Over the next 48 hours, soon-to-be University of Maine graduates Phil McGeoghan and Dwayne Wilmot will have a much better idea how much closer to reality their dreams of becoming professional football players are.

Both senior wide receivers will be keenly interested in the proceedings of the annual National Football League Draft as draft-eligible players and the only UMaine players who are listed on pre-draft publication depth charts.

Already something a bit of a draftnik, Wilmot plans to watch ESPN’s and ESPN2’s coverage from start to finish.

“I normally watch the first couple rounds and then tune in off and on after that, but this time I’ll be glued to the TV Saturday and Sunday,” Wilmot said.

McGeoghan will drive back to his home in Agawam, Mass., to watch some of the coverage with his family. Besides his own fortunes, he also has a vested interest in the draft after meeting many of the college players rated as first and second-rounders at a pre-draft combine camp last December.

“I was down in Atlanta for a month and a half with about 60 other guys, so I know a lot of the guys in this draft: a couple linemen from Michigan, [defensive tackle] Marcus Stroud from Georgia, and one of my buddies, [Arkansas linebacker] Clinton Caver, so I’ll probably watch for awhile and call ’em after they get drafted.”

Neither Black Bear player expects to be drafted. They are, however, expecting a few calls after the seventh and final round concludes Sunday as NFL teams scramble to sign the top undrafted players to rookie free agent contracts.

“That’s how I’ve always approached it,” McGeoghan said. “Going into the season, I was rated pretty highly, so I had a chance to go to an all-star game or the [NFL Scouting] combine, but I had kind of a disappointing year and caught the same number of balls I caught my junior year.”

Rather than sulk about his sub-par season (51 catches, 778 yards, three touchdowns), McGeoghan used it to motivate him. He worked hard at the camp, added 25 pounds to his frame, and is great shape.

Disappointing stats haven’t kept NFL scouts away, however, as the 6-foot-3, 220-pound McGeoghan was personally scouted by representatives of the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, and Indianapolis Colts at an NFL workout at the University of Massachusetts earlier this year. McGeoghan has been contacted by scouts from the Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Unlike McGeoghan, Wilmot had a great senior season (67 catches, 955 yards, nine touchdowns) to attract the interest of scouts.

“Phil and I helped garner attention for one another. I may have come onto the scene a little late, but he was able to bring attention from last spring and early in the fall while I kind of did that this past season,” Wilmot said. “I think we’ve helped each other get some interest from scouts.”

The 5-10, 202-pound Freeport, N.Y., native worked out for scouts from the Colts, Saints, Jets, Patriots and St. Louis Cardinals in a similar workout at Hofstra University. He said he felt he opened some eyes with his 4.37-second timing in the 40-yard dash and his 411/2-inch vertical jump.

One thing not in either Black Bear wideout’s favor is the quality and depth available in the wide receiver portion of the draft-eligible field this year. Pro Football Weekly contributing editor Joel Buschbaum ranks McGeoghan 100th and Wilmot 123rd among the top 137 draft-eligible wideouts. McGeoghan said ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. listed him in the 70’s.

“Yeah, it’s kind of tough, but you can’t control when you graduate,” said Wilmot, who has signed with Hudson, N.Y., agent Vince Doto.

If either are offered free agent tryouts, they’ll likely receive a signing bonus of around $5,000, which is the average amount for undrafted rookies, according to McGeoghan’s agent, Charisma Sports founder Brian Withers, who also represents Baltimore Ravens offensive guard Mike Flynn.

Until then, Wilmot best summed up the feelings of both players.

“Hopefully I get lucky, but if not, I’ll be waiting for the phone to ring,” he said.