After months of rehabilitation, NIU linebacker Nick Duffy thinks he’s finally close to 100 percent.

The senior injured his right fibula in the sixth game of last season versus Central Michigan.

About four months after the injury, Duffy began to work out with Matt Mangum, NIU strength and conditioning coach.

“Right after it happened, he came into the weight room and said, ‘I need to train,’” Mangum said. “Right away, we started training his upper body to get him as powerful as possible.”

Mangum said Duffy’s upper body was as strong as its ever been. After rest, Duffy began training his lower body a little more than a month ago.

“The hardest part is getting used to jumping and running,” Duffy said.

Duffy has been training with hopes to gain attention from professional teams. He worked out with the Chicago Bears on April 4 and the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 13.

“The teams I’ve worked out with have been great,” Duffy said. “They said, ‘If there’s something you don’t want to do, don’t do it.’ I feel I did better with the Jaguars than the Bears because I knew what to expect.”

Mangum said Duffy knew he was at a disadvantage to other pro hopefuls because of his injury.

“He knew that because he didn’t have his entire senior season to show off his skills that when the scouts did look at him, they’d give him a ‘maybe’ look,” Mangum said. “He wanted to be ready.”

Duffy recently has been working with his agent to get his statistics to NFL teams before the draft, which begins Saturday. His main goal is to be in shape if he gets the opportunity to work out at any NFL camps.

“When I talk about hard work or a real blue-collar work ethic, Nick Duffy is the first person I think of,” Mangum said. “Given the chance at any team’s camp, if they see what type of intensity he has, they’ll find a spot for him. He’s a team guy. He’ll accept a role, whatever that role is.”