Welcome to the "NFL Draft Diary," The Oregonian's series that follows former Oregon defensive lineman Taylor Hart in the months leading up to the NFL draft, May 8-10.

Every few weeks, Hart -- a Tualatin native -- will take readers inside training for the NFL draft. Hart finished his Oregon career on Dec. 30 with a 30-7 victory against Texas in the Alamo Bowl that finished a season where he shared team co-MVP honors. He began training near San Diego in January before an injured foot limited his participation in February's NFL Scouting Combine.

(Previous installments: Part One | Part Two | Part Three)

Hart has since moved back to Eugene, where he trains using UO's facilities. The Oregonian caught up with Hart -- who appeared slimmed down but with bigger shoulders, saying he was focusing on building upper-body strength -- on Monday in the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex to check up on the lineman with the draft only three weeks away.

The Oregonian: What have you heard after your recent visit to the Philadelphia Eagles?

Taylor Hart: I think it went good. I mean it was just cool to go out there and see all the old coaches and stuff. It was nice to go see what Philadelphia's all about. I'd never been out there so it was a good deal.

Q: Is it odd to see your old coaches in the new place?

Hart: It kind of was, it felt that way. With my position coach there and then Chip's there and everybody else. There's a lot of people from Oregon so it felt like Oregon 2.0 there.

Q: Can you describe how you've spent this last month before the May 8-10 NFL Draft?

Hart: You just kind of work out and take advantage of this time off that you have because once it happens it's going to happen quick, that's what I've heard at least, I'll be busy. So I've just been working out and getting everything ready.

Q: Are you nervous or because you've been training since January, you're just eager to have it over?

Hart: There's nothing in my control so there's no reason to be nervous about it. All I can do is work out and be healthy.

Q: Is your foot healthy?

Hart: Yeah. I fly out to Indianapolis for a medical re-check, that's this Friday, I think. I'm there for less than 24 hours.

Q: Do you have an idea about where you might land in the draft, not necessarily a team, but a round?

Hart: You know I've been talking with my agent and stuff and we're hopeful. We've been talking to quite a few teams and if we get one team interested maybe one team will have to go higher, you just never know. I could go anywhere. You look at those mock drafts, I could go from the second round to not drafted, so, it's pretty interesting.

Q: How much have you changed physically since this began, after the Alamo Bowl?

Hart: My goal was to drop some body fat and gain muscle. For me, it's just to get in the best shape I can and lift. Right now I'm usually in spring ball so I'd be practicing and couldn't lift as hard. I can run obviously a lot but just eating healthy, which is something I probably should have done a long time ago. Luckily I have this time to figure this out and help my body.

-- Andrew Greif | @andrewgreif