Michael Viti's bone-jarring blocks become the stuff of legend around West Point. One of college football's strongest players, he boasts a 470-pound bench press. One of four team captains, his physique was recently described by NFL scouts as "having muscles coming out of his muscles."

A powerful inside runner, Viti is more comfortable flattening a pass rusher or leveling a linebacker while leading the way for a teammate in the team's running attack. He has proven to be a capable short-area receiver, getting most of his yardage after the catch by breaking tackles.

Heavily recruited during his junior year at Berwick High School, most universities shied away from Viti after he suffered torn knee ligaments prior to the second game of his prep senior year. He continued to play through his injuries, earning All-State honors as part of one of the nation's top high school squads, as the team ranked as high as third nationally by USA Today during his final season.

Viti split time between fullback and linebacker. He was a three-time All-Conference and All-Region choice, twice earning Regional Linebacker of the Year honors. He served as team captain during his final two seasons, as the club notched a pair of conference titles during his tenure. He earned three letters in football and four in wrestling. The three-time district All-Academic pick was also a three-time district champion and state place-winner on the wrestling mat.

Viti reached 100 career wins on the mat faster than any wrestler in school history and was voted the "Most Athletic" member of his senior class. He was a National Honor Society member, student council participant, two-time class president and served as a sports writer for the student newspaper.

One of just seven true freshmen to letter at Army in 2004, he appeared in the team's final ten games, but did not have any rushing attempts. He did catch two passes for 19 yards. A right knee meniscus tear was repaired in February, the result of a high school wrestling injury.

As a sophomore, he started six of 11 games, totaling just one yards on four carries. He managed to haul in six passes for 55 yards (9.2-yard average), but was bothered by a left knee meniscus tear that required surgery after the season.

In 2006, Viti started all 12 games at fullback. He carried 55 times for a career-high 239 yards (4.3-yard average) and a touchdown. He added 74 yards on 13 receptions (5.7-yard average) and recorded two solo tackles.

As a senior, Viti saw his rushing load reduced, as he managed just 76 yards and two scores on 29 attempts (2.6-yard average). He added 50 yards on nine receptions (5.6-yard average), but was bothered late in the year by a right leg contusion suffered vs. Tulsa and missed two early season starts while battling the after effects from a concussion.

Positives: Has a thick, highly muscular frame (built more like a heavyweight wrestler) with minimal body fat (8.6%), very thick neck and chest, broad shoulders, flat back and large, strong hands … Has a tight waist and thick thighs and calves … Despite several injuries that would sideline others, he has never missed a game due to an injury … Excels in pass protection, keeping his head on a swivel with hands ready to reset and recoil with good force to rock the defender back … Physical lead blocker who can consistently widen rush lanes … Has a low center of gravity and great leg drive to clear space and push back oncoming second-level defenders trying to plug the gaps … Shows good pad level and power as a short-yardage runner … Effective outlet receiver who gets into his short-area patterns nicely, but does not have the speed to be a downfield threat … Consistently breaks tackles and shows good explosion on contact attacking the defender when blocking in-line … Has very good field vision, and is alert to stunts and games … Shows good balance and body lean squeezing through tight areas … Has reliable hands catching out of the backfield and makes good body adjustments to sustain as a blocker … Plays with fiery emotion and is the team's hardest worker in the training room … Stays low to the ground to root out defenders on pulls and traps … Not sudden, but stays within his patterns running short area routes … Has natural hands, doing a good job of catching the ball away from his frame … Generates explosive hip roll to generate pop on contact coming out of his stance and into the rush lanes … Good position blocker who anchors well and is hard to push back into the pocket in pass protection.

Negatives: Has not missed a game due to injury, but has a history of knee problems (meniscus tears) … Lacks the second gear to pull away from defenders after the catch and has marginal initial quickness (can lose sight of edge rushers when he is slow to get into position) … Strictly a straight-line runner, with no hip shake or moves to separate … Lacks the speed to stretch the field vertically … Despite punishing blocking skills, he will get a bit impatient and lunge at defenders rather than wait for the action to come to him, and lacks the recovery skills to get back into position when this happens.

Compares To: MIKE KARNEY-New Orleans … While West Virginia's Owen Schmitt is regarded as the draft's top fullback, Viti can rival the Mountaineer as the best blocker in this draft. Viti has brute strength that made one scout describe his physique as "having muscles coming out of his muscles." He is a capable short-area route runner, but will never win a foot race, even with a second-level defender. With West Point allowing their cadets to pursue a professional career immediately, Viti could be a steal as a free-agent pickup.

2003: Played most of his high school senior season with a right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear suffered in practice prior to the second game.

2004: Underwent surgery in February to repair a right knee meniscus tear suffered while wrestling.

2005: Had surgery in January to repair of left knee meniscus tear.

2007: Left the Boston College clash (9/22) after suffering a concussion … Was on crutches after the Tulsa contest (11/17) due to a right leg contusion.

Campus: 4.86 in the 40-yard dash … 1.72 10-yard dash … 2.78 20-yard dash … 4.6 20-yard shuttle … 7.37 three-cone drill … 30 ½-inch vertical jump … 8'7" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 34 times … 470-pound bench press … 335-pound power clean … 30 ½-inch arm length … 9 7/8-inch hands … Ambidextrous … 24/35 Wonderlic score.

Attended Berwick (Pa.) High School, playing football for head coach George Curry … All-State choice and part of one of the nation's top high school squads, as the team ranked as high as third nationally by USA Today during his final season … Split time between fullback and linebacker … Three-time All-Conference and All-Region choice, twice earning Regional Linebacker of the Year honors … Served as team captain during his final two seasons, as the club notched a pair of conference titles during his tenure … Earned three letters in football and four in wrestling … Three-time district All-Academic pick was also a three-time district champion and state place-winner on the wrestling mat … Reached 100 career wins on the mat faster than any wrestler in school history and was voted the "Most Athletic" member of his senior class … National Honor Society member, student council participant, two-time class president and served as a sports writer for the student newspaper.

American Law and Legal Studies major … Son of Karen and Michael Viti, Sr.,.Paternal grandfather, Alan Viti, served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during Korean War … Maternal grandfather, Edward Penczkowski, served as a private first class in the U.S. Army during Korean War … Born Michael Allan Viti Jr., on 10/14/85 … Resides in Berwick, Pennsylvania.