While a handful of University of Wisconsin football players were recently conducting their post-practice interviews in the McClain Facility, a former UW wide receiver, Luke Swan, was putting himself through a series of agility drills on the indoor turf.

Still rehabbing from a hamstring injury that cut his 2007 season short, Swan is determined to keep his NFL dream alive. The Kansas City Chiefs released Swan, a free agent, before training camp, but he's now hoping to catch on with their practice squad. That's the goal.

And that was the backdrop for David Gilreath's observations on Swan. "He's great in the film room -- that's his main thing -- and he's a smart guy on the field," said Gilreath, a sophomore wideout from New Hope, Minn., who had taken notice of Swan working out. "His route-running had to be crisp," he added. "He's a good athlete, but maybe he's not the best athlete. And I don't want to take anything away from him, but he would do all the little things that would get him into holes (in the coverage)."

Gilreath was being complimentary of Swan, a former walk-on, in noting his perseverance and attention to detail -- qualities which have allowed Swan to compensate for whatever he may have lacked athletically. Nobody knows that dynamic better than Gilreath, who has forever been physically challenged to prove himself at every level of competition. "I've never been the biggest guy," he said.

Not that you would notice. But the 5-foot-11 Gilreath did put on some extra pounds during the offseason. "I was about 165 in training camp," he said, "but I've been gradually losing weight during the season. Now, I'm 160. Hopefully my body matures a little more. I know I have to eat right. And I try to eat as much as I can. My thing is, when I eat, I think I'm full. Do you know how that is?" Sizing up his interviewer's girth, he politely and quickly continued, "I hope I can play big. There are some little guys out there doing it."

Little big men.

Or little men playing big.

Gilreath named names, starting with the Philadelphia Eagles' explosive rookie wide receiver and kick return specialist, DeSean Jackson, who's about 5-9, 175 pounds. A second-round draft choice out of Cal, where he was one of the elite playmakers in the Pac-10, he has already had a sizeable impact with the Eagles. This past Sunday, he had a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown. "That's my guy," Gilreath said. "When I was in high school, people would tell me, 'You're too little to make it.' And I'd say, 'Look at this guy (Jackson).' Now he's in the league doing his thing."

So is the 5-10, 195-pound Mark Clayton, with the Baltimore Ravens. Gilreath first got introduced to Clayton when he was starring for the Oklahoma Sooners. Ever since then, he has been tracking Clayton's career, and Jackson's, on the Internet, where he can stay abreast of their stats. "I like the bigger guys, too," said Gilreath, citing the 6-3, 220-pound Larry Fitzgerald, a Minneapolis native and Pitt product who is now an All-Pro with the Arizona Cardinals. "I used to live two blocks from him. I met him a few times. I like him a lot."