Iowa's Bulaga is one mean, nasty football prospect

"It's called thyroiditis," Bulaga said recently. "It's a viral infection that lands in your thyroid ... It hit me hard that Iowa State week, which was the first game I ended up sitting out."

Bulaga, who is considered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2010 NFL draft, which will be held April 22-24, eventually rebounded and turned in a fine season.

The condition is not a major concern for NFL teams, now that it has been properly diagnosed.

"It was a three-week thing that ran its course, and now it's gone," Bulaga said. "I've been checked by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and by my doctor at the University of Iowa, both endocrinologists. I've been cleared by both of them, and I've been cleared since the Arkansas State week."

Bulaga's agent sent all 32 NFL teams a statement from his doctors.

"I don't think it's going to be that much of an impact," Bulaga said.

By the time the Hawkeyes faced Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Bulaga was at full strength. He saved his best performance of the season for the Yellow Jackets. He didn't allow Derrick Morgan to record a sack in the game.

"I felt really strong in that game, and I thought I performed pretty well," Bulaga said.

Oklahoma State's Russell Okung, Oklahoma's Trent Williams, Maryland's Bruce Campbell and Rutgers' Anthony Davis also are highly rated offensive tackles in this draft.

"Bulaga has the most variation on grades with people I trust," said Charlie Casserly, the former general manager of the Houston Texans. "On him, he's going to be the most polished guy because of the Iowa program. They have a great history of technicians coming out of there."

Bulaga, who came out after spending three seasons at Iowa, is not the most athletic of the group.

"He's a mean football player," said Gil Brandt, an analyst for NFL.com and a former Dallas Cowboys personnel executive. "He's a mean, tough football player."

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is widely respected in the NFL for how he coaches his linemen. He was an offensive line coach from the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens from 1993-98 and is known to be relentless on his Iowa linemen.

"He only expects the best from his guys," Bulaga said. "At practice, he's around us a lot; he's giving us a lot of teaching, throughout the entire practice."

That drive and tenacity that Ferentz instilled in Bulaga helped him in the Orange Bowl against Morgan.

"He was definitely one of the most complete defensive ends I faced," Bulaga said. "He was a strong guy. He was aggressive, brought good speed."

Playing in the Big Ten, Bulaga faced Michigan's Brandon Graham, who's considered one of the top pass rushers in the draft.

"I think he's a phenomenal player," Bulaga said.

Graham had a solid game against Bulaga, who was still recovering from his viral infection.

"I'm not making excuses, but that's why I didn't play my best or didn't have a good series against him," Bulaga said. "I wasn't quite where I needed to be. I was still on some medication that was kind of making me a little bit sluggish."

Perhaps, Bulaga will get another shot at Graham. This time, the game figures to be played on a Sunday.