INDIANAPOLIS -- Mississippi State left tackle Derek Sherrod should still be on the board at pick No. 29 if the Chicago Bears plan to address the offensive line in the first round.

"I had an interview with the Bears, and it went very well," Sherrod said Thursday at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Sherrod, a Bulldogs team captain, was an All-SEC selection in 2009 and 2010 and helped Mississippi State rank among the nation's leaders in average rushing yards per game.

"I'm a very physical, competitive, intelligent offensive tackle that can come in right away and help out whatever organization I'm with right away. That's my plan, go in right away and help out. I'm definitely very NFL-ready at left tackle. I feel like the SEC is the best conference in college football. Look at every SEC game, and it'll be very physical and hard-fought. That's the epitome of the league. That's going to help any player who competes in that conference.

A few inches shorter (6 foot 5) than fellow tackle prospects Gabe Carimi, Anthony Castonzo and Nate Solder, Martin feels the size differential can actually be a positive in the NFL.

"I feel like it does help me out," Sherrod said. "Even though I'm tall, I have a long wingspan and feel like because I'm a little bit shorter, I can get underneath defenders better."

Sherrod is represented by Bus Cook, the same agent employed by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Earl Bennett.