4.56 speed in the 40. "He looked fluid and
confident in the drills at Indy [at the scouting
combine]," Kiper notes, "showing the quick
ness to compensate for his lack of straight
ahead speed. [Kick] return skills should
come in handy while he is making the adjust
ment to become a true wide receiver at the
pro level"
Holder runs 4.58 in the 40. The 6-0 1/4,
185 pounds receiver caught 161 passes for
37 touchdowns and averaged 18.2 yards per
reception for his career. His touchdown
reception total is fourth on the Division n all
time list. He also averaged 12.1 yards on
punt returns as a collegian.
Holder, the nephew of Hall Of Fame
baseball player Billy Williams, is a "raw,
developmental-type wide-out whose return
skills will provide him with a decent shot at
sticking on an NFL roster," Kiper wrote.
Tillman, a 6-2 1/2 pounder with 4.59
speed, caught 58 passes for 790 yards and a
SWAC-leading 11 TD catches. "He's still a
little raw," Kiper points out, "but is an
extraordinarily sure-handed wide-receiver.
With his size and athletic ability, he deserves
some attention in the later rounds.
Kiper says that Heath (6-3 1/2, 249,
4.85 in the 40) "is a fine athlete, grading out
as one of the more effective pass receiving
tight ends in all of college football. A major
negative with Heath is that he just doesn't get
the job done as an on-line blocker."
Tharpe (6-5, 295, 5.15 in the 40) is a
massive specimen. Says Kiper: "He's a
mountain of a man, with super-long arms
and improving strength. When this guy is
properly motivated, he just pancaked his
opponent, evidence of which came in the
Blue-Gray Game when he was able to put
on quite a show, displaying his exception
al raw talent Tharpe certainly rates as a
top-notch small college prospect with the
raw, physical skills NFL teams are look
ing for in the age of the 300-pound tackle
and guard."
Brown (6-6 1/2, 328. 5.25 speed) is no
munchkin. "He's huge, shows excellent
straight-ahead speed and seems agile enough
to eventually handle NFL-caliber defensive
ends with the proper tutelage," says Kiper.
"If he stays focused and works hard, he defi
nitely has a chance to eventually earn a start
ing job at either tackle spot."
Kiper rates Boyd (6-4 1/2, 288, 4.91
speed) fourth on his list of guards. "His foot
movement is such that if worked on in con
junction with improved technique, could
make him a real neutralizer when operating
against NFL defensive ends. Athletically,
he's in an elite category, making him a devel
opmental prospect that clubs should jump at
in the third to fifth round."
Terry, a 6-3 1/2, 287-pounder with a 5.05
clocking, "played in a 49ers-style passing
offense,'' Kiper said. "He understands pass
blocking and has displayed a nasty streak once
he straps on the pads* Attitude and a willing
ness to leam are all working in his favor."
Lockeridge is a 6-2 1/2, 322-pounder
with a 5.29 time who "uses his massive
frame to root defenders out with his initial
explosion," Kiper wrote, "and was able to
hold his own in pass protection on most
occasions. The key with Lockeridge h
Photo by Mark Gail
According to NFL scouts, Valley's Ronald Humphrey has a lot of raw talent
and should get better as he develops.
weight maintenance, meaning you have to
hope that he doesn't eat his way out of the
league."
Hope is 6-3, 289 with a time of 5.31.
He slides well along the line of scrimmage,
getting by at a low level of competition
despite his suspect position technique,' " Kiper
observed. He wasn't able to dominate play
on a consistent basis like his former team
mate Eric Williams [now with the Dalls
Cowboys]."
Pilton, a 6-7, 285-pounder with 4.95
speed, has tremendous ability. But he proba
bly would have been better off by staying at
Tennessee Stale for his final season of eligi
bility. As a sophomore two years ago, he
recorded 11 sacks in only five games, miss
ing six games because of a broken wrist. Last
season, he led the Ohio Valley -Conference
with 152 tackles, including 119 solos. "Elliot
is the type that an NFL club could possibly
steal in the third or fourth round," Kiper said,
"when he likely would have been a solid
first-round pick had he returned for another
year at the collegiate level."
Wilson, a 6-2 1/2, 287-pounder with a .
532 clocking, recorded 70 tackles with six
sacks and three pass break-ups. "Bernard is
a great kid with a motor that never stops
running," Kiper said. "He consisently claws
his way into the backfield and seems to
have the heart and ability to make the tran
sition from a lower level of competition to
the NFL."
Robinson (6-1 1/2, 233, 4.81 in the 40)
maintained a 3.5 grade point average in
chemistry and attended Alabama State on an
academic scholarship. "Eddie is an explosive
tackier,** Kiper wrote, "causing fumbles and
dropped passes with his teeth-loosening hits.
A major negative is a lack of top instincts ?
appears a step slow reacting, and at times has
trouble fighting his way through traffic.**
Little, a 6-3, 245-pounder with a 4.75
time, recorded 79 tackles, 16 sacks and three
forced fumbles in *91. "Due to his athletic
superiority over the competition," Kiper said,
"the coaching staff allowed him to free-lance
quite a bit. However, in the NFL he will have
to adjust to a more disciplined style."
Slaughter, a 6-4, 23 8 -pounder with a
4.69 time, "held up against the run OK at
Jackson State," Kiper said, "but in the NFL,
he will have to work on his block-shed abili
ty, learning to protect his legs against the
chop [block]. There is also a question about
his durability, since he missed some time this
past season with an ankle injury."
Briggs (6-2 1/2, 212, 4.54 speed) played
only one season of college football. Initially
a basketball standout, Briggs began as a
strong safety at Texas Southern before
switching to outside linebacker due to a rash
of injuries that decimated the rest of the
Tigers' LB corps. Last season, Briggs had 42
tackles and a couple of sacks.
"Physically and athletically, "Kiper said,
"there aren't many defensive backs in the
draft with more raw ability. He's a hard
nosed kid with outstanding speed and jump
ing ability. He has a lot to learn about the
position, but has been receptive to coaching
and is said to have the temperment to leam."
Other players who have a chance of
being drafted in the late rounds or signing as
free agents include:
Carl Wrigh*.(6-3 1/4, 215), Virginia
Union quarterback; Everett Norwood (5
10 1/2, 225), Winston-Salem State run
ning back; Michael Murray (5-8, 222),
Delaware State fullback; Marcus Dowdell
(5-11, 180), Tennessee State wide receiv
er, Rob Jackson (6-1, 194), Central State
(Ohio) wide receiver, Joe Washington (6
2, 193), Tuskegee wide receiver, Wendell
Watson (5-9 1/2, 182), Delaware State
wide receiver, Craig Thompson (6-2 1/2.
244), North Carolina A&T tight end;
Fredrick Washington (6-3, 235), Missis
sippi Valley State tight end; Jerrod Ellis
(6-4, 315), Grambling offensive tackle;
Roderick Milstead (6-1 1/2, 273),
Delaware State guard; Reggie White (6-4
1/4, 290), North Carolina A&T defensive
end; Roosevelt Nix (6-6, 300), Central
State defensive tackle; Darrell Brooks (6
4, 320), Tennessee State defensive tackle;
Thomas Griffin (5-11 1/2, 236), Gram
bling inside linebacker; Reggie Glover
(6-0 1/2, 222), North Carolina A&T out
side linebacker; Ricky Hill (5-10, 163),
South Carolina State comerback; Isaac
Morehouse (5-8, 169), Jackson State cor
nerback; Dee Moye (6-0 1/2, 189), North
Carolina A&T cornerback; James
Williams (6-2, 195), Mississippi Valley
State safety; Everett Nicholas (5-11, 189),
Mississippi Valley State safety; Leon
Harris (5-11 1/2, 210), Central State safe
ty; Charles Williams (6-1 1/2, 194),
Grambling safety.
[Writer's Footnote: Four players from
predominantly black schools were selected in
the first round one other time, in 71.
Offensive tackle Vernon Holland of
Tennessee State was taken by the Cincinnati
Bengals; linebacker Isiah Robertson of
Southern Unviersity was picked by the Los
Angeles Rams; defensive end Richard Harris
of Grambling was chosen by the Philadel
phia Eagles; and wide receiver Frank Lewis
of Grambling was taken by the Pittsburgh
Steelers.
Three players were taken in the first
round on two occasions, in 70 and 75. In
70, wide receiver Kenny Burrough of Texas
Southern was picked by the New Orleans
Saints; guard Doug Wilkerson of North Car
olina Central was selected by the Houston
Oilers; and tight end Raymond Chester of
Morgan State was chosen by the then Oak
land Raiders.
In 75, running back Walter Payton of
Jackson was to top pick of the Chicago
Bears; linebacker Robert Brazife of Jackson
State was No. 1 for the Oilers; and defensive
* end Gary "Big Hands'* Johnson of Gram
bling was the San Diego Charger's top pick.]
G.D. Clay