Following in the footsteps of former Green Bay Packers draft choice David Martin, a sixth-round pick in 2001, Tennessee's Luke Stocker is about to become the latest Volunteers tight end to join the ranks of the NFL.

Packers fans might be most familiar with Martin, but more recent Volunteers products like Jason Witten of the Cowboys and Brad Cottam of the Kansas City Chiefs have paved the way for some to consider Tennessee as Tight End U.

Working in Stocker's favor as he's about to enter the NFL is a similarity many observers have seen in him to Witten, a seven-time Pro Bowler considered one of the best tight ends in the league.

"Any time you can be compared to Jason Witten, that’s a huge compliment," Stocker told Cheesehead TV at the NFL Combine. "He’s one of the best. Even though I want to make a name for myself, at this point in time I’ll take it."

As a tall target that's both versatile and mobile enough to split out wide, Stocker started to resemble Witten during his senior season once Tennesee quarterback Tyler Bray developed into a passer capable of finding his tight end regularly downfield.

"Him being a Tennessee guy, I’ve watched his film through college and through the pros," Stocker said of Witten. "I’ve heard his name since the day I committed to Tennessee. He’s the type of the guy I try to model my game around. He’s one of the best in the league, the best out there."

Stocker is almost unanimously regarded as one of the top five tight ends in this year's draft class and said he hopes to go in the second round of the Draft, which begins on April 28.

He'll be vying with players like Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph, Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks and Arkansas' D.J. Williams to be the top tight end selected. However, Stocker thinks he has a quality that separates him from the rest of the players at his position.

"I think my strengths are the balance I have," said Stocker. "I feel like I’m a really good blocker and I’m a really good receiver. As a defense, that’s hard to prepare for.

"You look at the guys that are hard to prepare for—the Steelers, the Patriots, the Cowboys—they have dual-threat guys, and the tight ends are essential."

Despite playing in the Senior Bowl and not catching a pass in the game itself, Stocker felt that he had a strong performance in the week of practice leading up to the game and impressed the scouts and coaches watching him.

"It felt good to get out there against some of the best guys and do well and succeed and really put your best foot forward out there in front of coaches and scouts," said Stocker. "That’s what you go down there to do, show them what you can do. I feel like I did that."

Stocker measured in at 6-4 7/8 and weighed 258 pounds at the Combine, ran a 4.79 40-yard dash and put up 27 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press, tied for the best among tight ends.

Now that his pro day is over, most of Stocker's pre-draft process is over unless any visits or private workouts occur in the next two-plus weeks.

All Stocker can do is wait, work out, and be the most balanced tight end he can be.

"I think as a tight end you have to really give both sides 100 percent effort," said Stocker. "You can’t focus on blocking and not your catching. You can’t focus on catching and not your blocking. If you do that, you won’t stay balanced. And as a tight end, the more balanced you are, the more of threat you are."