University of Colorado kicker Mason Crosby is on the clock toward history. Crosby has a chance to be the first kicker since 2000 to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. His countdown to the draft has been in motion since his senior season finished in Boulder. And as the recent graduate just finished his third big step, with his workout Friday at CU's pro day, he will keep a diary for the Rocky Mountain News of the places he goes and the people he sees.

Part 3: "It's an adventure, for sure"

There were a lot of teams here (Friday), but after the (NFL scouting) combine and the Senior Bowl - where I kicked a lot - I wasn't sure how many teams would want me to kick. No one really asked me to do anything when the other guys were working out, but luckily, I got warmed up and stayed focused because right at the end of the day, they wanted to see me do some things.

And I thought I hit the ball really well. It felt nice.

But it was different; we went through everything so fast (Friday). The combine was just this slow, grueling process.

There, you have one full day of teams just checking you out physically, and then there are the interviews, the workout; it's just a longer process.

This is like the Senior Bowl and the combine all right quick into one thing. They do all the tests, everything quick, everybody's gone and they're probably at the airport getting on a flight before I'm back in my car.

It was fun, though. Being here for four years and seeing all the guys going through it every year, doing this, it was great to finally be doing it ourselves. We'd run, do all of these things as underclassmen, but being part of it, with all the scouts watching you, going through it with guys you've been playing with for four years out here, competing, having fun, trying to earn a spot on a team, was just a great feeling.

It's awesome, seeing guys going after success; everyone is just trying so hard to make it.

It is kind of strange to have been through a lot of it now, having gone through the combine, the Senior Bowl and now pro day. In the beginning, you don't know what to expect or where it will take you.

It was fun (Friday). In the end, there was only one team watching, but that's all it takes. I don't know if it's a good sign, but maybe scouts, special- teams coaches are confident in what I can do. What I've done is on film; I've kicked for every team a few times before this and I feel confident in what I can do.

And, again, it just takes one team to be interested, and that's what I'm hoping for. I think I've shown, I've proven, that I'm ready for this. I think it's something I'm excited about; I'm ready to go that next level.

I'll be here (in Boulder) for a week in case any teams want another workout and then I'll go home to Georgetown (Texas).

I just kick at kind of a soccer field there - it has uprights, they play some pee-wee football there, some middle school games. But I'll be out there kicking and there will be soccer practice going on at the other end.

But I really enjoy being home, seeing the next kids coming through, going to my old high school.

It's really motivating to be at home. I've seen my parents, my family, a lot up here, because they would come to games, but just being at home is something that's been great for every part of me.

I feel healthy, I feel good. I think I'm just going along and having fun with it. It's an adventure, for sure. It's a long process to get to this point, but it's all something I've dreamt about. That next step is what I've been dreaming about and these are all of the things I have to do to get there.

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