Former prep All-American Darius Fleming hungry to show he belongs with the best

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Darius Fleming is participating in a rigorous training program designed for the combine. | Al Podgorski~Sun-Times

Updated: March 18, 2012 8:21AM

Darius Fleming knows what it’s like to be a hot commodity.

When Fleming was a senior at St. Rita, he was the top-ranked college prospect in the Chicago area and ranked 31st overall in the United States, eighth among outside linebackers and seventh among defensive ends by national recruiting services. He turned down USC and Oklahoma among many others to go to Notre Dame.

But it’s his humble roots as a football player on the South Side that are driving Fleming as he prepares for the NFL draft.

After four tumultuous seasons at Notre Dame, Fleming is considered a mid- to late-round pick in the April draft — he’s rated anywhere from 12th to 21st among outside-linebacker prospects. The former prep All-American now is the hungry guy trying to prove he’s as good or better than those rated above him.

But that’s how he got to the top in the first place. Fleming was an unheralded prospect when he came to St. Rita, a basketball player who contemplated going to Brother Rice because of its bowling program. A bit player in football as a sophomore, he made his initial impact as a junior at St. Rita on special teams — blocking a punt in the season opener against Hubbard — before dominating at defensive end to help the ­Mustangs win their first state championship since 1978.

‘‘There are some great players at my position — you can’t be upset about those guys being rated higher,’’ Fleming said. ‘‘I respect the position I’m in. That’s something I’ve done to myself. And something I’m going to work on to improve.

‘‘[It] just makes me that much hungrier. I know that I have to perform well [at the combine]. When you’re rated higher, sometimes you don’t have the motor like someone that’s rated lower. I’m excited about it. It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.’’

Still, it’s a laborious process. After finishing his senior season in Notre Dame’s 18-14 loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29, Fleming hired an agent, choosing David Lee of Cleveland-based Players Rep Sports Management.

Needing to open some eyes at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next week, Fleming is in a rigorous training program designed specifically for the combine at EFT Sports Performance in Highland Park. His trainer is Elias Karras, who also trains NFL players such as Devin Hester and Johnny Knox and Bulls All-Star Luol Deng.

It’s not cheap. The training program alone costs between $8,000 and $10,000. The agency pays for not only that, but all of Fleming’s expenses — meals, hotel, transportation, insurance and a stipend.

And Fleming is still a student at Notre Dame. He’s enrolled in an independent study course that allows him to stay in the Chicago area. Because he has taken summer school courses, he will graduate in May with a degree in management consulting.

As for the draft itself, Fleming is a wild card. At 6-2, 245, he’s being billed as an outside linebacker with pass-rushing skills — with the kind of breakout potential that has more than one NFL team hoping he stays out of the draft spotlight.

‘‘He’s an interesting guy,’’ said NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock, who also has been an analyst for Notre Dame home games the last two seasons. ‘‘The interesting comments I’ve gotten from NFL people is he doesn’t have a high rating, but once teams put the tape on him, they say, ‘Wow, there’s something there.’

‘‘Part of the problem is that he’s a tweener from a size perspective. Where do you play him? How do you play him? He’s not long enough or big enough to be a 4-3 defensive end. Can he stand up and play inside in a 3-4? There are all kinds of questions ­surrounding him, but I think that’s good for him because they’re asking those questions. They’re trying to find a spot for him.

‘‘Here’s what I do know: He has some natural pass-rush ability. So no matter where you line him up — with his hand in the dirt or standing up — there will be value to NFL teams. So, to me, he’s a draftable defensive end/outside linebacker/special-teams player, and he’ll probably look better than people think at the combine. He’s going to surprise people as we get closer to the draft.’’