INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Notre Dame tight end John Carlson hopes to take advantage of his "second chance" to impress NFL scouts and coaches.

Carlson, who missed the Senior Bowl on Jan. 26 because of an illness he believes was a parasite, is one of 300-plus former college football players taking part in the annual NFL scouting combine this week.

With an opportunity to raise his draft stock at the Senior Bowl, Carlson said he was in no condition to participate after falling ill two weeks before the game and losing 17 pounds in about eight days.

"It was disappointing not to be able to play, especially after a tough season (at Notre Dame)," he said. "I kind of viewed the Senior Bowl as my bowl game, and I had been training since Dec. 11, but ultimately, I had no control over it."

Carlson, who couldn't pinpoint the cause of the suspected parasite, slowly began getting his strength and endurance back in the weeks leading up to the combine.

"I feel healthy today," he said on Thursday. "I've done everything I could to get back to where I need to be."

Carlson's absence from the Senior Bowl hasn't seemed to hurt his draft stock. According to NFLdraftscout.com, he enters the combine as the third highest ranked tight end and is projected to be a second-round pick in April's NFL draft.

Last season at Notre Dame, the 6-5, 251-pound Carlson led the Irish with 372 receiving yards on 40 receptions. For his college career, he finished with 100 catches, 1,093 yards and eight touchdowns. His total receiving yardage ranks third all-time in school history.

Despite his college success, Carlson knows it won't be an easy transition to the NFL.

"There are certain strengths I possess, but even more so, I focus on the things I need to improve upon, like being more powerful at the line of scrimmage, hand placement, footwork — fundamental things like that," he said.

Carlson said playing for coach Charlie Weis, a former NFL offensive coordinator, should make him a better professional.

"I learned a great deal from coach Weis and his staff," he said. "Hopefully, that will pay off and I'll be able to pick up the offense quicker (in the NFL)."

Carlson said he doesn't regret returning for his senior year at Notre Dame despite the possibility of being a high draft pick as a junior. The Irish finished last season 3-9.

"I was disappointed in the record, but I was impressed with how everybody stuck together," he said. "There was no finger pointing, we didn't throw in the towel and we practiced hard until the last game. Even though the product on the field wasn't up to our standards, we showed a lot of character.

"It was a good experience for me ... and I think it made me a better player and a stronger person dealing with a little bit of adversity."

Carlson isn't the only tight end from Indiana hoping to make the professional leap. Former Purdue standout Dustin Keller also is trying to make an impression on NFL teams at the combine.

"Hopefully, my stock will increase," said Keller, who was recruited by the Boilermakers as a receiver but played his entire career at tight end. "As far as the workouts, people are going to be surprised. I'm not going to disappoint."

Last season at Purdue, Keller finished with 68 receptions for 881 yards and seven touchdowns.