'86 Chronology-Draft Profiles #5

Event Date: January 1st, 1986

Event Description: Draft Profiles-Linebackers

Source: UPI

Outside Linebackers 

Anthony Bell, Michigan State, 6-2 , 228. Has excellent pyschical numbers, including 4.5 speed. But sometimes gets lost on field.

Alonzo Johnson, Florida, 6-2 , 217. Solid pursuer with fine speed. Needs improvement on coverage. Solid blitzer. Had disciplinary troubles early in college career. Decline in weight in offseason frightens many.

Joe Kelly, Washington, 6-1 , 219. Covers a lot of ground against pass and run, but might be too small for NFL. Plays hard and hits hard. Sticks well to RBs.

Byron Lee, Ohio State, 6-2, 228. Fine athlete who will have to gain consistency. May be moved inside.

Filipo Mokofisi, Utah, 6-0 , 235. Aggressive tackler. Shines against run, but must improve against pass.

Kevin Murphy, Oklahoma, 6-1 , 226. Good feel for game. Fast and powerful. Must work on coverage. Recovered nicely from right foot injury. Loves spotlight plays.

Gerald Robinson, Auburn, 6-3 , 253. Well-rounded: can stick with RBs and TEs in coverage, apply pressure and stuff the run. Might move inside or to DE.

Larry Station, Iowa, 5-11 , 230. Mike Singletary's personality - smart, adaptable, coachable, all heart -- but lacks skills. Trouble against pass and big blockers.

Pat Swilling, Georgia Tech, 6-3 , 243. Stock rose as senior. May play standup LB-DE.

Leon White, Brigham Young, 6-2, 220. Plays run better than pass, but has tools to improve coverage. Sure tackler. 

Inside Linebackers 

Ty Allert, Texas, 6-2 , 225. Always around the action. Hits hard. Could use muscle. Much better against the run than pass.

Dino Hackett, Appalachian State, 6-4, 225. Speed at 4.6 makes appealing. He gets from sideline to sideline well. Div. II background provides questions.

Pepper Johnson, Ohio State, 6-3, 250. Instinctive and intense. Sticks out on run, but questionable in coverage. Tendency to anticipate and get burned.

Doug Landry, Louisiana Tech, 6-1, 220. Dominated in Southland Conference, but was far from that at Senior Bowl. Hunger to hit. Size and speed are questions.

Dan McMillen, Colorado, 6-4 , 229. Aggressive and aware. Parlays size and speed nicely. Always in or near pile. Has problems in open field.

John Offerdhal, Western Michigan, 6-2 , 225. Incredible numbers in Mid-American Conference were backed up by Senior Bowl performance. Hits to remember. Special teams performer. Physical tools are nothing to rave about.

Jackie Walker, Jackson State, 6-4 , 230. Bit of project. Tools are impressive -- runs and tackles well, and is a quick learner. Played college basketball. 

Story-(UPI)

'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)

'86 Chronology-Draft Profiles #3

Event Date: January 1st, 1986

Event Description: Draft Profiles-Offensive Lineman

Source: UPI

Centers

Pete Anderson, Georgia, 6-3, 260. Leader and possible OG transplant. Played run-oriented offense and may have problems with pass protection.

Tom Baugh, Southern Illinois, 6-3, 270. Not great athlete, but has desire and intelligence. Leads by example. Has long-snap skills, which alone are enough to make some clubs.

Leonard Burton, South Carolina, 6-3 , 255. Fine athlete, who can play other positions and is learning. Didn't start as senior, but played a lot.

Gene Chilton, Texas, 6-3, 272. Lacks great ability, but intelligent. Footwork needs improvement. Strong. Might be switched to OG.

Ron Kosor, North Carolina State, 6-1 , 262. Questions about concentration. Speed is an asset.

Bill Lewis, Nebraska, 6-5 , 278. Size makes a switch to OT possible. Is quick, but has trouble with quick players. Like all linemen at Nebraska, strength is no question, but pass blocking is.

Gary Walker, Boston University, 6-2, 270. Loads of potential, but late move to C means a lot of work on technique. Has played elsewhere on line and deep snaps. 

Guards

Michael Black, Sacramento State, 6-3 , 290. Likely move inside from OT. Was a dominant player in Div. II. Raw, but tools should make it worthwhile.

Paul Blair, Oklahoma State, 6-3 , 263. Played OT often in college, but size and lack of great quickness makes him a pro OG. Has to improve strength and toughness. Got better each collegiate year.

Mike Haight, Iowa, 6-3 , 275. Hard worker. Consistent. A player who is at best when the curtain is drawn and the lights go on. Back problems?

James Huddleston, Virginia, 6-3 , 260. Appetizing physical tools, especially 4.8 speed. There are some questions because he was kicked off team as junior for disciplinary reasons. Deep snapper.

Jim Juriga, Illinois, 6-5 , 260. Pass-blocker supreme, which makes him among most desirable OGs in draft. Low weight could be a problem. Combination of good speed and acceleration makes a strong puller.

Bob Landsee, Wisconsin, 6-4 , 269. Marked improvement from junior to senior seasons. Makes initial blow count. May be a pro C. Has to get showings to reflect his abilities.

Tom Newberry, Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 6-1 , 281. Very powerful, quick and smart and often dominant player in Div. III.

John Rienstra, Temple, 6-4, 277. Combines speed, strength - especially upper body -- and desire. A key to Paul Palmer's excellent rushing stats. Loves to hit.

Will Woford, Vanderbilt, 6-5, 276. Might move to OT in pros. Showcased talents in Senior Bowl after solid second half of season. Standout on a poor team in a tough conference. Good foot technique. 

Tackles

Paul Bertucelli, Miami (Fla.), 6-3 , 260. Could have gone back for 1 more season, but chose draft. Lacks physical gifts, but playing in pro offense has developed standout technique.

Jim Dombrowski, Virginia, 6-4 , 289. Good feet make a standout puller. Good balance. Intelligent and willing to learn. Can play OG. Played goalie in hockey and quick reflexes are apparent.

James Fitzpatrick, Southern Cal, 6-7 , 273. USC has become Tackle U and Fitzpatrick only enhances reputation. Size is appealing, but needs help with pass blocking. Strained knee in Aloha Bowl.

Brian Jozwiak, West Virginia, 6-5 , 303. Outstanding athlete for man his size. Strong ability on run and pass. Needs work on technique. Also, injuries to hip and stomach have caused concern.

J.D. Maarleveld, Maryland, 6-6, 303. Triumphant story as overcame cancer to play. Not physical enough for size. Moves well and is an outstanding run blocker.

Jim Meyer, Illinois State, 6-5, 285. Questions about consistency. Probably a project. However, size, speed and willingness makes desirable.

Joe Milinichik, North Carolina State, 6-4 , 300. Powerful and wants to hit. Bulk shouldn't fool anybody, this guy's an athlete. Does have problems backing up quickly on pass.

Mike Schad, Queen's College (Canada), 6-5, 285. In year for outstanding OTs, this is interesting case. Lack of top teaching and competition in Canada hurts. But somebody will work with a man of his tools if the CFL doesn't get him. Showed his stuff in East-West Shrine Game and with weights at combine.

Gary Schippang, West Chester State, 6-4, 260. Often much bigger than opposition. Size, speed, balance and potential is nice package to work with.

Jeff Walker, Memphis State, 6-3 , 278. Low center of gravity with bulky body might make an OG. Can be beaten by speed, especially on pass.

Steve Wallace Auburn, 6-5, 267. Helped make Bo Jackson look greater. Hits hard. Solid run blocker. Needs work on pass, but is only 21.

Doug Williams, Texas A&M, 6-5, 282. Spirited performer, who combines size and strength. Already displayed standout pass technique. Must prove consistency. 

Source: (UPI)

'86 Chronology-Draft Profiles #2

Event Date: January 1st, 1986

Event Description: Draft Profiles-RB's, WR's and TE's

Source: UPI

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

Halfbacks 

Neal Anderson, Florida, 5-11, 208. Speed and breakaway ability, plus good hands for receiving and returning kicks. Also blocks.

Keith Byars, Ohio State, 6-1, 240. Twice-broken right foot cost him most of senior season and makes him draft's biggest question. Led nation in rushng and TDs as junior when showed excellent acceleration and strength. Runs to daylight. Can be All-Pro if injuries are behind him.

Darryl Clack, Arizona State, 5-10, 206. Gets to and turns corner. Elusive. Good hands and returns kicks. Injuries stagnated senior year.

Kenneth Davis, Texas Christian, 5-10, 212. Interesting sidelight to draft will be how teams react to highly rated junior, kicked off team as senior. Gets to hole quick and hard to bring down. Word used most often about offseason work was 'rusty.' May have to switch to FB.

Reggie Dupard, Southern Methodist, 6-0, 198. Electric. Great moves - inside and outside. Versatile: good hands, determined running and will block.

Gill Fenerty, Holy Cross, 5-11 , 191. Didn't go to combines due to head injury at end of season and some soured on him though he has been tabbed 100 percent healthy. Rushed for 1,368 yards. Div. I-AA also makes teams think.

Bo Jackson, Auburn, 6-1, 222. The first pick, especially since his dismissal from Auburn baseball team pushed him toward football. Great all-round athlete. Answered a lot about heart by playing with late-season injuries. Few ever have his skill package.

Garry James, Louisiana State, 5-10, 215. Teammate Dalton Hilliard got more press, but scouts are more impressed with James' potential. Strength over speed. Good hands and strong blocker. East-West Shrine Game standout.

Rueben Mayes, Washington State, 6-0, 200. Dropped off from junior season, but tools are impressive. Oustanding speed and acceleration. Set NCAA record with 357-yard rushing game as junior. Playing veer offense hurts. Good combine showing.

Napoleon McCallum, Navy, 6-2, 218. Obligated to serve 5 years in Navy. Some team will take him, but where? No later than a second-rounder if not for Navy hitch. Solid all-round skills and good person.

Allen Pinkett, Notre Dame, 5-7 , 183. Good nose for end zone. Low to ground with good first step to get through holes. Stood tall amid a bad situation at Notre Dame. Heady. Needs to add moves to accentutate quickness.

Barry Word, Virginia, 6-2, 218. Lost end of season to academic failings. Still, combination of speed, power and hands interests many. May be a FB. 

Fullbacks

Rick Badjanek, Maryland, 5-8, 220. Too small and slow to start in NFL, but can provide dirty work. Nose for the goal.

Chuck Banks, West Virginia Tech, 6-0, 219. Late bloomer who made move from HB to FB in senior season. Impressive at combine. Good blocker.

Carl Bynum, Mississippi Valley State, 6-0, 234. Proved quality hands. Hurt by poor senior season. Will get straight-ahead yards. Unable to get to corner.

Kent Hagood, South Carolina, 5-11 , 221. Didn't show same flash after broken leg as junior. Veer offense hurts.

Cletis Jones, Florida State, 5-11, 225. Solid FB with ability to block and make tough inside yards. Lacks breakaway moves.

Christian Okoye, Azusa Pacific, 6-1 , 247. A project, but an appetizing one. Speed for such a big man makes him comparable to Pete Johnson. But, after playing in NAIA program, lacks polish. From Nigeria.

Tom Rathman, Nebraska, 6-0, 231. Pure FB, who is good athlete. Solid blocker and power short-yardage runner. The classic Cornhusker FB - knows he'll block and occassionally pops one. Will have to prove hands.

Thomas Rooks, Illinois, 6-1, 209. Flourished as receiver in Illini's open offense. Also showed ability to escape first tackler. With 4.57 speed, is fastest of top FB prospects.

Charles Sanders, Slippery Rock, 6-1, 224. The NFL can use a player from Slippery Rock. But it is Div. II so this is a project. Played TB in college, but speed probably necessitates pro switch. Strong East-West Shrine Game among top competition.

Anthony Toney, Texas A&M, 5-11, 227. Finds the end zone. Stock rose as senior. Little flash -- mostly straight line, power guy. Hands?

Ray Wallace, Purdue, 6-0, 215. Determination helps overcome some acceleration problems. Proven hands.

John L. Williams, Florida, 5-11, 219. Speed, durability, good hands and the willingness to block. Works for extra yards. Best FB available. 

Wide Receivers 

Lew Barnes, Oregon, 5-8, 163. Easy to overlook because of size, but always produces huge numbers. Finishes patterns and once catches ball is a big-league threat.

Bill Brooks, Boston University, 6-0, 188. Drawbacks are speed and Div. II play. Speed can be deceptive and wants the ball when it counts. Strong and a good athlete.

Ron Brown, Colorado, 5-10, 189. Still much to learn after switch from offensive backfield, but 4.4 speed and hands will make some team a willing teacher. Needs strength.

Reggie Bynum, Oregon State, 6-1, 190. Uncertainty on speed. Goes over middle and holds ball. Always produces numbers in end.

Bobby Joe Edmonds, Arkansas, 5-9 , 173. Qualities of a 3rd-down RB and kick returner. Good hands and super game-breaking potential -- moves and speed. Inconsistency in college combined with need for muscle.

Kelvin Edwards, Liberty Baptist, 6-1 , 192. Questions on consistency and hands. A teriffic athlete -- especially jumping ability - from small program.

Ernest Givins, Louisville, 5-9 , 170. Runs 40 in 4.5 and has drawn comparison to former Louisville star Mark Clayton. Can return kicks.

Allyn Griffin, Wyoming, 6-2, 190. Problems are with desire, not talent. Despite playing in wishbone, he stood out. Handles tough passes and height and jumping ability make a desirable target.

Steve Griffin, Purdue, 5-11 , 178. Runs short, disciplined routes with precision. No speed burner, but does job over middle.

Hassan Jones, Florida State, 6-0 , 198. One of those without elite speed, who somehow provides impressive per-catch average. Deceptive with sticky hands.

Glen Kozlowski, Brigham Young, 6-0, 193. Jimmy Cefalo mold. Knee injury suffered early ruined senior season. Lacks great speed, but finds down-field nooks by using head. Rarely drops.

Tim McGee, Tennessee, 5-9 , 174. Knows how to work seams. Disciplined pattern runner unafraid of middle. From a school that has produced other first-round WRs in recent years, he is likely the best. Some speed questions.

Walter Murray, Hawaii, 6-3, 200. Size makes him delectable when combined with big-league speed and hands. Can't escape questions about toughness.

James Pruitt, Fullerton State, 6-2 , 192. Shuttled in and out in college so numbers aren't impressive. Gets deep and leaps. Must improve precision routes.

Mike Sherrard, UCLA, 6-1 , 185. Broken clavicle took away part of senior season, but size and speed produces strong memories. Doesn't do much after the catch.

Webster Slaughter, San Diego State, 5-11 , 169. For small guy likes contact. Played little in high school but started at JC, and has been learning rapidly. Just get it near him and it's his.

John Taylor, Delaware State, 5-11 , 180. After first-year success of Jerry Rice in San Francisco, pros will be willing to try this type - dominating small college performer with speed and hands. Fun begins after catch. Also, a kick returner.

Vince Warren, San Diego State, 6-0, 185. Collegiate underachiever. Doesn't like middle, but is explosive and has good hands.

David Williams, Illinois, 6-4, 187. Comes from strong passing program and displayed standout hands, toughness and ability to discover seams. Productive. Only drawback is speed. 

Tight Ends 

Greg Baty, Stanford, 6-5, 226. Lacks speed. Sticky fingers. Good senior season. Needs bulk for blocking.

Cap Boso, Illinois, 6-3 , 229. Good speed and has way of getting open in clutch. Blocking showed improvement, but needs work. Sure hands.

Thornton Chandler, Alabama, 6-4 , 243. Does job over middle and showed ability to make hard catch. Needs work on blocking and consistency.

Joe Cormier, Southern Cal, 6-5 , 225. Needs some weight. Good athlete. Has tools to work wonders and inconsistency -- dropped passes, poor blocking -- to cause gray hairs.

Scott Gieselman, Boston College, 6-5 , 240. Draft value improved by sticking extra year at BC. Questions about toughness. Can do wonderful things, but does he want to?

Carl Hilton, Houston, 6-3, 230. Escapes line quickly and has speed desired at TE for high-tech offenses. Limited college offense hurts skills and knowledge.

Brent Jones, Santa Clara, 6-3, 250. Size and speed bring potential to get long from school that brought you Cowboys' Doug Cosbie.

Jeff Parks, Auburn, 6-3 , 231. High grades for blocking. Team didn't pass much. Unable to get deep, but good skills once ball caught.

Jim Popp, Vanderbilt, 6-4 , 240. Play dropped from junior season. Makes difficult grabs. Won't overpower anyone as blocker.

Donald Rolle, Michigan State, 6-3, 241. Good second TE-type: Blocks and catches possession passes, but will never get deep.

Willie Smith, Miami (Fla.), 6-3, 230. Set catch marks at pass-oriented school. A WR in high school, which shows in limited blocking expertise. Undersized. Could have gone back for 1 more season. Promised to graduate on time, but some are leery because if he doesn't they lose him. 

'86 Chronology-Draft Profiles #1

Event Date: January 1st, 1986

Event Description: Draft Profiles-Quarterbacks

Source: UPI

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

Quarterbacks 

Robbie Bosco, Brigham Young, 6-2 , 188. Stock dropped when senior season failed to match junior. May be a BYU QB where system makes talent look better. Moves well, but shoulder miseries and interceptions scare many. A fierce competitor, with top accuracy, who directed team to national title.

Steve Bradley, Indiana, 6-2, 225. Started senior season as if he had something to prove and dropped off. Good runner, but breaks pocket too quick. Needs fine-tuning.

Walter Brister, Northeast Louisiana, 6-2 , 195. Wacky college career filled with pro baseball, arm trouble, transfers and unhonored letter of intent, ended with consistent senior season. Can erect a future with work.

Tom Erhardt, Rhode Island, 6-3, 207. How much will Div. I-AA hurt? Numbers -- more than 3,500 yards and 19 TD passes -- are impressive. Quick release and anticipation. Lacks pocket movement.

Jim Everett, Purdue, 6-5, 208. As senior led nation in total offense. Impressive arm, size and pocket-movement instincts. Learned to read defenses in passing system. Tough kid. Good offensive coordinator will really help.

Doug Gaynor, Long Beach State, 6-1 , 210. Must learn to escape sacks; has shown movement to do that. Extremely accurate with short passes (71.2 percent completion rate as senior). Questions about arm stength. Looked good in Hula Bowl.

Stan Gelbaugh, Maryland, 6-3, 195. Most problems are those of inactivity from not playing until senior campaign. Progressed throughout last season. Can punt and play WR which makes him a possible No. 3 QB project.

Chuck Long, Iowa, 6-3 , 211. Handles pressure situations well. Good size and mobility, though not a scrambler. Tremendous accuracy within 20 yards. Some questions about long ball. Instincts are top-notch.

Brian McClure, Bowling Green, 6-6, 227. For such a big guy, not a great arm. Little mobility and poor California Bowl performance. Productive, but needs development.

Hugh Millen, Washington, 6-4, 210. Arm, size and mind to play in NFL. Desire and consistency are questions. Star two years ago in Orange Bowl, was unable to hold job last season.

Mike Norseth, Kansas, 6-2, 198. Postseason All-Star games and senior campaign helped dramatically. Mechanics and arm are positives. Speed is negative.

Gilbert Renfroe, Tennessee State, 6-1, 190. Unorthodox throwing style. Comes from load-it-up and throw it offense. Powerful arm, but size a problem. Loves the long ball.

Tony Robinson, Tennessee, 6-2 , 182. Chance to go early until drug-trafficking charges. Also, season-ending knee injury last fall. But there are no questions about tools -- exceptional arm, strength and speed.

Mark Rypien, Washington State, 6-4, 230. Impressive size and powerful arm. Disspelled some questions about coming from option offense with standout Senior Bowl. Inconsistent.

Willie Totten, Mississippi Valley State, 6-2, 199. Outstanding athlete, who played in most pass-happy offense in college. Great feet. Questions about arm strength and his competition.

Jack Trudeau, Illinois, 6-3, 211. Inconsistency and bad knee hurts draft placement. Tools are evident, but should have played better with a good team. 

Story-(UPI)