FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas wide receiver Marcus Monk turns 22 on April 26. That also is the first day of the 2008 NFL Draft.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a good present,” Monk said Tuesday after working out for NFL coaches, general managers and scouts at the Razorbacks’ Pro Day.

The first two rounds of the draft will be held April 26, with the next five rounds April 27.

Monk might have to wait until the day after his birthday to get his draft present, but he improved his stock with how well he ran and caught passes Tuesday.

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One NFL scout said Monk now is likely to be picked in the third or fourth round.

That’s good news for Monk, considering he missed Arkansas ’ first six games last season after undergoing two surgeries on his right knee in August to repair cartilage damage and wasn’t full speed in the seven games he did play, catching 16 passes for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Monk ran the 40-yard dash in 4. 41 and 4. 43, according to NFL. com, and looked good in the other drills. He also showed off a 36-inch vertical jump.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Monk ran the 40 in 4. 56 seconds, so he improved by more than a tenth of a second Tuesday.

“I was happy with it, but I knew I could do better,” Monk said of his combine 40 time. “That was my main reason for running [Tuesday ].”

Chris Mortensen, an NFL analyst for ESPN, said Monk probably helped himself Tuesday more than other former Razorbacks.

“I talked to a couple of teams this past week about Marcus. They told me he didn’t even need to run [Tuesday ], that for his size [6-5 and 222 pounds ] and what he is, they have a good draftable grade on him,” Mortensen said. “I’m not saying first day [pick ], but then he went out here and ran in the 4. 4 ’s and caught the ball really well.

“ All of a sudden there is a little more of a buzz on him. So now people are going back a little more to look at his freshman, sophomore and junior years.... It just means that they are going to look at him harder.”

Monk, whose Arkansas career totals include 138 catches for 2, 151 yards and 27 touchdowns in 43 games, said his right knee feels 100 percent healthy after weightlifting restored its strength

“There wasn’t any pain,” Monk said. “It was just getting the strength back in my leg so I could get my explosiveness back.”

Monk, who will work out in Fayetteville and his hometown of Lepanto leading up to the draft, said his legs felt fast, rested and powerful Tuesday.

“It felt good running, and my routes felt good, getting in and out of my breaks,” he said. “It just feels good to be back.”

Monk considered entering the draft after his junior season, but chose to come back to Arkansas. Then during preseason practice, he injured his knee.

“It’s your senior season and there are high expectations,” he said. “It didn’t go the way that I wanted it to, but I don’t regret anything. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“ I graduated [in December ] and I had one more year with my teammates.”

Monk said he’s not sure where he’s projected to be picked and that he doesn’t pay attention to mock drafts.

“I’m not really worried about any of that,” he said. “I just want to get with a team and play football.”