2013 NFL Combine: Leading up to draft, Chance Warmack ignoring praise

If anyone is considering him the No. 1 prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft, former Alabama guard Chance Warmack doesn't know it.

He's not paying attention to the considerable hype surrounding him approaching the draft. He's not turning on ESPN or NFL Network and staying focused on his training.

"It makes me feel good to get the level of respect in that manner," Warmack said. "But at the same time I don’t really pay attention to that too much. I know where I came from, I know where I started and that’s the same mentality I have now. I appreciate the praise, but nothing’s perfect. I’m human. I make mistakes. I’m just going to continue to get better."

At 6-foot-2, Warmack has the ideal height for a guard so he can get under defenders. With this 34 3/4-inch arms, Warmack can extend his arms and drive defenders backward.

"First and foremost, I want to give it up to God for making me 6-2. I appreciate that because I can get under players very well with not a lot of difficulty," Warmack said. "That’s just technique, technique from my coaches, coach Joe Pendry and coach Jeff Stoutland. They do a really good job just explaining how to take a step and exploding on your second step, and I’m taking that with me wherever I go."

Something Warmack can't take with him to the NFL is his jersey style. At Alabama, Warmack was known as much for his blocking as his sizable stomach hanging out.

"Warmacking" began in 2010 31-6 win against Florida. It's been Warmack's signature look since. Warmack said he didn't specifically ask for smaller jerseys, he just rolled his up.

"We were playing Florida two years ago and it was really hot. That jersey’s a little tight, so I had to roll it up," Warmack said. "I didn’t even know it was a signature until somebody told me. That’s just what I had to do. I was hot. I do it in practice and in the game. They don’t me I won’t be able to do it here; I’ll get fined. We’ll find out."

Soon enough the NFL will find out why Warmack is considered the best run-blocking guard to enter the draft in years, and possibly be a top 10 pick.

It's widely known that guards aren’t drafted that high. If that did happen, that would be an honor as a player that plays guard."

If Warmack does get taken in the top 10, it would be the first time since Chris Naeole in 1997. Detroit Lions general manager Jerry Reese said the perspective about taking a guard early has changed since the new rookie wage scale.

"You always look at sort of impact positions and guys that are impacting the game, and typically guards aren’t really viewed in that way," Mayhew said. "But I think that’s a lot more likely in this day and age then it was five or six years ago."

More in the NFL:

• Chip Kelly wins Day 1 of the Combine

• A new Wonderlic, measuring grown-ass adulthood

• The worst performances of the Life Combine

• Should QBs throw at the Combine? We asked an agent

• The List: 20 sentences guaranteed to start an Internet argument