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PROVO -- College football fall camp is just a month away, but the NFL's supplemental draft is next week.
BYU's all-time leading rusher, Harvey Unga, is hoping since he can't return to play his senior season with the Cougars he can jump to the NFL right now. He tried out at Pro Day in Provo Thursday.
The Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Pittsburg Steelers and 17 other NFL scouts were in Provo to measure, weigh and work out Unga.
"As far as I'm concerned, I just came out today to do the best that I could and come away with that, and just leave it up to the hands of the coaches and the GMs, see what they think," Unga said.
The former BYU star left the university in May because of an Honor Code violation and was not allowed to return for his senior season.
"I made a mistake," Unga said. "I have no regrets. I'm just looking forward to life and what's about to happen. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still a Cougar at heart."
Now Unga is just trying to make the best of that mistake and move on with his life and family.
"[I've got] a little boy, Jackson, named after my dad," Unga said.
He became a father just last Sunday. His baby boy entered the world weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces, and measuring 21 inches long.
After all that has gone on in his life in the past few months, Unga says he is happy.
"For those of you that are married and have little kids, obviously you know that it is one of the most special experiences and it's something I hold dear to me, and I wouldn't trade him for the world," Unga said.
What does the future hold next for Unga? A wedding. He said he is planning on getting married soon.
By the way, Unga ran a 4.6 40-yard dash during Thursday's trial -- which is pretty good for a 244-pound kid.
E-mail: rzundel@ksl.com
