Chase Minnifield was wearing shorts and a sweatshirt on the practice turf at the McCue Center on Thursday, taking advantage of the mild conditions in central Virginia.

The last time many Virginia football fans saw Minnifield, the all-ACC cornerback was wearing sweats -- on the sideline for the Cavaliers' 42-24 loss to Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Minnifield was forced to miss his college finale because of a knee injury.

"I'm feeling good. Ahead of schedule," Minnifield said Thursday. "Just working right now, trying to get ready for all the things that I've got. It's pretty much crunch time right now."

Minnifield had his injured knee scoped in early January. He says he started running again last week, and he went through a light workout at McCue on Thursday, as he prepares for April's NFL Draft.

"It's like a dream come true, honestly. I mean, it probably won't sink in until draft day," Minnifield said of a potential pro career. "But I'm just here working like I'm getting ready for another season. I'm recovering right now from my knee surgery, and things are going well."

Minnifield says he'll attend the NFL's scouting combine later this month in Indianapolis, but he's not sure yet if he'll be ready to run for scouts.

"We're playing it by ear right now," he said. "We're ready to just meet everybody and talk to people, because I haven't really had that opportunity since I didn't go down to the Senior Bowl. Just get some interviews with some teams, and things like that."

Minnifield leaves UVa ranked sixth on the program's all-time list with 13 interceptions. He was an all-ACC first-team selection the past two seasons.

Now he's hoping to follow in his father Frank's footsteps by reaching the NFL -- and continuing the recent tradition of Virginia defensive backs being taken off the board early in the draft.

"Obviously, my goal is to go in the first round. And from what I'm hearing, I'll probably have that opportunity. Depending on what I run, of course," he said. "But you know, my goal is the first round, but anywhere I go will be a blessing."