I watched most of the first round of the NFL Draft and couldn’t shake one feeling, so much so that I took to Twitter.

I wonder if Bruce Irvin is watching draft, rubbing his hands together and then leaving his couch to go lift 4,000 weights and run 200 40s.

It’s a pass-first league now, and while teams want quarterbacks to get the ball to receivers, there’s also a need for defensive players to disrupt that plan. Remember when Mario Williams went No. 1 over Reggie Bush. The Texans wanted him to torment Peyton Manning and whoever else was going to drop back 30 times and put the ball in the air.

So, clearly, there’s a place for Irvin. There’s also a time, too, and Irvin decided himself that time would be April 2012.

Still …

Given how a player with similar size and skill — though certainly not similar reputation — was taken No. 2 overall in April and how another five defensive ends were picked before the end of the first round, the question had to be asked of Irvin: How long did you think about leaving WVU for the league?

As he so often does, Irvin offered an that answer sent pens spinning. He didn’t merely fill in the blank. He filled the mural and painted a picture of who is is and from where he came.

And best of all, his answer was a question.

“Leave school early?” he said. “I never thought about it. You only live college once. Me being here one year and leaving, I don’t think it was worth it being a third- or fourth-round guy, leaving this great state, when I can come back and be a hot name and maybe be one of the top players at my position.”

College offers dual luxuries for Irvin. He’s the first to admit the coming season is a benefit. He can round out his game by expanding his role and wiping away the suggestion 2010 was a fluke and the product of his spot in the system.

The other part is that college isn’t something Irvin wants to leave so soon. Not after what preceded the experience.

“This is a blessing,” said Irvin, who was second-team all-Big East last season. “I went through a lot of adversity to be in my situation. I think I’m different than a lot of other people. I started at the bottom. I know what it feels like to be at the bottom and rise up.

“It feels good to see me on magazine covers, but that’s not what I’m all about. I’m here to play football games. I’ve still got dreams I’m trying to reach. It all makes me feel good, but I’ve still got a lot of work to do.”