Regarded as one of the elite offensive tackles in college football, Free almost gave up football before his career ever began. In ninth grade at Lincoln High School, Free was going to walk away from the game to work at a dairy farm. ''I was 15 years old, the job paid well and I loved what I was doing,'' he said. ''I kind of had to be talked back to football. And it all worked out.''

It worked out in part because the 5-10, 155-pound freshman sprouted into a 6-5, 210-pound sophomore. That spurt, along with his farm work and weightlifting, pushed Free onto some college radars, but none of the major programs came calling.

''There was talk with Wisconsin, the only I-A program in the state, about walking on as a freshman and maybe getting a scholarship as a sophomore,'' Free said. ''North Dakota and North Dakota State had interest. So did Minnesota-Duluth, where my brother Nic played. And Northern Illinois showed a lot of interest."

Once he saw the farms and fields surrounding NIU, Free quickly enrolled at the school.

At Lincoln High School, free lettered three times in football and was an Honor Roll student. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel rated Free the ninth-best prospect in the state. The team captain and Defensive Lineman of the Year added first-team All-Fox Valley Conference accolades on both offense and defense. He was a first-team Herald Times Reporter All-Area and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-State choice.

He led the team to a 7-3 record and a playoff berth, as the team finished second in the league. Free recorded 64 tackles, eight sacks, seven blocked kicks, six forced fumbles, five pass deflections and two fumble recoveries as a defensive tackle in 2002. He also had six receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown as a tight end. As a junior, he added first-team All-FVC recognition.

Free redshirted in 2002 at Northern Illinois and was penciled in as a reserve on the offensive line (third on the depth chart) entering 2003 fall camp. Free became the starter after a tragic event in which Shea Fitzgerald was killed with 12 others in the collapse of a back porch during a party in Lincoln Park. ''I still have trouble talking about that,'' Free said.

But Fitzgerald's tragic departure cleared the way for Free. Ever since starting the 2003 opener, a 20-13 win over Maryland, he became a fixture at left tackle. He also became the bodyguard for All-American tailback Garrett Wolfe over his next 49 consecutive starts.

Free registered 40 knockdowns in 2003. The following season, the Sophomore All-American third-team and second-team All-Mid American Conference choice participated in 878 total snaps (806 on offense and 72 on placement kick unit) in 12 starts. He lined up at left tackle for the first 10 games before shifting to tight end. He led the offensive line with a 91 percent blocking grade and 17 flat-back blocks. He also finished fourth on the team with 67 knockdowns.

As a junior in 2005, Free was named first-team All-MAC, as he again graded 91 percent for blocking consistency. He was also nominated for MAC All-Academic and CoSIDA District V All-Academic honors with 3.24 grade point average as an Industrial Technology major. He made 49 knockdowns and 13 flat-back blocks while seeing action in 806 plays.

Free earned first-team All-MAC accolades in 2006. He was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Draddy Award, honoring combined academic success, football

performance and exemplary community service,e and received "Halfway All-American" recognition by CBSSportsLine.com at the season's midpoint.

Free registered 59 knockdowns and 10 flat-backs, but he struggled with health issues all year. He was bothered by a groin pull in fall camp, and then suffered a right foot stress fracture when his leg was stepped on in the season opener vs. Ohio State. He played in the next two games before telling trainers of the injury, and the fracture was then treated. He was forced to attend classes wearing a boot to protect the foot. This limited his range and quickness on the field. His season would come to a sad end when he allowed two sacks and three stops behind the line of scrimmage in his final game, vs. Texas Christian in the Poinsettia Bowl.

NIU head coach Joe Novak recently praised Free, saying, "No question, Doug has the talent to play on Sundays. Knock on wood, I believe he's going to be a first-round draft pick. Doug Free's a lot better athlete than Ryan Diem. (Free) can run! You just don't see many offensive linemen that can run at that size like he can. What's impressive is he'll sit back in pass protection and then we'll throw the ball down the field and he'll run down field and block a safety. I mean, get downfield! You just don't see kids who can do that. He's special. Our kids call him 'Doug Freak' because he runs so well."

Positives: Has a thick upper body with wide hips and thighs, with room to add at least another 15-20 pounds with no loss in his impressive quickness (5.09 40-yard dash) … Very agile for a player his size and possesses very good lower body weight room numbers (565-pound squat, 350-pound power clean) … Shows good flexibility on the move and demonstrates good knee bend in his kick slide … Hard worker in practices and the training room who will do the little extras to improve … Well-liked by the team and staff, taking pride in his leadership role … Has a good understanding of blocking schemes and is alert to twists and games … Slides out with good quickness and arms extending to defeat the edge rush … Does a nice job adjusting to action working in space, coming off the ball with good urgency … Hardly ever in a position of disadvantage and uses his long arms to reach and seal … Can set quickly in the short area and has the feet to mirror moves in one-on-one situations … More of a finesse/position and sustain type of blocker, but has the quickness and movement skills to fire off the snap on pulls and traps … Effective at reaching or turning the defender in when he keeps good hand placement … Pulls with good speed and can locate and land in space … Does an excellent job of seeking out the linebackers and gets down field in a hurry, taking good angles to neutralize … Has the speed to cut, wall off and force the chase path by the defender … Has good leg drive and anchor to hold off the pass rusher and even when he over-sets, he recovers quickly … Has better slide and lateral agility moving to the outside than redirecting inside, but can handle quickness when he moves his feet to mirror.

Negatives: More of a finesse type who likes to use his body to lean and push the defender, lacking the upper body strength to punch and shock with his hands … Has good speed, but won't explode into the opponent, preferring to reach and grab … Needs to improve his lower body strength and must get more aggressive in his handling of the bull rusher (can be pushed back into the pocket) … Better pass protector than run blocker, as he is slow to recover bringing his feet when redirecting inside … Gets too narrow in his base at times and needs to be more consistent in his attempts to gain leverage … Gets good hand placement, but you would hope he would shoot his hands with more pop on contact … Good at the reach and scoop, but must work harder to gain advantage in attempts to seal off … Must also stay on his blocks longer (gets off too quick, as he tries to locate other people to hit) … Might be a better fit at guard earlier in his career to cover up upper body strength issues (especially vs. the bull rush).

Compares To: ADAM MEADOWS-Denver … In his prime with the Colts, Meadows was an athletic mover and good finesse blocker. Free possesses the same quickness, reach and second level blocking ability. Some compare him to former NIU blocker Ryan Diem, but he is a much better athlete with quicker feet. Free needs to improve his hand punch and bulk up if he wants to play left tackle at the next level. With his quickness and lateral agility, he might have better success as a pulling guard.

Free started all 49 games of his career at NIU and earned his second consecutive first-team All-Mid American Conference selection in 2006. One of four Huskie captains, he was also a semi-finalist for the Draddy Award.

Earned first-team All-Mid American Conference and Academic All-MAC honors … Semi-finalist for the Draddy Award (honors combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary community service) … Member of the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award Watch Lists … Earned CBSSportsLine.com "Halfway All American" accolades … Received a 91% grade for blocking consistency during the regular season (finished with an 89.2% overall mark), as he registered 61 knockdowns and ten intimidation blocks … Helped the offense average 363.2 yards per game … Bothered in fall camp by a groin strain and then suffered a stress fracture in his right foot in the season opener vs. Ohio State … The injury went undetected for two weeks, and he was forced to wear a boot on his foot to help the injury heal for close to one month, limiting his practice time.

Ohio State … free suffered a right foot stress fracture early in the game and the injury allowed defensive end Vernon Gholston to sack QB Phil Horvath twice for a total of 9 yards in losses, but he also took down Gholston to give Horvath time to lob a fourth quarter 4-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wolfe … Head to Head Competition-DE#50-Vernon Gholston-Five tackles (2 solos), two sacks for minus 9 yards and three stops for losses of 11 yards.

Ohio University … Made ten knockdowns with three blocks down field, including one that cleared a path used by Garrett Wolfe for a 21-yard touchdown run that ended a 6-play, 73-yard drive in the first quarter … The team collected 462 yards in a 35-23 loss … Head to Head Competition-DE#94-Brett Sykes-No tackles.

Buffalo … Graded 94% and registered a season-high eleven knockdowns, shoving defensive tackle Ronald Hilaire out of the way on a 49-yard scoring burst by Garrett Wolfe in the first quarter, as Free did not allow any tackles … Head to Head Competition-DE#91-James Judges-No tackles.

Indiana State … Collected eight knockdowns with two touchdown-resulting blocks, graded 94% and did not allow any tackles for the third-straight game … Took down defensive tackle Will McDonald on a 17-yard touchdown run by Garrett Wolfe that capped a 65-yard, 9-play drive, as the team totaled 420 yards … Head to Head Competition-DE#27-Madison Miller-No tackles.

Ball State … Followed with nine knockdowns and a 92% grade, as he upended linebacker Wendell Brown on QB Phil Horvath's 16-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Perez that ended a 13-play, 74-yard drive in the second quarter … The team would account for 610 yards, but Free also missed a block on defensive end Courtland Booker's tackle of tailback Garrett Wolfe for a 2-yard loss early in the first quarter … Head to Heead Competition-DE#44-Courtland Booker-Five tackles (3 solos), one stop for a 2-yard loss, one fumble recovery.

Miami (Oh.) … Free managed just four knockdowns and was penalized for holding, negating a 38-yard catch by Britt Davis late in the third quarter … He was also beaten by defensive end Joe Coniglio, who took down Garrett Wolfe for a 3-yard loss on a second quarter rushing attempt … Head to Head Competition-DE#51-Joe Coniglio-Three tackles (2 solos), one stop for a 3-yard loss.

Temple … Graded 91%, executing a chop block on linebacker Walter Mebane to give QB Phil Horvath room to fire a 23-yard touchdown pass to Greg Turner in the third quarter …

Missed a block on defensive end Phil Simpson and the result was tailback Garrett Wolfe being stopped for a 1-yard loss on a run midway through the second quarter … Head to Head Competition-DE#94-Phil Simpson-Six tackles (one solo), one stop for a 1-yard loss, one interception.

Toledo … Received a season-high 97% grade, as he held off linebacker Keith Forestal, long enough for Phil Horvath to throw a 5-yard touchdown to Marcus Perez in the first quarter, as the team passed for 244 yards … Head to Head Competition-DE#92-Sean Williamson-Four tackles (one solo), 0.5 stops for a 2-yard loss.

Central Michigan … Struggled to contain All-American defensive end Daniel Bazuin, finishing with a season-low 77% grade … Bazuin killed a late second quarter drive when he stopped Garrett Wolfe for no gain on a run off left tackle and on the next play, Bazuin pressured Dan Nicholson into throwing an incomplete pass,..Bazuin later assisted in taking Wolfe down for a 1-yard loss on a run around the left end … Head to Head Competition-DE#93-Daniel Bazuin-Eight tackles, one stop behind the line of scrimmage, one pressure, one pass deflection.

Eastern Michigan … Bounced back with a 95% grade, as Free shoved defensive tackle Josh Hunt to the ground on a 1-yard touchdown run by Garrett Wolfe that ended a 7-play, 66-yard drive in the first quarter … His only blemish was when defensive end Eric Young killed a later third quarter drive, breaking over left tackle to pressure Dan Nicholson into throwing an incomplete third-&-9 pass … Head to Head Competition-DE#92-Eric Young-Four assisted tackles, one pressure.

Texas Christian (Poinsettia Bowl) … Closed out his career on a sour note, grading 70%, as he saw defensive end Tommy Blake tackle Garrett Wolfe for a 1-yard loss on a rushing attempt and twice sack QB Dan Nicholson for losses totaling 20 yards in a 37-7 loss … Head to Head Competition-DE#97-Tommy Blake-Three solo tackles, two sacks for minus 20 yards, three stops for losses of 21 yards.

First-team All-Mid American Conference selection … Started all year at left tackle, grading 91% for blocking consistency … Posted 49 knockdowns and thirteen intimidation blocks, as he anchored an offensive line that blocked for nation's 16th-ranked rushing attack (206.7 ypg) … The offense averaged 441.1 yards per game) … Nominated for MAC All-Academic and CoSIDA District V All-Academic honors, with 3.24 grade point average in Industrial Technology.

Michigan … Shoved defensive end Preston Burgess out of the way on a 76-yard scoring burst by Garrett Wolfe in the first quarter, but was also beaten by rush end LaMarr Woodley on an 8-yard sack of QB Phil Horvath that resulted in a fumble that Woodley recovered early in the fourth quarter … Free was also called for holding Woodley earlier in that drive … Head to Head Competition-DE#56-LaMarr Woodley-One solo tackle, one sack for minus 8 yards, one fumble forced, one fumble recovery.

Akron … Had his hands full with Jermaine Reid, as the defensive end assisted on two sacks and also caused a fumble that Akron recovered on a third sack of Horvath late in the first quarter … Head to Head Competition-DE#Jermaine Reid-Five tackles (3 solos), three sacks for minus 4 yards, one forced fumble.

Miami (Oh.) … Missed a block and defensive end Craig Mester capitalized to sack QB Phil Horvath for an 8-yard loss … Head to Head Competition-DE#58-Craig Mester-One solo tackle, an 8-yard sack.

Kent State … Graded a season-high 97%, as Free totaled ten knockdowns for an offense that amassed 408 yards … Led the way on a 4-yard touchdown run by tailback Adrian Davis in the first quarter and later took down defensive end Bruce Rice to spring Davis for a second quarter 52-yard scoring scamper over left tackle … Head to Head Competition-DE#7-Bruce Rice-One solo tackle.

Central Michigan … Added seven knockdowns and a 94% grade, as Free cleared a huge hole used by QB Dan Nicholson for a second quarter 3-yard touchdown run as the team piled up 441 yards … Head to Head Competition-DE#58-De'Onte Burnam-Three tackles (one solo).

Earned Sophomore All-American third-team honors from College Sports Report … Second-team All-Mid American Conference choice by the league's coaches … Started all twelve games at left tackle, grading 91% for blocking consistency, as the team averaged 438.8 yards per game in total offense … Participated in 878 plays, registering 67 knockdowns and 17 intimidation blocks … Earned "plus" grades on 654 of 806 offensive line plays … Earned a season-high 99 snaps (92 on offense) vs. Eastern Michigan … Added one tackle vs. Maryland.

Freshman All-American third-team choice by The Sporting News … Started all twelve games, seeing action at right tackle in the season opener vs. Maryland and then shifted to left tackle for the next nine contests before shifting to tight end for the final two … Finished third on the team with 40 knockdowns and graded 85% for blocking consistency … Saw action in 477 of his 595 plays at tackle, wearing jersey #67 … Switched to jersey # 87 while playing tight end … Played a season-high 87 snaps vs. Western Michigan (10-18-03).

Redshirted as true freshman.

2006-Limited in August camp by a groin strain … Suffered a right foot stress fracture in the season opener vs. Ohio State, playing in two more games before the injury was detected (did not miss any playing time). Was forced to wear a protective boot to attend classes while the injury healed.

Campus: 5.09 in the 40-yard dash … 355-pound bench press … Bench presses 225 pounds 18 times … 565-pound squat … 29-inch vertical jump … 34 -inch arm length … 10 -inch hands … Right-handed … 22/29 Wonderlic score.

Attended Lincoln (Manitowoc, Wisc.) High School, playing football for head coach John Dixon … Lettered three times in football and was an Honor Roll student … The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel rated Free the ninth-best prospect in the state … The team captain and Defensive Lineman of the Year added first-team All-Fox Valley Conference accolades on both offense and defense … First-team Herald Times Reporter All-Area and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-State choice … Led the team to a 7-3 record and a playoff berth, as the squad finished second in the league … Recorded 64 tackles, eight sacks, seven blocked kicks, six forced fumbles, five pass deflections and two fumble recoveries as a defensive tackle in 2002 … Had six receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown as a tight end … As a junior, he added first-team All-FVC recognition.

Industrial Technology major, twice earning Academic All-Mid American Conference honors with a 3.24 grade point average … Born 1/16/84 … Resides in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.