Combine reviews solid for Marian grad Bulaga

News, notes, quotes, odds and ends from Marian Central grad Bryan Bulaga's performance at the NFL combine in Indianapolis:

* NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, after Bulaga's workout, called the former University of Iowa star "the most technically proficient tackle available in the draft." Mayock also stated that Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli has had a long friendship with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.

The Chiefs have the No. 5 overall pick in the first round of the draft. 

Despite missing three games as a junior in the fall, the 20-year-old Bulaga won the Big Ten Conference's Offensive Lineman of the Year award. He also helped the Hawkeyes win the Orange Bowl by neutralizing standout Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan, who also is projected as a top-10 pick.

* From the world of Twitter, Bulaga gained some attention from two high-profile accounts.

The day before workouts began, the Miami Dolphins noted "Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga is smooth with the media .. for what it's worth .. he looks like an NFL player .. TV analyst when he's done playing."

The Dolphins have the No. 12 overall pick in the first round. In 2008, the Dolphins selected one of Bulaga's favorite players, former Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, with the No. 1 overall pick.

Charles Davis, a TV announcer who works for Fox and the NFL Network, send out a note via Twitter that read, "As for OTs, I really like Bryan Bulaga from Iowa ..."

Along with covering the combine for the NFL Network, Davis also was the TV analyst for Bulaga's final college game, Iowa's Orange Bowl win against Georgia Tech.

* In combine workouts, Bulaga produced 26 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press. The average for offensive linemen at the 2009 combine, according to Mayock, was 23. 

Bulaga ran the 40-yard dash in 5.26 seconds.

* Sports Illustrated's web site, in its latest mock draft by Don Banks, has Bulaga being chosen No. 6 overall by the Seattle Seahawks. FoxSports.com has projected Bulaga to go No. 5 to Kansas City.

Barry Bottino writes a weekly column and a blog about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at BarryOnCampus@hotmail.com and check out his On Campus column every Saturday in the Northwest Herald sports section.