EVANSTON (670 The Score) -- Joe Gaziano is used to being overlooked.
Gaziano was a three-star defensive end recruit coming out of high school in Scituate, Mass., who received just four scholarship offers, according to Rivals. He arrived at Northwestern in 2015 and after a redshirt season earned his standing as the program's all-time leader in sacks.
Despite his record-setting career at Northwestern, Gaziano wasn't invited to the NFL Combine in February, left out of a field of top prospects who were chosen to attend by NFL scouts.
"It's nothing new to me," Gaziano said at Northwestern's pro day Tuesday. "It's just added fuel to the fire."
Gaziano believes all he needs from the pre-draft process is an opportunity. He doesn't have to look far for examples of that.
Former Northwestern standout defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster also wasn't invited to the Combine in 2018 and went undrafted before being signed by the Packers. He has since started 15 games over his first two seasons in Green Bay.
Lining up next to Lancaster on the Packers' defensive line is Dean Lowry, who fell to the fourth round in the 2016 draft before being selected by Green Bay. He has started 35 games in the last three seasons and signed a three-year extension with the Packers last year.
"To see guys like (Lancaster) and (Lowry) having great careers is just an awesome motivator for Gaz," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
"(Gaziano) is a guy who's going to get an opportunity to play for a long time, like those two guys."
Northwestern defensive lineman Alex Miller, also an NFL Draft prospect, sees the fire burning in Gaziano.
"He had a great career here," Miller said. "I'm sure he'll have a great career at the next level as well."
Gaziano will continue training locally ahead of the draft, which begins April 23. His next opportunities in front of scouts will come when he attends the Bears' and Packers' local pro days, to which he has been invited.
Part of why Gaziano wasn't invited to the Combine is that NFL teams question his fit in their schemes. At 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, he has the size of a 3-4 edge rusher, but scouts also want to see explosiveness. He would have to add on weight in order to be a true defensive lineman in either a 3-4 or 4-3 front.
Gaziano realizes there are critics casting doubt on his draft stock. He relishes it.
All he wants is that chance.
"It's just the mentality of waking up every day and knowing some people don't think that I can achieve my dream," Gaziano said. "Deep down, I know that if I stick to what I know, attack the training every day and stick to my guns, I can do well, perform well and prove those people wrong.
"I'm fortunate to be in these shoes right now. I'm very happy with how far I've come. But there's more to be done. I'm never satisfied. I'm always striving to be a better player, better person. Just trying to make my dreams come true."
Extra points
The standout of Northwestern's pro day was Southern Illinois tight end Nigel Kilby, who checked in at nearly 6-foot-8 and 254 pounds, then posted a 4.66 time in the 40-yard dash. That 40 time would've been tied for second among tight ends at the NFL Combine ... Local product Ryan Skibinski, a Geneva native and standout receiver at Dayton, clocked a 4.49 in the 40 and posted a 39.5-inch vertical jump. That vertical would've been tied for seventh among receivers at the Combine.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
