The NFL Draft begins this Saturday, and former NIU defensive end Larry English is on the fringe of being a first round pick.

I talked with draft expert Scott Wright about where he thinks Larry will end up, what position he fits best at and other topics concerning the former NIU star.

Wright is the founder and president of Draftcountdown.com, which he started in 1997. He has been scouting and evaluating the NFL Draft since 1993.

Steve Nitz: Where do you think English will end up and why?

Scott Wright: He’s firmly on the fringe of the first round. He could very easily go late in the first round, maybe even as high as No. 19 to a team like Tampa Bay, who I heard is interested in him. Worst case, I think he’ll come off the board early in the second round.

What’s working against him a little bit right now is there’s a lot of players like him this year. A lot of guys who fall into that “tweener” category where they’re pass rushers, whether it be a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker.

SN: Do you think he fits best as a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker?

SW: Before the Senior Bowl, I think the general consensus was that he was going to have to be a linebacker. But I watched him down at the Senior Bowl, and I came away feeling confident that he could be a 4-3 defensive end. I think he’s capable of doing both, and it just depends on the situation he gets drafted into.

SN: What current NFL player would you compare him to?

SW: A guy that I’ve heard mentioned is LaMarr Woodley from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

SN: What are some of Larry’s strengths?

SW: The pass rush: I think that’s the No. 1 thing about his game, and that’s what he’s going to get drafted for. The quickness: He’s not necessarily super fast, but he can definitely rush the passer, and that’s what’s going to make him rich.

SN: On the flip side, what are his weaknesses?

SW: His size. if he does end up being a defensive end, he’s not necessarily going to be great against the run. If he ends up at linebacker, he’s going to have to get used to playing in space and dropping into coverage.

SN: How much do you think playing in the MAC affects his draft status as opposed to playing in a conference like the Big Ten or the SEC?

SW: It’s somewhat of a concern, but not nearly what it used to be. I think with all the success guys from the MAC have had, that argument’s getting harder to make. I think that argument’s going out the window more and more every year. It’s talked about to a certain degree, but it’s not a huge concern.