After finals this semester, JC Tretter '13 will launch into five weeks of 12-hour training sessions in preparation for a football game that might clinch him an NFL berth. His mantra: "Work hard and get bigger, faster, stronger."

That's what Tretter has been doing since grade school.

Tretter, who was named a second team All-American by the Associated Press and a third team All-American by the Sports Network, was selected Dec. 12 to play in the Senior Bowl, Jan. 26 in Mobile, Ala. The bowl is one of football's premier pre-draft events, annually featuring the country's best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects. Some 800 coaches, scouts and team staffers will be watching every move of America's best college players. A lucky few will be drafted by the NFL.

Tretter intends to be one of them.

At Akron High School in western New York, he grew into one of upstate's best basketball and football players. Then, it was on to Big Red.

"I chose Cornell for the wonderful education," said Tretter, who reveled in ILR's collective bargaining classes, especially Economics of Collective Bargaining in Sports. "That was just a thrill. I loved every minute of it."

He considered going to law school or working in sports management or human resources. But, his career dream is to play in the NFL.

He arrived at Schoellkopf Field as a 237-pound tight end. Intense training helped build him to 305 pounds and to excel as a tackle, particularly this year.

"The season progressed well for me. Football is where I'm headed," Tretter said. If he isn't drafted, Tretter hopes to be signed as a free agent.

At the IMG Academy's football program in Bradenton, Fla., training sessions will run daily from is 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., as Trotter hones his skills as a guard, his assigned position for the Senior Bowl, to be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. on the NFL Network.

Mary Catt is assistant director of communications at the ILR School.