Rich Lapham (No. 66) won't be working out at the combine, but he's hoping to make some inroads nonetheless. (AP)

INDIANAPOLIS — When it comes to preparing for life in the NFL, Boston College offensive lineman Rich Lapham already has an edge on the competition.

The 6-foot-8, 327-pound offensive lineman is the nephew of former Bengals offensive lineman Dave Lapham, a Melrose native who played for Cincinnati from 1974 until 1983 (and then for New Jersey in the USFL) before becoming a Bengals radio analyst. In addition, BC remains the gold standard for turning out offensive linemen.

It’s added up to quite the resume for the New Hampshire native, who is projected at this point to be a mid- to late-round pick in this year’s draft.

“[There's a] great coaching staff at Boston College,” Lapham said. “My offensive line coach, Sean Devine, has been really helpful, and through the prep for what we would do at Boston College, he’d would almost treat it the same way at the combine — go up [to the board] and draw the play, so we were familiar with it. Stuff like that. I credit him for a lot of the situations and the last couple of years that has gotten me ready.

“There have been a lot of great players coming out of Boston College who have played offensive line, especially the right tackle position — guys like Gosder Cherilus and Marc Colombo,” he added. “These guys have these reputations and these attitudes and we have to live up to that.”

Lapham’s uncle played all five offensive line spots and was a member of Cincinnati’s 1981 AFC Championship team, and the BC product credits the support of his uncle with helping him become the player that he is.

“He’s been there from the beginning,” Lapham said. “Him and my Dad talk a lot, and even throughout high school, he kind of told me, as a freshman, he knew I had the potential and he gave me the encouragement to say, ‘The sky is the limit. It’s up to you. You can do what you want to do.’ He’s given me support through all different things — not just athletics. Everything else. He’s been a great guy. He’s been there for me. I really appreciate him helping me out in this way.”

Lapham, who suffered an injury to his left kneecap this past season, said he will not be working out this weekend at the NFL scouting combine, instead holding off until April.

“I want to shake as many hands and meet as many people as I can, because I think I have a lot to offer,” Lapham said. “Being able to do that — meet the coaches, being able to sit down and talk with them about football, I think that’ll impress a lot of people and go a long way.”