Martinek to Head to NFL Regional Combine

Here's where it gets real.

Hopatcong's Joe Martinek will travel to the NFL Regional Scouting Combine at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Facility in Florham Park Saturday. The former Rutgers fullback hopes to stand out among a field of candidates vying for the attention of NFL scouts and coaches.

Martinek recently expressed confidence in his workouts via Twitter: "Weighed in at a new high today AND got faster.. #bringit"

Regional NFL combines are for players eligible for the 2012 draft but not attending the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis from Feb. 22-28; players with ollege playing experience hoping to guage their professional potential; and playing with some professional football experience, but have been sidelined for a while, according to a release.

"The NFL Regional Combines program provides players - who may not have had the chance before - the opportunity to work out for NFL personnel executives," NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said in a release. "It allows all 32 clubs a chance to further evaluate future prospects."

If Martinek impresses, he could be asked to attend the NFL super-regional combine at Ford Field in Detroit on March 30-31.

Martinek set New Jersey's all-time rushing record with 7,589 yards and scored 80 touchdowns while at . He graduated in 2007.

Martinek had 391 carries for 1,770 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights, who moved him from running back to full back during his senior season.