Sapp not sweating his draft status

Childhood dreams aren't easily achieved, so as Ricky Sapp heads toward the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, he's doing it with great joy.

The former Clemson standout is leaving all the stress of waiting and wondering to other prospective future pros as the NFL draft begins Thursday.

With a lifetime of hard work - including rehabilitation from a torn ACL his junior season - about to culminate in a chance to play pro football, Sapp has adopted a peaceful feeling.

"A lot of times you see guys really putting a lot of pressure on themselves," Sapp said in a phone interview Tuesday. "But it should really be all about having fun and enjoying yourself, because you're about to realize your dream. Why put added pressure on yourself and be nervous?"

While some potential draftees try their best to ignore the media fodder regarding when and where they might go, Sapp has no qualms reading his press and seeing what is being said regarding his future.

"I think that goes with enjoying the whole process," Sapp said. "Of course, you don't want to look at all those blogs and that kind of stuff, but it is fun to see what everybody thinks of you. I'm enjoying everything that's come my way. I am getting anxious, not really nervous, but just kind of excited, and (I) know how blessed I am to be in the position I'm in."

It hasn't been all smooth sailing for the 6-foot-4, 252-pound outside linebacker/defensive end, who is a projected early to middle second-round pick. Sapp said if he goes "worse than No. 50 overall, I'll be a little upset, but at the end of the day I just want to get drafted."

The Sporting News ranks Sapp as the third-best outside linebacker, while Scott Wright of draftcountdown.com has him as the seventh best and going 47th overall to the Patriots. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Sapp going 71st overall to the Browns.

A number of factors could be responsible for the 23-year-old Bamberg native dropping below his desired slot. There appears to be concerns regarding Sapp's surgically repaired knee; he tore his ACL in a Nov. 22, 2008, game at Virginia. Sapp estimated he played last season with the knee at about 60 percent.

There is also talk of Sapp being a "tweener" in size as he seeks the right fit at defensive end (where he played his first three collegiate seasons) or outside linebacker (where he saw action this past season).

"I know it's going to be important early to show I can stop the run, but I'm comfortable playing with one hand down or standing up," Sapp said. "I feel I'm a playmaker, so anywhere is fine with me."

The banter regarding his knee isn't fine.

"It's really frustrating because I worked so hard in January and February rehabbing and went to the combine, where I had a great workout," Sapp said. "I really wanted to show how healed my knee was, and there's still people being concerned about it. At the end of the day, I just have to go make a team and show them I'm fully healed."

But Sapp is taking in all the predictions with a healthy lack of anxiety. No matter where or when his name is called, he said it would be a dream come true.

He plans on spending the draft in Bamberg and following the proceedings with his family. He admits he'd rather not watch any of it - instead simply having his phone at the ready when the good news comes - but his mother insisted on watching.

"I can remember when I was nine or 10, telling my mom I was going to play in the NFL," Sapp said. "I just loved the game and watching the pros play on TV. It's all been about following my dreams since then and I'm truly blessed to be in this situation. It hasn't all really sunk in yet, but I can't wait to see how I'll feel when my name is finally called."