NIU pro prospect Michael Turner no longer is attending classes at NIU and is focusing on the April 24 NFL Draft. Turner was one of about 335 college prospects who participated in the invitation-only NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind.

On Wednesday morning, Turner worked out with other Huskies during NIU’s Pro Day, while NFL scouts watched and evaluated them at the Convocation Center and Huskie Stadium.

The North Chicago native is a two-time All-American and finished second in NCAA rushing the last two seasons.

Turner got his driver’s license in January for the first time, so he can drive a rental car to his training facility in Kaneland.

Northern Star: What was the reason you never got a license before now?

Michael Turner: Because I never had a car [laughs]. It’s like I’ve got my own little car now.

NS: I saw you at McDonald’s last Wednesday after the basketball game – what did you order?

MT: I’m hooked to the double fish filets. I’ve been eating them all week.

NS: Is that the meal of champions?

MT: Yeah [laughs].

NS: Have your eating habits changed since you’ve began working out for the draft?

MT: You want to eat right, but you always sneak and go back to the bad stuff because that’s what you grew up eating. Just to change in a couple months is really hard to do.

NS: What was the NFL Combine like?

MT: The nerves – it was like this was your one chance and your big opportunity. Everything was riding on that one day. Even though you played four years in college, it all comes down to one day to impress somebody.

NS: What’s the differences from the NFL Combine to NIU’s Pro Day?

MT: At the combine, all the coaches from every team are there. There are only a couple of guys out here [at NIU]. This is my second time going through it, so I’m a little more loose compared to guys like P.J. [Fleck] and Randee [Drew]. This is their first time going through this and their only chance really to get somebody to notice them.

NS: What are you up to now with the draft on April 24?

MT: I’m just hanging out enjoying my time with my teammates. I might not see them again. I just love being around these guys; they’re family.

NS: If you were a team general manager, when would you draft yourself?

MT: First [laughs]. If I needed a running back, I’d be first.

NS: What’s your agent’s name?

MT: Buss Cook. [He also represents Brett Favre, Randy Moss, Steve McNair and other NFL players.]

NS: What’s the coolest thing you’ve bought since you’ve signed with your agent?

MT: A trip to Florida. I’m going to Miami with friends for Spring Break.

NS: What was the weirdest thing anyone made you do at the NFL Combine?

MT: It wasn’t what one person made me do. Even if one doctor checks you out and checks your joints and checks your injuries and says yeah, everybody else there still checks you. Going through every single team doctor was probably the weirdest thing.

NS: Do you think your stock went up, down or stayed the same after Indianapolis?

MT: I think it went up honestly. I impressed a lot of people at the combine. I didn’t catch every ball here [at NIU’s Pro Day] like I did at the combine, but I still feel pretty good for a guy my size.

NS: Where does your agent say you’ll probably be picked?

MT: He doesn’t say. He just always wants me to improve, and that’s what I like about him. He says second round or so, but people are getting cut and people are getting traded, so you never know.