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By Bill Koch
GoBEARCATS.com
CINCINNATI -- Jeff Luc knows what it's like to feel like you're on top of the world. During the last few years, he has also learned what it's like to be an underdog.
As Rivals' top-rated linebacker prospect in the country coming out of Treasure Coast High School in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Luc had his pick from a list of colleges that included most of the top major football schools. Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, LSU, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee and USC all pursued him. He chose Florida State, where he was expected to continue on an upward trajectory that would land him in the NFL.
Five years later, on a Wednesday morning at Paul Brown Stadium, after participating in the Bengals' workout for local college players, he sat on a stool in the wing of the locker room that's used by free agents and rookies. He talked like an excitable kid, not an elite high school recruit who holds all the cards.
"There's a lot of people who would like to be in this position," Luc said. "Imagine how many people pray to be in the locker room for the Bengals. So this is an honor. I'm happy to be here."
Luc, who's listed at 6-feet-1, 251 pounds, transferred to the University of Cincinnati in the summer of 2012 after two years at Florida State and started the last two years for the Bearcats, first at outside linebacker as a junior, then at middle linebacker during his senior year. He was a first-team all-American Athletic Conference selection last year when he led the Bearcats with 134 tackles. He had 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and four recoveries.
He was in full salesmanship mode at PBS as he did his best to convince the Bengals - or any other team - that he belongs in the NFL. The fact that his role has changed from a coveted college prospect to one who now now has to sell himself as a pro is not lost on Luc, who is listed by most draft analysts as a possible sixth- or seventh-round pick.
"When I was in high school, I was up here," he said, "so for me to transfer and come to Cincinnati and sit out (one year) I kind of dropped below the radar. So now it's just me climbing the board. In high school, I was already there. I got the best of both worlds. I don't mind coming from behind. I don't mind playing behind the 8-ball. That's what motivates you."
He also doesn't mind hearing about his shortcomings from NFL scouts and coaches, some of whom question his speed.
"A lot of guys don't see my film when they see me dropping back and dropping into (pass) coverage," Luc said. "They say that could be my weakness, but I think that's one of my strengths, something I do well for my size. They'll see it if I just play my game.
"It may be a little motivation, but that's their job to go out and see what you do wrong. They're going to try to find everything they can find. They've got the eye for it, so you can't argue with a guy who's been doing this for awhile. The only thing you can do is get better at what they say and thank them later on."
Having any other attitude wouldn't serve the purpose of a borderline prospect like Luc, who wants to be viewed as talented enough to play in the league, but also as a player who's coachable.
"Now you're your own brand," Luc said. "You don't have the school to go out there and push your name. Now everything is on you, you and your agent, so that's very exciting, to really go out and sell myself and show what kind of character I have and the type of person I am. It comes easy because there's no acting. There's no me putting on a show. It's just me being normal, me being myself."
Unlike many of the players who were at the Bengals' workout, Luc is believed to have a legitimate chance of signing a free-agent contract if he's not drafted in a few weeks, possibly as a fullback. He hasn't played in the offensive backfield since he was in high school when he played some at running back and tight end. But if that's what it takes to get him to the NFL, he's all for it.
"I don't mind," Luc said. "Wherever they put me. The guy asked me during Pro Day (at UC), `Do you mind playing fullback?' I said, `Are you going to pay me? Then let's go.' I'm excited whatever position I play."
Luc was all smiles in the locker room after his workout as he talked to reporters. When he finished dressing he made a point to stop and shake hands with Bengals scout Greg Seamon to thank him for the opportunity. It probably wasn't the way Luc envisioned that things would turn out for him when he was being pursued by all those college football powers, but he seemed genuinely happy to be there.
"It was exciting just to get the opportunity to show the coaches what we've got," Luc said, "just to see how a big-time organization like this, how they do things around here. It was an honor to be here. I feel like I'm very blessed to go out and show my talent, to show what I'm capable of."
Bill Koch covered UC Athletics for 27 years - 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer - before joining the staff of GoBEARCATS.com in January, 2015 as featured columnist. Follow him on Twitter @bkoch.