Excuse Bubba Franks for having an identity crisis.

	Bubba Franks caught 45 passes for 565 yards and five TDs as a junior.

Despite standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 265 pounds, the tight end from Miami could be seen playing point guard in pickup basketball games. The first time Hurricane tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski saw Franks in high school he was dominating a gym class football game -- at quarterback.

The incongruity of these images encapsulates the paradox that is Franks -- a manchild from Big Spring, Texas, who possesses little man skills.

"The one thing that just jumped out at you from the first day he came here were his hands," Chudzinski said. "He had the ability to catch the ball, whether it was one-handed catches, high or low."

This innate sure-handedness will make Franks quite a catch in the upcoming NFL draft. The question isn't whether he'll be selected in the first round but whether he'll go in the first 10 picks. Some project Franks to be taken as high as sixth overall, which would be the highest a tight end has been chosen since Charle Young was drafted sixth by Philadelphia in 1973.

The labels don't stop there. Gushes former Dallas Cowboys director of player personnel Gil Brandt, Franks is "one of the top tight ends to come out of college football in the last 10 years."

"When you start talking about the next greatest tight end, this is the kid," Brandt added. "He is the Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez and the other great tight ends all rolled into one."

The game films from Franks' junior season confirm the high praise. There was the game-winning TD grab in a comeback win over Boston College, and then there was the one-handed stab against West Virginia, whose double-teaming kept Franks catchless until he broke out with five grabs in the third quarter alone.

Franks finished the season with 45 catches for 565 yards and five touchdowns to earn first-team, All-America honors from the Sporting News and Football News. What pleased the Miami coaching staff the most was how Franks graded out in all of his assignments, particularly his blocking.

"I think what people seem to like is he can do a number of things well," Chudzinski said. "He's a pretty well-rounded player whether it's being a receiver, running a route or being a blocker. He works hard. He's really grown and working to become a complete player."

	“	Obviously, when you jump up to the pros there's a big adjustment. But Bubba picks things up quickly. Hopefully, he won't have the mental stumbling block some kids face. ”
		— Rob Chudzinksi

Franks got to showcase his versatility in the Miami offense. While starting 30 of his 34 games, Franks ultimately progressed from primary run blocker to in-motion H-back. Chances are he'll see the same type of duty in the NFL.

"I pretty much got the hang of it," said Franks, a two-time All-Big East selection who scored 12 TDs and averaged 13.6 yards per catch (77 receptions for 1,038 yards) in college. "I had to work at it. At first, I just wanted to be a tight end. No motion, no nothing. Just leave me on the line. But that just adds another threat to your offense when you can move your tight end all over the field. It helps."

One NFL scout believes Franks' best football is ahead of him. He also thinks Franks could add 20 more pounds and not lose any of his agility. Scary.

"He's not going to come in ready-made, but if he's picked high, it won't be a mistake," the scout said.

Chudzinski says Franks was "real raw" when he came to Miami. Pro scouts are placing the same tag on Franks even though he's far and away the top tight end prospect in the draft. No other tight end is being projected to go in the first round.

"Obviously, when you jump up to the pros there's a big adjustment," Chudzinski said. "But Bubba picks things up quickly. Hopefully, he won't have the mental stumbling block some kids face."

Franks has been studying the pros for quite some time, analyzing the games of some of the NFL's top tight ends. Naturally, he's picked up on the "little things" in developing his big-time game.

"I like Wesley Walls, (Shannon) Sharpe and (Ben) Coates," Franks said. "I learn a lot from different tight ends and also wide receivers, but I would say my favorite tight end would be Ben Coates because he's so physical."

Joe Lago is the NFL editor for ESPN.com.