DETROIT - There were times during Tim Hiller’s freshman year in 2005 where he’d leave Room 146 in Bigelow Hall on Western Michigan’s campus in Kalamazoo and wander over to the cafeteria.

The dining hall has an enclosed walkway attached to the dorm. As Hiller approached the entrance and walked in, other non-football playing freshmen would stand. And applaud. Hiller, meanwhile, wanted to hide. “He used to get so embarrassed,” fifth-year senior linebacker Austin Pritchard said. “… I just started laughing. It was funny to me. He was so embarrassed. He turned bright red.”

Embarrassment about attention isn’t an issue any more. Hiller was Western’s starting quarterback as a true freshman and, coming from tiny Orrville, Ohio, wasn’t used to gobs of attention. Now, as a fifth-year senior, it’s coming at him from everywhere. As a freshman, he was the dump-off passer to future NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings. Now, he’s the guy with the NFL attention as he begins the 2009 season opening at Michigan on Saturday - a big stage where a good performance could be the start of a season that ends with Hiller being drafted into the NFL. He’s asked about that often - and mostly laughs about it. “You can’t help but have, whether it’s media people or friends come up to you and say ‘What’s the deal,’” Hiller said. “I just brush it off. If I focus on what’s important now and we play how we’re capable of playing this season, then that will take care of itself. “So I’m not really worried about it.” Hiller has turned into a prototypical NFL quarterback. He has the size - 6-foot-5, 234-pounds. He’s accurate, completing 64.9 percent of his passes last year along with throwing for 3,725 yards, 36 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has the experience as a four-year starter for Western. And he has the release, which is one of the biggest concerns for Michigan. “He gets rid of the ball real quick,” Michigan defensive lineman Brandon Graham said. “If you don’t put pressure on him, he’ll pick you apart and take the (defensive) line mostly out of the game because he’s throwing it so quick. “He’s three-step and out.” Part of the accuracy comes from Western Michigan’s offense. Another comes from the fact that Hiller has always been a quarterback, starting from his days in the Boys and Girls club flag football league in Orrville. His knowledge also comes from his grandfather, former Illinois center Dan Sabino, who he talks with weekly. Hiller said Sabino shaped his game, which often hinges on the thinking side of it. It’s where he thinks he separates himself from others. So when Western placed more responsibility on Hiller for the offense - he handles audible calls, protection changes, calling run plays and blitz checks - the mental aspect he’s focused on since he was a kid helps. “The key separating the good quarterbacks from the great ones is you’re going to see seven, eight, nine looks that you know you’re going to get,” Hiller said. “But there’s always a 10th or 11th look that you’ve never seen before. “How do you handle that check, because you know it’s going to happen. That’s the difference between a great player and a good player.” All of this - the NFL potential, the four-year starter, the mental knowledge - had Western Michigan launch a Web site called ‘WhereisTimHiller.com’ to promote him for awards and as a tracker throughout the year. At MAC media day they had small signs about it. On campus, posters saying ‘Where is Tim Hiller?’ have been prominent. And needless to say, while it isn’t freshman-year embarrassment, his teammates are having fun with it. “Maybe staple it to him a time or two,” Pritchard said. “Say we found him.” Western Michigan did. On Saturday, Michigan will need to.