As impressive as Taylor Mehlhaff's kicking numbers were at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last week, it might've been the number he was least pleased with that sent the clearest message of what the former University of Wisconsin kicker is all about.

That number: 13, as in 13 bench-press reps of 225 pounds — fewer than he'd hoped for but far more than any other specialist ... because he was the only one to even attempt the test.

"I did 15 the week prior at school. I was hoping to get 16," Mehlhaff said Tuesday. "(Doing the bench press) doesn't say a whole lot about your kicking, but I guess people were saying I created a little buzz by doing it since none of the other kickers or punters did it."

Mehlhaff's kicking was just as buzzworthy. He made 14 of 15 field goal attempts from 30 to 50 yards, and his miss came from 45 yards on a poor snap and poor hold. And even that worked to his advantage, he said.

"I think it was actually a good thing, because (NFL scouts) want to see how you bounce back," said Mehlhaff, one of four kickers to participate in the Friday workout at the RCA Dome. "And I bounced back and hit two in a row from 45 and then hit three in a row from 50.

"With some kickers, that miss could mess with your head. All the scouts and coaches are behind the goalpost, and they have you live on TV on the NFL Network. That's a pressure situation, and for me to respond like that after a miss, I think that was good for me."

Mehlhaff, who made 21 of 25 field-goal attempts (84 percent) last season and 50 of 65 (76.9 percent) in three years (he only did kickoffs his freshman year with Mike Allen handling placements), was hoping his kickoffs would be deeper at the combine, although they too were the best of the bunch.

"I didn't kick off as well as I wanted to," said Mehlhaff, who said his hang times were between 4.3 and 4.4 seconds but the kicks only reached the 5-yard line instead of the goal line. "I can hit those hang times in the end zone. So I was a little frustrated."

Although Mehlhaff didn't get any of the 60 formal 15-minute interviews each team is allowed — "They don't want to waste those on a kicker," he joked — he said he did speak with all 32 teams while in Indianapolis.

And while he doesn't know where he'll go during the April 26-27 draft — "I really have no idea. It could be anywhere from the third rounhd to the seventh round to undrafted," he said — he's trying to live a semi-normal student life while finishing up the final 12 credits he needs to graduate this spring with a degree in business management.

He'll get another chance to kick at UW's annual pro day on March 5, although he's not sure what the NFL talent evaluators will ask him to do during that workout. He has been kicking NFL K-balls throughout his draft preparation — the Green Bay Packers' equipment staff just sent him another shipment Tuesday — and hasn't seen much change in his accuracy or distance compared to the college ball.

"It's really not that big of a deal," he said. "With kickers, I think it's more in your head than anything."

And that might be the part of Mehlhaff's makeup that NFL teams will like the most. He played quarterback, outside linebacker, kicker and punter in high school at Aberdeen (S.D.) Central, and prides himself on his non-kicker mentality, as evidenced by his decision to waltz into the weight room and do the bench press shortly after his kicking session ended.

"I like to think of myself not as a kicker but as an athlete that kicks," said Mehlhaff, who ended his UW career tied for second in career field goals (50, with Rich Thompson and 15 behind Todd Gregoire), second in field-goal accuracy (only by Matt Davenport, at 86.8 percent, was better) and second only to Ron Dayne in career scoring (295 points).

"When you're an athlete, you're competitive. I don't shy away from competition at all. That's why I was so excited about the combine — I couldn't wait to get there and go against those guys and show everybody what I could do. Those other kickers and punters, they were wowed. They said they'd never seen anyone kick like that. I wanted to make a statement like that."