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Former Michigan State receiver Aaron Burbridge is hoping to impress scouts this weekend at the NFL combine.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ask a young receiver about guys he looks up to, and Calvin Johnson is a popular choice. So is Dez Bryant. You'll hear a few Antonio Bryants.

But the first name Michigan State's Aaron Burbridge gave was very different, and very interesting.

"Terrell Owens," Burbridge said. "Just the way he played. As a wideout, you have to play with that swagger and that confidence, knowing you're the best one on the field. He was one of those guys. He knew he was the best."

Burbridge isn't the best receiver prospect in this draft. That honor belongs to Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell, at least heading into today's receiver drills at the combine. Baylor's Corey Coleman and TCU's Josh Doctson are getting some fringe-first round love too.

Burbridge, on the other hand, is considered more of a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick despite being named receiver of the year in the Big Ten. He finished his career with 165 catches, which was second in school history, for 2,174 yards and 10 touchdowns.

But he has a little Owens-like swagger to him, and intends to show scouts why he's so confident during today's drills at the combine.

"I always knew I had the athletic ability," he said. "This year, I knew I was the go-to guy. I had to be the go-to guy and I started playing with confidence."

The receiver market is considered a little lean at the top this year, but there are a glut of potential contributors in the middle rounds -- which means Burbridge is going to have a lot of competition when teams are considering receivers in the third and fourth rounds.

What does he believe will set him apart from the pack?

" I feel like the way I attack the ball," he said, "and the offense I played in was a pro-style offense. I'm familiar with the style the NFL runs."

Mark Dantonio's program is highly regarded in NFL circles for producing savvy players. Guys like tailback Le'Veon Bell and quarterback Kirk Cousins have found a lot of success in recent years, and Burbridge hopes he can become the scheme's latest success story at the next level.

He's already had formal interviews with the Rams and Cardinals, and more are on tap before he leaves Indianapolis. He said he doesn't care where a team wants him to play, he just wants to play.

"I can probably play either (slot or outside)," he said. "I did everything at Michigan State."

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