05/05 — Nate Garner was a big man on campus, both at the Jets' Hofstra University training complex during the weekend's rookie minicamp and at the University of Arkansas last season.

His BMOC status with the Jets was strictly a physical observation: The seventh-round tackle from Arkansas checked in a 6'6" and 326 pounds. He was the second-largest player of the 57 (six draft picks, 10 undrafted free agents, 34 tryouts, seven first-year Jets) at the mini, trailing only Idaho State DL tryout Viliami Akoteu, who tipped the scales at 340.

Garner was en route to lunch when I caught up with him in the Jets locker room Saturday. He was asked what his actual weight was.

"Yeah, from 320 to 330, right around there," he said. "My weight fluctuations quite a bit. I'd like to play around 328."

Of course, at that size, you wouldn't expect Garner to be fast, and he's not. But he is definitely strong enough and determined enough, as his rise through the ranks on his other campus, UA, demonstrated.

He played all four seasons for the Razorbacks, finally became the RT starter as a senior, and was a central player for the Darren McFadden/Felix Jones-led ground attack, Division I-A's fourth-best at 286.5 yards a game.

"It was awesome playing at Arkansas last season," Garner said. "Darren and Felix are both great running backs, good to block for. They read the holes real well and they just get down the field. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile."

I asked him if Arkansas was a right-handed offense and if that dynamic duo ran past his blocks quite frequently, and he declined to pat himself on the back.

But the evidence suggests they did. Garner led the Hogs in knockdown blocks and he got a career-best and team-season-high 18 KDs in Arkansas' November win over Mississippi State, for which he received Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. After the season he was named All-SEC third team.

Garner was not invited to the NFL Combine, but he had already attracted the Jets' interest. GM Mike Tannenbaum was reported to be at Arkansas' pro day, presumably to check out McFadden, and Garner received a predraft invitation to the team's Long Island complex.

"I just came in here on a visit and talked to the coaches," he said. "I really enjoyed being up here. They have great coaches. Coach Mangini is an awesome guy."

Also awesome: Bill Callahan, the new assistant head coach/offense who guided the rookie O-linemen through the weekend.

"It's very exciting. Coach Callahan is a great coach. He knows how to motivate, knows how to explain things," Garner said. "He's going to teach me a lot of stuff. I just have to get in there and try to improve every week."

As for on the field, Garner and the rest of the linemen didn't really stand out in the two narrow media windows available to watch practices. But you know how it is, especially with Mike T and his draft team. Seventh-rounders can be merely camp fodder, but they could also be diamonds in the rough.

Garner's not bragging or predicting. But he seems to be in a good place on this next campus in his life.

"It's a great situation to be in, I think," he said.

Some SI Love for the Jets

Sports Illustrated's Peter King has come in on his Monday Morning Quarterback with a thoughtful as always, no doubt controversial ranking of the NFL's teams from 1 to 32 heading toward training camps.

Controversial because PK places New England and Indianapolis in the "Ho-Hum Section" at 1 and 2 respectively, then follows up with Jacksonville at 3, Dallas at 4, San Diego — which defeated the Colts at Indy in the playoffs — at 5, and the Super Bowl-champion Giants at 6. Wow.

And after much off-season thought, King seems to have come over to the side of the pundits who are impressed with the job the Jets have done. He rhetorically asks in his preamble what's changed in the NFL's power structure, then answers: "Not much, other than the rise of Jacksonville, Carolina and the Jets."

He proceeds to rank the Green & White at 14, right behind the No. 13 Bills. Among his observations: "This year the Jets should have three sacks a game, easy" based on the drafting of LB/DE Vernon Gholston, the free agency signing of LB Calvin Pace and the trade for DT Kris Jenkins.

Forty-eight sacks? That would be the most since the Sack Exchange's last hurrah, a 49-sack season in 1985 led by Mark Gastineau's 13.5. We shall see.