I'm back home in Kingsport, Tenn., now and getting ready for the NFL draft this weekend.

About a month before the NFL combine I went to Atlanta to train at XPE (Extreme Performance Enhancement) to work on my speed, vertical leap and 40. It helped me a lot. I always ran a solid 4.4, but I left feeling confident I could run in the low 4.4's. It helped my vertical jump and they showed me a couple of new things that I worked on a lot. They really teach you a lot of stuff that can help you get the most out of your natural abilities and I just want to really thank them.

The combine was very exciting. I got to meet a lot of highly-rated players and saw Bill Parcells. Just about every head coach in the league was there. The most shocking thing was all the medical work and all the tugging and pulling that they do on you. I guess they want to see how strong and balanced you are and it takes a toll. Afterwards, I was telling some of the other players that my shoulders were so sore I felt like I had just played a football game but I didn't hit anybody. I was nervous going into the combine, but it was a great experience. (Sensabaugh reportedly had one of the most impressive performances at the combine. He was measured at 6-foot-0 ½, 213-pounds, ran the 40 in 4.45 and turned in a 46-inch vertical leap).

I got to hang out with a lot of the other defensive backs, including N.C. State's Andre Maddox, Wake Forest's Eric King and Florida State's Bryan McFadden. All those guys were really cool and we had a good time. I just gave Andre a call the other day to see how he was doing.

The most impressive thing I saw at the combine were the linebackers on the bench press. One of the guys from Nebraska was in the mid-30s in reps (225 pounds). Jerome Mathis, a wide receiver from Hampton, turned some heads when he was timed in the 4.2's. There were some people there saying that was the fastest in the history of the combine, even faster than Deion Sanders (Some coaches reportedly timed Mathis at 4.25, Sanders holds the official record at 4.28).

The physiological tests that you go through are crazy. They really test your memory with numbers, asking you to repeat different numbers and then repeat them backwards. The most ridiculous question I got, was "if I could ever see myself as a nurse?" I was thinking what does that have to do with football, but the teams just want to test your patience and see how you deal with distractions.

On the plane ride home, I actually sat next to a guy from the Jacksonville Jaguars. We talked for about 30 minutes and he said that I helped myself out a lot. That's definitely a good sign, but all I can do is wait and see when the draft arrives.

I went to North Carolina's Pro Day last month and it was great to see Darian Durant, Chad Scott, Jonas Seawright, Madison Hedgecock and some of my other teammates. I hadn't seen some of those guys since the season ended. At the NFL combine I got nervous during the positional drills and got cramps during the shuttle test so I felt that I didn't do as well as I could have. I felt I did a very good job in both those tests at Chapel Hill.

I hired an agent, Kevin Connor, who works out of Atlanta. He is the one that turned me on to XPE. He represents one of my former teammates at East Tennessee State who is now in the Arena Football League and I knew he wouldn't steer me wrong in this process. It can be crazy with all these people calling you that you don't know and telling you all sorts of outlandish things, so it's nice that I know Kevin and have confidence in him.

I've been talking with (UNC defensive backs) coach (Marvin) Sanders and Connor, and hearing a lot of good things. I'm hearing that I will be drafted on the first day (first three rounds).

I am planning a little party at the Kingsport Boys and Girls Club on Saturday to raise money for the black community at the club. The program may get cut and needs donations. I usually don't do things like this, but I want to use my position to spotlight the needs in the community.

Thanks for all your support.

Sincerely,

Gerald Sensabaugh

Special Note: If you would like to make a donation to the Kingsport Boys and Girls Club's back community programs call Denise Sensabaugh at 423-677-0864.