NFL DRAFT REPORT
Holmes May Be The Pick Of The Litter
Linemen. That's the key word
for this year's NFL draft in regards
to predominately black schools.
That means Lester Holmes, a 6-3
1/2, 285-pound offensive tackle from
Jackson State, and Michael Strahan,
a 6-5, 270-pound defensive end from
Texas Southern. These two linemen
could be selected in the first round
by the Detroit Lions in 1992.
Because of the NFL's new col
lective bargaining agreement, this
year's April 25-26 draft has been
reduced from 12 rounds to right
rounds. Which means many players
must sign as free agents after the
draft. Last year. M) plavr rs from pre
dominately black schools were
selected; this year the number proba
bly will decrease, not because of tal
ent but the reduction in rounds.
Holmes, Division I-AA All
Other players who should be
drafted are: Herman Arvie, a 6-4 1/2,
330-pound offensive tackle from
Grambling State; Steve Brannon, a
6-3, 265-pound defensive tackle
from Hampton; Kevin Johnson, a 6-1
1/2, 303-pound defensive tackle
from Texas Southern; Jimmy Bethea,
a 6-2 1/2, 208-pound safety from
Tennessee State; Henderson Mose
ley, a 6-1, 230-pound quarterback
from Central State, Ohio; James1
Johnson, a 5-11 1/2, 212-pound run
ning back from Jackson State; and
Everette Mclver, a 6-5 1/4, 345
pound defensive tackle from Eliza
beth City State.
Others are: Chuck Duffey, a 5-10
J/4, 191 -pound quarterback from
Florida A&M; Charles Thompson, a
5-9 1/2, 176-pound running back
from Central State; Stevie Anderson,
" The Scouts tell me I'll be a
Guard in the NFL"
\
?Lester Holmes
America player, dominated the com
petition, helping pave the way for
Jackson State to average 216 yards
rushing per game. But he expects to
change positions.
"The scouts tell me 1 9 11 be a
guard in the NFL," Holmes said the
the Black College All- America Cen
tennial Celebration in Baltimore in
February.
He is a better run-blocker than
pass-blocker.-Mel Kiger Jr., author of
the "1993 Draft Report," says
Holmes can "create a lane you can
drive a truck through." But he has
trouble with "attacking sack artists^
that fly off the corner."
Strahan, who spent most of his
high school career in Germany
because his father was a Army veter
an, recorded 19 sacks last season and
totaled 64 tackles. Strahan "has the
raw talent and work ethic to eventu
ally develop into 1 4-3 defensive
end," Kiger says. "It will take some
time, tough, so don't expect anything
spectacular in the first two years."
Still, the "German Warrior"
should eventually be a force.
a 6-4 1/4, 205-pound wide receiver
from GRambling State; Terrance
Warren, a 6-0, 193-pound wide
receiver from Hampton; Patrick
Robinson, a 5-7, 176-pound wide
from Tennessee State; Antonius
Kimbrough, a 6-2, 193-pound wide
receiver from Jackson State; Fernan
do Evans, a 6-1 1/2, 182-pound wide
receiver from Alcorn State; Horace
Brooks, a 5-8 1/2, 170-pound wide
receiver from Alabama State; Wally
Williams, a 6-0 1/2, 303-pound cen
ter from Florida A&M ; and Colin
Godfrey, a 5-10, 165-pound punter
^from Tennessee State. ~
Grambling;s Arvie man have to
combat weight more than defensive
linemen to find a spot in the NFL.
He has reportedly ballooned up to as
much as 350-360 pounds. But, as
Kiger says, Arvie "when at a decent
weight, he would destroy people."
Hampton's Brannon's, who had
18 sacks last season, has shown "the
ability to chase down running backs
some 50-60 yards down the field."
Texas Southern's Johnson
recorded 73 tackles and 18 stops
Lester Holmes is Jackson State's Top Lineman.
behind the line of scrimmage. John
son, projected as a nose tackle, is an
active low-based athlete who moved
up several rounds after his fine
effort" in Senior Bowl, Kiger says.
Tennessee State's Bethea had 79
tackles 6 pass breakups, 1 intercep
tion and 2 forced fumbles last sea
son. "Jimmy proved to be an oppor
tunistic free safety," Kiger says,
never shying away from contact.
He'll come up and stick the ball car
rier, as he showed in the East- West
Shrine game."
Central State's Moseley "lacks
ideal height," Kiger says, "appear
ing shorter on film die to his strong
frame." But he has arm strength, able
to throw the ball 75 yards.
"Fortunately, his arm strength
and top athletic skills will give him a
chance to maybe hang around as a
backup?*"
Jackson State's Johnson returned
to play in 1992 after missing most of
the 1991 season with a gunshot
wound. He gained 1,327 yards rush
ing on 231 carries and scored 15
touchdowns. Johnson also can play
either the halfback spot or the full
back slot. "Hard-nosed big backs
like Johnson don't usually have a
problem carving out a niche in the
NFL," Kiger says. "He should be a ?
valuable reserve since he can fill in
at any spot, and also proved unstop
pable in short yardage situations."
Elizabeth City State's Mclver
"went out and singlehandedly took
over games at the NCAA Division II
level," Kiger says. "His athletic abil
ity is outstanding, allowing him to
flash various moves that just aren't
normally seen in a player in the NFL
will hinge on whether or not he will
gain the self-discipline to maintain
his weight at an optimum level."