'86 Chronology-Draft Profiles #4

Event Date: January 1st, 1986

Event Description: Draft Profiles-Defensive Lineman

Source: UPI

(Thumbnail sketches of leading players for the upcoming USFL and NFL drafts, listed alphabetically by position) 

Defensive Tackle 

Tony Casillas, Oklahoma, 6-2 , 277. Falcons have said they will use the second pick of the draft on All-America NT. At Oklahoma, got free despite drawing constant double and triple teaming. Strong (500 bench press), fast and never yields. Missed some of senior year with sprained knee, but still won Lombardi Trophy. Has drawn Lee Roy Selmon comparisons.

Tony Colorito, Southern Cal, 6-5 , 244. Instinctive, intelligent and good athlete. Needs weight.

Earl Conway, Mississippi College, 6-2 , 260. Dominated opposition in tiny Gulf South Conference. Gets in backfield with speed-power combination. For teams needing a NT.

Mike Hammerstein, Michigan, 6-2 , 260. Overachiever or winner? May turn into NT. Plays hard all the time, but not a great athlete.

Erik Howard, Washington State, 6-3, 265. Played outside in college, but lack of speed and elusiveness means move inside. Traits are inside: upper body strength, quickness and good arm work.

Scott Kellar, Northern Illinois, 6-2 , 260. Dominant in mediocre Mid-American Conference. Strong and quick. Needs work getting to QB.

Ike Reardon, Hampton Institute, 6-0 , 261. Lack of competition and weight could be problems. Extremely quick and good penetrator. Height makes him a NT.

Mike Ruth, Boston College, 6-2, 260. Will choose NFL over priesthood. Don't let off-field pursuits fool you, he'll rip a facemask on the field. Great strength and desire. Good balance. Outland Trophy winner. Short arms hinder.

Patrick Swoopes, Mississippi State, 6-2 , 271. Played well in postseason. Combines strength and quickness.

Guy Teafatiller, Illinois, 6-1 , 256. Bundles of strength and desire. A NT in pros. Needs help on footwork.

T.J. Turner, Houston, 6-4, 282. The slickness to get around and the power to bull past lineman. Extends arms well and draws double teaming. Had an off year as senior. 

Defensive Ends

Eric Dorsey, Notre Dame, 6-5, 263. Displayed size and strength inside, and was impressive after late-season switch from nose. Needs consistency and constant desire.

Kevin Fagan, Miami (Fla.), 6-3 , 260. Right knee surgery could mean no career. BUT he showed standout penetrating power, quickness and a top work ethic.

Tim Green, Syracuse, 6-2, 249. Superior atheltic ability makes him strong possibility to move to ILB. Size makes him possibility to be part-time down lineman, part-time LB. Rhodes Scholar candidate and extremely hard worker.

Leonard Griffin, Grambling, 6-4 , 240. Raw, but has standout tools. Remember guys like Mark Gastineau and Richard Dent came from small schools. Griffin has size and speed, but can be run at.

Jon Hand, Alabama, 6-6 , 283. Dynamic run stopper, who is improving against pass as success in East-West Shrine Game proved. Size makes him hard to budge, ignore and pass over. Makes plays from behind. Needs to get nasty.

Tim Harris, Memphis State, 6-5, 230. Played LB in college, but was standout as DE in Senior Bowl. May be stand-up LB-DE in pros.

Marcus Koch, Boise State, 6-5, 265. Size and strength, but lack of pass rush makes switch to NT probable. Born in Canada and CFL may make strong pitch.

Leslie O'Neal, Oklahoma State, 6-3 , 245. Can use weight against run. Quickness makes him elusive pass rusher. Determination is a plus.

Larry Roberts, Alabama, 6-2 , 260. Most teams concentrated on Jon Hand. Roberts is quick and could develop into a pass rusher, but has a lot to learn.

Jim Skow, Nebraska, 6-3, 245. Should add pounds. Tracks QBs well with 4.8 speed and good handwork. Set school records as senior with 15 sacks and 25 tackles for losses.

Jeff Tupper, Oklahoma, 6-5, 268. Sharing line with Casillas means little recognition. Outstanding run stopper. Needs real work against pass.

Terry Unrein, Colorado State, 6-4 , 275. Has physical tools, but often falls short of expectation. Needs to add desire and get mean.

Gerald Williams, Auburn, 6-3 , 262. Solid against run and has tools to get passer if technique is improved. When he's close to a QB, the play is usually over. Tailed off as a senior. 

Story-(UPI)