We've heard athletes make the promise upon signing a contract countless times over the years, but when Aaron Curry says he wants to buy his mom a house, the words hit home.

That's because the Wake Forest linebacker saw mom Chris Curry evicted in 2006, the summer before his sophomore year.

Curry, regarded by most as a top-five prospect in this weekend's NFL draft, contemplated turning pro after his junior year in 2007-08 to assist his family financially.

However, his mom urged Curry to return for his senior season and assured him she would be fine. "I knew it was temporary," she says of her housing crisis.

Curry, 6-11/2, 254 pounds, says he came back for his final season because his mom wanted to walk on the field on senior day and wanted him to graduate. Both of her wishes were granted.

Curry postponed a big paycheck in 2008 for an even bigger one in 2009. The Detroit Lions could select him at No. 1 Saturday in the draft, and he isn't expected to go any lower than sixth.

"A lot compare him to (Tennessee Titans veteran) Keith Bulluck," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. says. "Keith Bulluck's been one heck of a player in the NFL for a long time."

Scouts are impressed by Curry's skill set: his speed, strength, ability to cover tight ends and running backs and penchant for finding the ballcarrier at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Curry can play outside linebacker in a 4-3 alignment and inside linebacker in a 3-4.

"He can do just about anything, and he has done it at Wake Forest," says Lions coach Jim Schwartz, who was Bulluck's defensive coordinator with the Titans for eight seasons. "I don't know that I've ever seen a guy who's played so many different positions. He plays old-time Sam (strongside) linebacker."

The 2008 Butkus Award winner, Curry made 105 tackles, including 16 for losses, in his senior season, helping the Demon Deacons to an 8-5 record and a bowl victory.

Curry's Wake Forest teams compiled 32 victories in four seasons, a school record. Demon Deacons coach Jim Grobe points to Curry's work ethic as one of the reasons for Wake's success.

"When he comes out to practice, there's a bounce in his step," Grobe says.

Highly motivated

Curry, 23, has never lacked motivation. His seventh-grade coach cut him because he was too small. He heard the same thing when he wasn't recruited heavily during his senior year of high school.

"My high school coach told me, "If they're going to say you're too short or too slow, you have to outwork everybody.' "

Nothing motivated Curry more than seeing his mom, a high school biology teacher in Fayetteville, N.C., evicted from her rental home after his redshirt freshman year. He emerged as a talent on the field and enjoyed life at Wake. But the situation bothered him.

"I don't want to say I was sad. I was a little thrown off," Curry says. "I was worried about my mom, our family and how we were going to make it."

Curry, whose parents separated when he was infant, moved in with a friend. Brothers Christopher and Brandon also stayed with friends. His mom lived with her grandmother.

"Some people get in that situation and think their world is coming to an end," Curry says. "That situation made us stronger. Even now, I smile back on it. Where would I be without that situation?"

Chris Curry's attitude assuaged her son's concerns. "I knew what I had to do to get where I needed to be," she says. "I don't know anyone who has gone through life where they haven't had anything significant happen to them. It's how you handle that that's most important."

Aaron Curry returned to Wake Forest in the fall of 2006 with a purpose. Determined to make sure his mom was never in that situation again either through a college degree or a pro football career, he hit the books and continued to improve on the field.

NFL teams love what the Wake coaches tell them about Curry's attitude and dedication.

"AC was in the film room so much there were times when I said, "You better make sure you're taking care of the classroom,' " Grobe says. "We never had problems with him academically."

Passionate about game

Football is in Curry's blood. His dad, Reggie Pinkney, played five NFL seasons with the Lions and Baltimore Colts. Half-brother Patrick Pinkney is a quarterback at East Carolina, and Christopher played at North Carolina.

Says Curry: "I get so pumped up about playing football, whether it's practice, a workout or a game. I never have to turn my switch on. It's always turned on."

Scouts saw that on film and witnessed it in February at the scouting combine. Before the combine, Curry wanted to improve his 40-yard dash time.

Curry looked at the times of the top linebackers in recent drafts - Jerod Mayo and Keith Rivers ran 4.54 and 4.58 a year ago - and wanted to run 4.55 or better. He spent three months at a training center in Arizona working on, among other things, his mechanics in the 40. At the combine, Curry wowed scouts with his 4.52 40 time.

But linebackers are rarely among the first players taken. In the last nine drafts, two linebackers - A.J. Hawk at No. 5 in 2006 and LaVar Arrington at No. 2 in 2000 - have been selected in the top five. "With that elite money, teams want a quarterback or an offensive tackle or an elite pass rusher," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay says.

The only criticism Curry hears is his supposed inability to rush the passer. He had 2 1/2 sacks in 2008. "I need to learn technique and use it to my advantage," Curry says. "I'm just waiting for my opportunity to sit down and get coached on it, because I'm a coachable player."

Curry has been labeled the "safest pick in the draft."

"It's great to hear," Curry says. "It means you can't go wrong. It means I'm a high-character guy. I'm responsible, focused and determined. Whoever drafts me doesn't have to worry about any issues down the line."

If Curry had left after his junior year, he would have been a mid-round pick, Wake linebackers coach Brad Lambert says. Today, he is a top prospect.

"It's hard to find a flaw in his game," McShay says. "He's just the complete package."

Kiper agrees: "He's just a kid who always shows up. (Curry) is everywhere. On punt coverage, he's the first guy down. That shows what a team player he is."

Those qualities manifest themselves in other ways. For example, Curry didn't need to work out at Wake Forest's pro day. Nothing he did figured to help his status, but he participated to bring scouts to campus. Grobe says 41 scouts representing all but one NFL team showed up.

"If AC came, he knew all his buddies would get a better look," Grobe says.

His selflessness extends beyond the football field. Last week Curry invited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital patient Bryson Merriweather, 12, who has leukemia, to be one of his guests at the draft in New York.

He is interested in what running back Warrick Dunn has achieved by helping single moms get houses. "I want to do something for single mothers who are working to provide but ends just aren't meeting," Curry says.

The first home will be for his mom. "This is the biggest thank-you for helping me and my brothers, for helping us make it, for never giving up on us and never giving up on each other," Curry says. "And now she has nothing to worry about."