Graduating Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko knew there were no guarantees he'd be drafted, but he did have an inkling that the New England Patriots were interested. Mesko worked out for New England coaches in Ann Arbor days before the spring game … a week later the Patriots took him with the 19th pick of the fifth round.

Mesko, 6-5 and 240 pounds, became the first punter taken in the NFL draft. He averaged 42.5 yards per punt in college and booted 58 of his 243 career punts at least 50 yards.

Chris Hanson, the Patriots' punter the past three years, is a free agent, giving Mesko a great opportunity to win the job.

"Everyone's playing their cards close to the vest, so you can't really tell," Mesko said of his status a week before the draft. "It's kind of like buying a house - they come see it and they're like, 'ehh … we kind of like it,' even though inside they might be going crazy. It's kind of like if a team really falls in love with me, they'll try to get me as cheap as possible.

"My take on that is if I can get it out, like who's been visiting me, demand will be raised a little bit so they say, 'we should draft him a little earlier, sign him right away.' But it's a business."

Mesko said he planned to study for three final exams (working toward his master's degree in sports management) and wouldn't be paying close attention to today's draft, but planned to have his parents in town with him to celebrate over dinner should he get drafted or sign with a team as a free agent.

Though he knows the Patriots like him, Mesko said he also realizes he has a lot to prove.

"That's the thing, they don't want to get too excited over you … and the draft is exciting, but I still have to perform during training camp," he said. "It's not like I'm going to arrive [by getting drafted]."