sunday. He reiterated this, Wednesday, in an appearance on “The Huge Show”. You can listen to it here.

Check out Mike’s most recent pre-draft interview, with Rick Gosselin of the Dallas News, here.

It’s an audio interview that you can listen to and/or download.

Mike has stated many times that he doesn’t care when and where he is drafted. He just wants the opportunity to get on the field and earn his spot. Love that work ethic!

Draft scouts are expecting him to be a second day selection for some lucky team.

On a related note, congratulations to Mike’s Wolverine teammate Jake Long for being the top pick in this year’s NFL draft. He has signed a 5 year $57.75 mil contract with the Miami Dolphins.

From M-DEN website:

MIKE HART APPEARANCE AT M-DEN BRIARWOOD MALL.
APRIL 5TH-NOON TILL 1:30 PM.
$20.00 AUTOGRAPHED PICTURE
FREE SIGNATURE WITH SIGNING DAY PURCHASE OF FIFTY DOLLARS OR MORE.
(LIMIT(2)SIGNATURES PER PERSON

Michigan held its annual pro day on Friday, March 14. As expected, Mike Hart was in attendance. What wasn’t expected, according to media reports, was for Mike to bypass running the 40 again.

Instead Mike concentrated on skills events and likely impressed scouts with his hands in the receiving drills.

I really don’t know why everyone is so hung up on Mike’s 40 time. Everyone knows he’s not one of those backs who is gonna light it up and post a sizzling time. Why should he have to run it again?

I did get a hold of the NFL Network video from the Combine. I’ll see if I can chop it up and post some more video.

ETA: Mike’s results have been posted on NFL.com

From WTKA (via mlive.com)

Mike Hart talks to The Michigan Insider with Sam Webb and Andy Evans about his workout at the NFL Combine, which many experts deemed to be less than stellar. Hart doesn’t feel his slow running time in the 40 hurt him.

Click the link above to listen to Mike’s comments on the combine and click here for another combine interview.

Here are some of Mike’s results, plus a video of his presser with the media.

Height: 5′8 7/8″
Weight: 206
Bench Press: 23 reps of 225 lbs.
40 Dash: 4.67 & 4.69
Vertical Jump: 28 inches

Get the latest NFL Combine updates, as they happen, right here. This is helpful if you can’t tune in to the NFL Network’s programming, which is detailed belowed:

Live Workouts: Hosted by Rich Eisen with NFL Network analysts Charles Davis, Mike Mayock and Rod Woodson providing daily reports on the prospects participating in the workouts. Airs live Saturday, Feb. 23 through Tuesday, Feb. 26 beginning at 11 a.m. ET each day.

NFL Total Access: NFL Total Access is on location from the Scouting Combine with news, analysis and interviews featuring host Fran Charles alongside analysts Steve Mariucci, Jamie Dukes, and reporter Adam Schefter. Airs live Thursday, Feb. 21 through Monday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Press Conferences: Player, coach and general manager press conferences anchored by Paul Burmeister and Adam Schefter. Airs live Thursday, Feb. 21, and Friday, Feb. 22, at 2:30 p.m. ET as well as Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

If I can get a hand on some of the NFL Network shows, I will share what I can, as well as any Mike Hart news I come across. So be sure to check back all this week!

With the NFL Combine set to kick off in less than a week, more news is being released.

First, the player schedule has been released.

Also, media coverage will be available daily on the NFL’s premium TV channel, NFL Network. This includes on-demand video, workout recaps, interviews and more. [Press Release]

Click here to visit the combine’s webpage on NFL.com. There are overviews of the prospects invited, organized by position. The breakdown and grouping of the running back position can be found here. Mike Hart is part of Group 3 with East Carolina’s Chris Johnson and Central Florida’s Kevin Smith.

And the press coverage continues! This time from the

If you are in the vicinity of Naples, FL, I highly recommend headingon over to Velocity Sport tomorrow to watch Mike participate in a mock NFL combine. He has been working hard down there and would probably love the support. Here’s what you need to know about tomorrow’s events:

WHAT: Mock NFL Combine
WHERE: Velocity Sports; 11965 Collier Blvd., Suite 12
WHEN: 10:00 AM (should last 2 hours)
WHO: Mike Hart, Jamar Adams, Ryan Mundy, Trey Brown, Jacky Claude,Letroy Guion, Williams Hayes

Bonus pictures, from News-Press.com, here

It’s nice to see the media down in Florida taking such an interest in Mike as he continues to work towards his goal of playing at the next level.

In the face of all the “experts” doubting him and recycling the same criticisms he’s heard his entire career, Mike is still working hard to prove them all wrong. As I pointed out right after the Capital One Bowl, Mike has been in Naples, FL training at Velocity Sports Performance.

The latest in Mike’s press coverage comes from the Naples Daily News. Be sure to check it out!