Sometimes a bad break for one player turns into a career-changing opportunity for another. Few players who will attend the NFL Scouting Combine over the next five days know this better than Pitt guard/center C.J. Davis.

Davis had started at left guard for 31/2 seasons but moved one spot over to center when Robb Houser went down with a broken ankle in the seventh game of the season.

Davis' first start at center was against Notre Dame, and he started the final six games of the season.

Pitt's coaches said his intelligence, ability to adjust and athleticism were reasons he was picked to change positions.

Davis is one of 14 former players from three local Division I-A programs attending the combine.

The event, which runs through Tuesday in Indianapolis, got under way yesterday with a series of physical, medical and psychological tests.

A total of 332 NFL hopefuls, including 46 underclassmen, were invited to show off their skills and meet with general managers, coaches, scouts and medical personnel from all 32 teams.

"All of my career people told me I'd make a great center, so I was happy to take a shot if coaches thought it would help the team," Davis said.

Davis, who is 6 feet 3, 312 pounds, might not have been invited to the combine had he remained a guard prospect, but the fact that he is now a center/guard prospect has made him infinitely more valuable to NFL teams.

"The thing is, when I moved to center it was a great move for my career," Davis said. "A lot of teams told me that, and the fact that I am versatile and have shown that I can play both guard and center will be key for me, because with the [salary] cap and everything, the more stuff you can do, the better chance you have of being drafted.

Two talented underclassmen -- Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin and Pitt running back LeSean McCoy also are attending the combine.

Maybin, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound redshirt sophomore, led the Big Ten with 12 sacks this past season and was a first-team All-American. He also had 20 tackles for losses in his lone season as a starter.

McCoy, 5-11, 210, rushed for 1,488 yards and 21 touchdowns en route to winning Big East offensive player of the year honors. He had a school-record 2,816 yards and 36 touchdowns in his two years with the Panthers.

A sophomore, McCoy is eligible for April's NFL draft because he attended prep school for a year before enrolling at Pitt.

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper projects Maybin and McCoy as first-round draft picks.

Maybin likely will move to outside linebacker in the NFL. He is one of eight Penn State players at the combine.

Other Nittany Lions in attendance are All-American center A.Q. Shipley from Moon High School, wide receivers Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood, offensive tackle Gerald Cadogan, defensive end Maurice Evans and cornerback Lydell Sargeant. Shipley won the Rimington Trophy this past season as the nation's top center.

In addition to McCoy and Davis, Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop -- from Kiski Area -- is taking part in the workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

McKillop was the Big East's defensive player of the year this past season. He led Division I-A in tackles as a junior, averaging 12.6 stops per game.

Three West Virginia players also are attending the combine. They are record-setting quarterback Pat White, offensive lineman Greg Isdaner and linebacker Mortty Ivy from Gateway.