INDIANAPOLIS NFL combine hopefuls not all built according to book

This year's quarterback class is strong.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen has heard all the nicknames: the Pillsbury Throwboy, Hefty Lefty, even J. Load. And, yes, just about all of them fit.
While he is not even close to being the top-rated quarterback at this year's NFL combine, he is obviously the biggest -- checking in Friday at 6-foot-3 and a trimmed-down 280 pounds.
"It's down, but it needs to be down even further," Lorenzen said when asked about his weight. "That's the thing everyone wants to know."
In a league that subscribes to the theory bigger is better, Lorenzen hopes to become the NFL's next big thing, literally.
With bigger quarterbacks like Steve McNair and Daunte Culpepper thriving in the pros, Lorenzen figures he can follow their lead and perhaps even start a new trend for supersized quarterbacks.
Mistaken identity
His stocky build makes him look more like a fullback and his large thighs and round belly make him tough to tackle. Lorenzen outweighs most NFL linebackers and some defensive linemen.
Other QBs, like Michigan State's Jeff Smoker, do a double take when they are face-to-face with Lorenzen.
"He's not a quarterback, you can't be a quarterback, no way," Smoker said, recalling his first impression of Lorenzen. "Then I saw him throw the ball."
For Lorenzen, this is part of the game -- the questions, glazed looks, defenders bouncing off his body. It's always been this way.
Lorenzen was 13 pounds, 3 ounces at birth, and that set the tone for what would follow.
As a high school senior, opponents could not contend with a 270-pound quarterback. Lorenzen won Kentucky's Mr. Football Award by throwing for 3,298 yards and 45 touchdowns and rushing for 904 yards and 15 touchdowns.
At Kentucky, his weight fluctuated, sometimes topping 300 pounds last year and once reaching nearly 310 before he stopped stepping on scales.
Lorenzen has been both durable and reliable.
Adaptable
He started 41 games, threw for 10,354 yards and 78 touchdowns and despite playing in three different offenses, Lorenzen still managed to keep his interceptions down. After throwing 21 as a freshman, he threw 20 in his last three seasons.
Some of Lorenzen's skills are obvious. He has a strong arm and his size helps him avoid sacks.
As Lorenzen continues to develop, scouts can't help but wonder whether he's too heavy to play in the NFL.
"It's an issue on any player at any position, that's a fact of life and it's something you always ask," Atlanta president and general manager Rich McKay said. "I think you have to become comfortable with it."
Lorenzen's size will probably affect his draft position.
This year's quarterback class is strong. Four players -- Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and J.P. Losman -- all could be first-round picks. A handful more could also go on the first day.
Lorenzen isn't expected to be among either group, and there's no guarantee he'll get drafted at all.
Still, he insists he's doing things differently, cutting pizza and chocolate out of his diet and steadily shedding pounds.
Learning
"I've learned how to do it the right way," he said. "I'm not trying any quick fixes any more. But I've been big from the get go."
Still, when you're as big as Lorenzen and playing quarterback, you can't escape the questions, the giggles or the nicknames.
"Probably, if someone looks at me or sees my height and weight, they'd think I'm the slowest guy on earth," Lorenzen said. "But I'm pretty agile.
"I've always been Hefty Lefty as far as I can remember," he added with a laugh. "I've been Jughead, J Rock, J. Load, you name it, I've pretty much been them all."