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Hobart OL Ali Marpet has slowly risen up draft boards with an impressive offseason. The Division III product could go as high as the second round, though the third round or Day 3 seem more likely.

(AP File Photo)

Editor's note: This is the third in a three-part series looking at the Detroit Lions' options in the NFL draft. Monday was first-rounders. Tuesday was second-rounders. Today are late-rounders.

The Detroit Lions have multiple needs on the offensive line, and could fill them early in the draft.

More likely, though, they spray those early picks all over the field as they chase the best player available. But at some point, they need bodies up front.

And there should be a big one available late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 in Ali Marpet.

Marpet is this year's small-school prospect de jour, having matriculated from Hobart, an all-male school located in Geneva, N.Y. It combines with Smith College, an all-female school, for a total enrollment of 2,272.

Hobart has produced a few persons of interest in sports, including University of Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley, but no NFL players since the FDR administration.

That drought figures to end Friday or Saturday.

Marpet enrolled at the school believing he would play basketball as well. But as he packed on the pounds, it became apparent he could a future in football.

"I came into camp in my freshman year at 255 pounds," Marpet said. "I just weighed in a 307 pounds.

"It's always been a struggle to try and gain weight. Each meal is a battle,

and it's part of my job. Two hundred fifty-five is definitely too small, even for a Division III school. My senior year, I played at around 300 pounds, and it felt good. I take eating pretty seriously."

He isn't kidding.

Marpet said he has to eat around 7,000 calories per day. Yes, that's a seven followed by three zeros. And that's just to maintain his weight.

If he wants to gain weight -- and that's been the case for much of his college career, and particularly true as he prepares for the rigors of the NFL -- then he has to eat closer to 8,000 or 9,000 calories per day. Again, not typos.

"We did a BodPod test, which is a body fat test, and it showed that if I just laid in bed for 24 hours, I'd be wasting 3,500 calories," Marpet said. "So, just sitting around, I need to eat 3,500 calories a day to maintain my body weight. When I'm exercising, I need 7,000-plus to maintain, and if I want to gain weight, I need 8-9,000 calories. That's not easy."

Marpet dominated on the field at tackle last season, as you would expect from an NFL prospect who played in Division III. But he solidified his stock as a legitimate NFL draft prospect by holding his own against Danny Shelton and the rest of the defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.

He projects for the interior in the NFL, at 6-foot-3, 307 pounds, and appears to be headed for a mid-round pick. He could be an option for a team such as the Lions, who require depth up front.

The Lions would like to replace Rob Sims at left guard in the draft (though could still re-sign Sims after the draft if that doesn't work out). They don't have much by way of experienced backups in the interior, especially after Rodney Austin was cut amid domestic abuse allegations.

They also could use depth at tackle.

Detroit is expected to address those needs early in the draft, and perhaps in the first round at 23rd overall. But if they go in other directions, Marpet could be a sensible mid-round option with a high ceiling.

Other middle- or late-round options to keep an eye on: Alabama fullback Jalston Fowler, UAB WR/returner JJ Nelson, Central Michigan DT Leterrius Walton, Utah OT Jeremiah Poutasi, Western Oregon WR Tyrell Williams, Auburn DT Angelo Blackson, Kentucky OL Darrian Miller, Florida Atlantic S Damian Parms and North Dakota State RB John Crockett.

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