INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- University of Delaware football senior quarterback Joe Flacco, who earned All-American honors in leading the Blue Hens to a berth in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game, will take part in the annual National Football League Combine later this week.

Flacco (at right) and University of Richmond wide receiver Arman Shields were the only two Colonial Athletic Association players invited to the prestigious four-day camp, which includes the nation’s top college players taking part in interviews and drills for NFL scouts.

A 6-6, 230 lb. quarterback from Audubon, NJ, Flacco is one of 20 quarterbacks invited to the NFL Combine while Shields is one of 55 wide received taking part in the camp. Flacco is the second UD player in two years to take part in the event after tight end Ben Patrick, now a member of the Arizona Cardinals, participated a year ago.

Considered by most draft experts to be one of the top four quarterbacks in the draft this April, Flacco is expected to be selected in the first or second round. Former NFL Pro-Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon was the highest drafted Blue Hen player in UD history when he was selected in the fourth round by New England in 1987.

Flacco’s four-day schedule will get underway on Thursday, Feb. 21 and will continue until Sunday, Feb. 24. Television coverage, including workouts and behind-the-scenes footage, can be seen throughout the week on the NFL Network. Press conferences and workouts will also be available on nfl.com. Quarterback workouts will be aired on nfl.com on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m., and 11 p.m.

His group will take part in hospital pre-exam and x-rays Thursday as well as an orientation session and several interviews with NFL team personnel. On Friday, Flacco will take part in medical examinations, media sessions, psychological testing, and more interviews with NFL teams and on Saturday will meet with the NFL Players Association. Sunday’s slate includes on-field timing and skill drills at the RCA Dome.

Flacco, an honor student as an accounting major at Delaware, participated in the Senior Bowl All-Star Game in Mobile, AL in January. He set 20 school records during his career and enjoyed an outstanding senior season for the Blue Hens in 2007, leading the team to the NCAA Division I FCS national championship game while earning Colonial Athletic Association Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Eastern College Athletic Conference Eastern Player of the Year, and third team The Sports Network All-American honors.

He completed 331 of 521 passes for 4,263 yards and 23 touchdowns with just five interceptions during the 2007 season as he ranked No. 6 in the nation in passing yardage per game (284.2), No. 10 in total offense per game (285.7), and No. 18 in passing efficiency (144.91).