James Starks was surprised to hear that NFL draft maven Mel Kiper, Jr., currently has him slated as a late first-round pick or an early second-rounder in 2010.

“Man, that’s crazy,” Starks said. “I didn’t hear that. That’s great for him to say something like that.”

But the University at Buffalo junior tailback from Niagara Falls graciously laughs off talk of the NFL draft, be it 2009 or 2010. As the Mid-American Conference champion Bulls prepare for Big East foe Connecticut, Starks contends his focus is on Saturday’s International Bowl.

“I don’t know anything about the draft or how they do things,” Starks said. “I’m just going in the game and play hard and do what I have to do. I don’t even think about it.”

Starks knows an exceptional performance in the International Bowl could be a springboard to individual accolades for next season. But it’s still surprising for Starks that he’s even considered an NFL prospect. But there’s a possibility he could explore his pro stock by submitting paperwork to the NFL draft advisory committee.

“We haven’t talked about those types of things. We’re still focusing on the UConn game,” said UB coach Turner Gill. “If he wants to explore that, we’ll explore it for him.”

The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Starks put himself in this position by elevating his game over the last half of the season. He’s led the Bulls in rushing the last three seasons and to the conference title with an 8-5 record. But

over the last six games, Starks has rushed for 793 yards and 11 touchdowns. For the year, Starks has 1,308 yards and 15 TDs, despite missing 2z 3/4 1/2 me 1/3 because of injuries.

“He’s a fabulous player and the kid is the best athlete I’ve ever been around,” said senior quarterback Drew Willy. “He can do it all on the field — run, catch, throw — he’s a total athlete. He started at quarterback but he’s become one of the top running backs in the country.”

Now comes the International Bowl and another national audience on ESPN2 against the Big East’s No. 2 ranked defense.

“He knows how to be a running back now and before he was relying on his athletic ability,” Willy said. “There’s not many things he can’t do on the field. I get a great seat to watch him do a lot of special things. When he takes off and puts his foot in the ground, there’s nobody better in the country.”

Starks hasn’t given much thought to filing paperwork to the NFL draft advisory committee and the deadline to enter the NFL draft is Jan. 15. It is a thin year for running backs and Kiper lists only Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno and Ohio State’s Chris Wells, who are both underclassmen, as possible first-round picks.

But skipping his senior season would be surprising. Because the Bulls are breaking in a new quarterback, Starks figures to be more of focal point offensively. With 3,115 career yards, Starks is already the school’s career rushing leader and he’s seven touchdowns from breaking Lee Jones’ (1965-67) career TD record of 29. An 1,800-yard rushing season isn’t out of the question.

“All I’m thinking about is being a senior next year and having a great season,” Starks said. “I haven’t even thought about it. The draft? I haven’t even put my mind to it at all.”

Gill has been named a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant national Coach of the Year award that will be awarded Jan. 15 in Houston. The award is voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Gill is a finalist along with Mack Brown (Texas), Mike Leach (Texas Tech), Houston Nutt (Ole Miss), Chris Peterson (Boise State), Nick Saban (Alabama), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah).

Gill was also honored by the Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club as the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, after leading the Bulls to wins in six of their last seven games, including a 42-24 win over previously unbeaten and 12th-ranked Ball State in the MAC title game.

He will be honored at the TDC’s 54th Annual Sports Awards Banquet on Feb. 7 at The Lifestyle Communities Pavilion in downtown Columbus.

Also, Starks and Naaman Roosevelt (St. Joe’s) were selected as honorable mention All-Americans by Sports Illustrated magazine. Roosevelt ranks among the top 10 in the nation in both receptions (seventh at 7.38 per game) and receiving yards (eighth at 100.9 yards per game). He has 96 catches for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns this season — all school single-season records.