Forth Worth, Texas ? He started his college football career surrounded by skepticism as to how good he really could be.

Now, Charlton Keith is leaving college almost sure he’ll be getting paid to play before long.

Keith, an All-Big 12 Conference defensive end for Kansas University, will suit up for his final game Friday in a whirlwind college career that went through three schools. All things considered, his emergence as one of the country’s top pass rushers was inspiring, and the exclamation point will be applied Friday night in the Fort Worth Bowl, when KU takes on Houston.

“This is probably the defining moment of my college career,” Keith said. “I finally can turn around and pat myself on the back and say I’m proud of myself for overcoming a lot of things.”

He’s not done yet, though. Keith is the most popular Jayhawk in the eyes of many NFL scouts, and it’s believed he definitely will be drafted in April, then groomed either as a defensive end or a linebacker.

Either way, Keith just wants a chance.

“I don’t care. I’ll be the holder,” Keith said. “It doesn’t matter to me.”

If Keith wants to stay at defensive end, he probably will be asked to add significant weight to his 235-pound frame. An outside linebacker in 3-4 defensive schemes also is a possibility, something former KU teammate David McMillan is working to be for the Cleveland Browns.

“One of the things Charlton has that we realized after last season, he has a great football aptitude,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “He knows how to play the game. I think that gives him a big advantage as a college player, and I think it will help him in his pursuit of an opportunity at the next level.”

Keith certainly put together a solid – albeit short-lived – resume for NFL scouts. He racked up 53 tackles, with a school-record 21 behind the line of scrimmage. Nine of those were quarterback sacks.

His first three seasons – at three different schools – weren’t so glamorous. He transferred after two years at Minnesota, played one season at community college, then flew under the radar when trying to get back into Division I-A football. He chose Kansas in part because of a tie with Jayhawk strength coach Chris Dawson, who worked with Keith at Minnesota.

His first season was spent as a second-team defensive end who usually played in third-down bandit packages. His senior year, as the stats show, was better.

“I feel I finally matured and stepped everything up,” Keith said. “A lot of people say, ‘Step your game up’ and kind of relate it to the football field,’ but that’s mainly life for me.”

A life that, in all likelihood, will include a stint in the NFL.

“When he first got here, he was a lost soul,” Mangino said. “But he found himself and found his way. He’s a success story that we’re really proud of.”