Stephen McGee would rather focus on what is and will be, even though he believes what could have been would have been special.

"I've always viewed myself as a first-round quarterback," McGee said. "If I played to my potential at Texas A&M, that's where I would be. If I threw the ball, there's no doubt I'd be a first-round guy. There's no doubt in my mind."

McGee had to overcome a run-oriented offense and an injury-plagued senior season to be rated the fourth-best quarterback for this weekend's NFL draft behind Georgia's Matthew Stafford, Southern Cal's Mark Sanchez and Kansas State's Josh Freeman by draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.

"I'm expecting to get drafted in the third round," McGee said. "If I have a good day, I'll get drafted in the second round. If I have a bad day, it will be the fourth round. If I have a terrible day, it will be the fifth."

The NFL draft will have only two rounds Saturday, with the final five rounds Sunday.

A&M potentially could have four players drafted. Running back Mike Goodson (6-foot, 208 pounds), defensive end Michael Bennett (6-4, 274) and punter Justin Brantly (6-3, 249) worked out at the NFL combine along with McGee (6-3, 225), whose stock has risen since the end of the season.

McGee was expected to flourish under first-year head coach Mike Sherman's West Coast offense last season, but he injured his throwing shoulder and played in only six games, starting three. He completed 56 of 85 passes for 586 yards last season.

It was a disappointing end to a roller-coaster career.

He came to A&M as a passing quarterback but became deft at running the zone read for former head coach Dennis Franchione. McGee had 327 carries for 1,565 yards as a sophomore and junior but had pedestrian passing numbers. He was 405-of-677 passing for 4,606 yards with 24 touchdowns during that period.

By comparison, Georgia's Matthew Stafford, the top-rated quarterback, was 235-of-383 passing for 3,459 yards and 25 touchdowns in just his senior year.

McGee's stock rose during practices for the East-West Shrine Game. Then at the NFL combine, McGee was timed at 4.66 seconds in the 40-yard dash, with only West Virginia's Pat White (4.55) faster among the quarterbacks. McGee had a vertical jump of 33 feet, broad jumped 9-4 and had a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.49.

"I know my talent," McGee said. "I know what skills I have. I'll put 'em up against anyone in the country."

Last year as Texas A&M opened fall camp, quarterbacks coach Tom Rossley, who spent 11 years in the NFL, said McGee was a first-day NFL draft pick.

He still has an outside chance at that, but most projections have him going in the third round.

"You really have no clue, weird things happen," McGee said. "Hopefully, I'll go in the second round. But if I go in the fifth round, they're just going to get a more [hacked]-off quarterback."

Several teams included McGee in the 30 prospects they could bring in for closer evaluation.

"Dallas definitely was the one that stuck out more so than all the others, just because that was the place that I'd seen on TV for so many years, and all the players that I'd idolized when I was a little kid," McGee said. "That's the uniform that I first had when I was 5 years old."

McGee also made trips to Oakland, Houston, Seattle, Jacksonville, Carolina, Miami, San Francisco, Denver and New England.

"It's a huge, long job interview process for about five months," McGee said. "You just get hammered in every possible way. The visits aren't mainly to work you out. They're just to get to know what you're going to be like in the locker room. They just sit down with you and see what your personality is like, and to see how smart you are with Xs and Os, football-wise. That's kinda my chance to really shine."

McGee is an excellent student. He graduated early from Burnet High School to enroll at A&M, then earned his college degree with two years of eligibility left, which allowed him to enroll in graduate school. He also has an engaging personality.

"Where I really separate myself from the other quarterbacks I think is on the boards, Xs and Os and football smarts," McGee said.

Scott Wright of Draft Countdown.com, likes McGee's size and athleticism. "Real mobile and is a threat to make plays with his feet," Wright said. "[He] can throw on the run, a first-rate competitor, great work ethic, loves the game."

Raw footwork and poor mechanics and technique are the knocks Wright has on McGee, who shrugs off criticism.

"At the end of the day it doesn't matter if you're a first-round pick or free agent," McGee said. "Come the first rookie camp, you have to earn every dollar you make."'

Others hoping to be picked

Goodson, Bennett and Brantly are expected to late-round picks. Goodson could be used on special teams because of his speed. Bennett and Missouri defensive end Stryker Sulak (6-5, 251), who played at Rockdale High, are considered "tweeners" because they also could play inside. Bennett, older brother of A&M tight end Martellus Bennett, has a strong upper body and long arms. Brantly has been compared to former A&M punter Shane Lechler, an All-Pro punter for the Oakland Raiders.

Former A&M Consolidated standout David Nixon, who became the Mountain West Conference's all-time leading tackler at linebacker for Brigham Young, might have to sign as a free agent after not getting invited to the NFL combine.

*

NOTES -- McGee will watch the draft with his family in College Station. McGee, an outdoorsman, said he might go outside and shoot his bow and arrow a few times if the draft drags on. ... A&M has had only six quarterbacks drafted -- Bucky Richardson, eighth round by the Houston Oilers in 1992; Gary Kubiak, eighth round by the Denver Broncos in 1983; Edd Hargett, 16th round by the New Orleans Saints in 1969; Charlie Milstead, first round by the San Diego Chargers in 1960; Elwood Kettler, 14th round by the New York Giants in 1955; and Marion Pugh, second round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941. Reggie McNeal, the A&M starting quarterback before McGee, was drafted in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals, but as a wide receiver.

NFL DRAFT

* When/where: Saturday-Sunday in New York

* Saturday's TV: 3 p.m. on ESPN, Ch. 27; 8 p.m. on ESPN, Ch. 28