Stephen Holder

stephen.holder@indystar.com

This weekend was one of the biggest of Cody Latimer's life.

The former Indiana University receiver, along with other wideouts here at the NFL Scouting Combine, was being put through interviews and drills before coaches, scouts and team executives at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Latimer spent time with reporters here and affirmed that he feels good about his decision to leave IU a year early, saying the NFL's draft advisory board gave him a third-round grade when he sought its assessment. The board offers advice to underclassmen who are considering leaving school early for the draft and typically gives relatively conservative projections.

The decision was not easily arrived at. But coach Kevin Wilson was very involved in the process, Latimer said.

"Coach Wilson did a good job of keeping up with me throughout the season and just updating me with different facts and where I would probably go and what I would get if I went here and what's the best move," Latimer said.

"The ultimate decision was mine at the end and I had their support and this was a hot year for receivers so I figured I'd give it a try. I had three years at IU and enjoyed every year of it and just thought I was ready to go."

Latimer won't be able to put all his talents on display this week. He revealed that he's still recovering from a foot surgery he underwent January 19 and was restricted to only the bench press.

"I'm actually ahead of schedule so (doctors) actually released me so I can start training again next week so I can start running," Latimer said.

He's not stressing over his inability to work out though. As team execs always reiterate, game tape is always what matters most. After a 72-catch, 1,096-yard season, Latimer should feel good about his.

"It's all out there," he said. "Like the coaches say, your resume' is out there. Your film is you. It's what you've produced, what you've done."