One minute, you’re a student-athlete working on an undergraduate degree in the College of Arts and Letters. The next minute, you’re a commodity trying to sell your “product” in the world of professional football.

TJ Jones, who leaves Notre Dame with the second most receptions (181) in Irish history, officially has entered the real world.

“It is a little weird and kind of surreal,” said Jones Thursday from his home (Roswell, Ga.) near Atlanta, where he continues to work out in anticipation of the May 8-10 NFL draft.

“It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was six-years old and first started playing football to now having the opportunity to actively pursue that dream and make that dream a reality. It’s definitely weird not having classes and taking your first steps into being ‘a grownup.’”

It’s been a whirlwind experience for Jones, who concluded his collegiate career on a high note by snagging 70 passes for 1,108 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior in 2013.

“I’ve been training non-stop since the season ended,” Jones said. “You really learn how to take care of your body. Money spent on your body in recovery or treatments or working out is money well spent at this point because your body is now what’s going to keep you in the NFL.”

After spending the last four years in South Bend where his father -- the late Andre Jones -- made a name for himself as an outside linebacker/defensive end on the great Lou Holtz squads from the late ‘80s, early ‘90s, Jones has returned home to share the moment with loved ones.

“Having an opportunity to train at home and get some good work in, I chose to come back to Atlanta to spend some time with the family that I missed out on the past four years,” Jones said.

Jones rates among the top 25 receivers eligible for the draft in a year full of quality receivers, led by Sammy Watkins (Clemson), Mike Evans (Texas A&M), Odell Beckham, Jr., (LSU), Brandin Cooks (Oregon State) and Marqise Lee (USC). That likely puts Jones somewhere in the fourth-to-sixth round.

“They really didn’t give me any specifics,” said Jones of the “handful” of teams who have interviewed/worked him out since Notre Dame’s March 20 Pro Day. “When teams talk to my agent, they give him an idea where they’ll draft me. When it’s me, they leave that information out.

“I really wish I had a number (round) in my head. That would make it a lot easier as far as the waiting process goes. A lot of it depends on how many receivers go in the first couple rounds and the teams’ needs.”

Jones is represented by Revolution Sports Management and, specifically, Damarius Bilbo, who serves as President and CEO of the football representation branch of the company. Bilbo, a former Georgia Tech quarterback/wide receiver, was recommended by a former standout cornerback/return man from Notre Dame.

“After our bowl game in New York City, a family friend - a person I consider blood, Allen Rossum - set up a meeting with Kevin Liles, a big manager/agent in the entertainment music industry,” Jones said. “He put me in contact with Damarius Bilbo and Fletcher Smith, who also is representing me.

“From there, we just kind of hit it off. We had a conference call with everybody that would be involved in my representation and everybody seemed to be on the same page from the start. Once we met in person, it was a done deal for me.”

Jones is working out of DSA Training in Marietta, Ga., with several aspiring/former NFL prospects, including former Vanderbilt wide receiver Chris Boyd. In between, Jones has been flown to several locales to work out for NFL teams.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” said Jones of the workouts, choosing not to name any of the pro teams. “Getting to know each other, learning about their offensive scheme.

“If it’s a workout, it’s them putting you through some of their plays and routes, seeing how you would fit into their playbook. They also test your overall football knowledge, from identifying coverages to relaying to them Notre Dame’s playbook and the reads that the quarterbacks and receivers go through each play.”

Jones does not expect to return to Notre Dame for graduation on May 18. He’s already received his diploma and anticipates participating in his new team’s mini-camp that weekend.

Jones doesn’t want to speculate as to which team might select him.

“I’ve tried to stay away from that kind of mindset because I may think I’m a perfect fit for a lot of teams, and the one team I think I’m not a perfect fit for can draft me,” Jones said. “I’m really just playing the waiting game and preparing myself to make myself a perfect fit for wherever I’m drafted.”

Less than two weeks before the draft, the low-key, soft-spoken Jones is ready for the next step in the process.

“In a normal time period, two weeks wouldn’t be long at all,” Jones chuckled. “But with everything I’ve worked for these last 21 years, these next two weeks will be the longest two weeks of my life.”