Productive but not flashy in an NFL-style offense at Notre Dame. He can make the tough catch and gives top effort, assets that could see him come off the board in the first two rounds.

Positives: Has good size and is a complete tight end. … Can block and get open down the seam. … Quick off the snap and blocks with a purpose. … Keeps a square frame and can seal the edge or get to linebackers. … Smooth adjusting to off-target throws. … Reliable route runner. … Has build-up speed.

Negatives: He's not Jeremy Shockey or Vernon Davis athletically, but he's not a complete slouch. … Could be stronger. … Was prone to drops and lapses in concentration. … Has long arms and decent strength, but tries to block with his shoulders and loses leverage.

Graduated from Litchfield (Minn.) High School … ranked 19th on the Detroit Free-Press 20-player Best of the Midwest team … named to the 10-member Super Preps team by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune … a four-year starter at tight end … a three-time all-conference selection and two-time all-state honoree … caught 41 passes, seven for TDs, for 471 yards as senior in 2002 … made 79 tackles and two sacks at defensive end … career totals included 95 catches for 1,331 yards and 23 TDs … rushing stats were 133 attempts for 493 yards and seven TDs, while also returning kicks … totaled 30 TDs in his career and scored 194 points … had 200 career tackles, including 96 solos … played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio … starting center in basketball who helped team compile a 114-8 record during his career while winning the Minnesota Class 2A state title three times.

Named first-team all-state as a senior, honorable mention as a junior and second team as a sophomore … finished his prep basketball career with 1,676 points, 974 rebounds and 412 assists … was a McDonald's preseason All-American in basketball as a senior … conference MVP as a junior and senior and was a four-time all-conference and all-area selection … played in the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game … also played tennis, helping his team reach the state finals as a junior … finished with a career record of 106-22 playing No. 1 doubles … three-time all-conference selection in tennis … two-time participant in the individual state tennis tournament and four-time letterman.

One of four children … father John played basketball at St. Cloud State and was his coach at Litchfield in both basketball and tennis … member of the National Honor Society … full name is John David Carlson … born May 12, 1984, in St. Cloud, Minn. … enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters, majoring in history … earned a 3.8 grade-point average in `06 spring semester and now boasts cumulative 3.571 average as Dean's List honoree.