Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Checking their list, it isn’t nice
Editor’s note: This story was published April 15, 1997. It was edited here for space.
Green Bay — Fifteen of the best running backs in the National Football League draft this year rushed for no less than 1,000 yards as collegians last season.
Could it be possible that none of them would be worthy of selection in a 30player first round?
Probably not, but don’t bet the mortgage payment against this being only the second time in the 61-year history of the draft — 1963 was the first — that a running back doesn’t go in the first round.
“I think it’s a year where you could put all these running backs in a hat and you could pick out eight of them and they’re probably the same kind of guy,” said Terry Bradway, Kansas City’s director of college scouting. “There’s a bunch of them that will be decent players but I don’t really see a great one in the bunch.”
For obvious reasons, quarterback has always been the position of prominence. Running back, which requires less teaching than many positions and can supply instant impact, would be next, followed by defensive line.
Teams have selected a running back among the top 10 picks in 16 of the past 20 drafts. One has been taken among the top 15 picks every year since 1984, when Notre Dame’s Greg Bell was the first to go on the 26th choice.
A total of 85 running backs, or 4.3 per year, have been taken in the previous 20 first rounds.
Although there is considerable secondand third-round depth, this is the shortest supply of elite running backs since Tommy Vardell, Tony Smith and Vaughn Dunbar were first-round busts in 1992. The best back that year turned up in the fourth round: Green Bay’s Edgar Bennett.
In a profession in which formulating judgments is all-important, Ron Hughes, Detroit’s director of player personnel, was stumped when asked for his opinion on the best back.
“I don’t know,” Hughes said.
Is it the so-called “one-year wonders” with size and speed, Corey Dillon of Washington or Antowain Smith of Houston?
Dillon managed two first-place votes from scouts, whereas Smith received 1.
How about the productive senior tandem of Florida State’s quick little Warrick Dunn or Iowa’s slashing Sedrick Shaw, each of whom has posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons?
Dunn was the choice of two voters and Shaw by one.
Texas Tech’s Byron Hanspard, a 2,000-yard rusher with blazing speed, gained 1 vote.
A sixth contender, Virginia’s Tiki Barber, polled one vote as well.
Hovering just off the leaders are Tennessee’s powerful Jay Graham, a 215pounder with 4.44-second speed at 40 yards; Northwestern workhorse Darnell Autry, fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting two years ago; North Carolina’s versatile Leon Johnson, an all-around threat cut from the Bennett mold; Iowa State’s indomitable Troy Davis, the first runner in NCAA history to gain 2,000 yards in two seasons; San Diego State’s undersized George Jones, who broke Marshall Faulk’s school record with 1, 842 yards in 1995; and even Arizona State junior Terry Battle, a 1,000-yard rusher in ‘96 despite not becoming a starter until Week 7.
Who will emerge? Considering that in seven of the last 12 drafts the first running back taken either was or looks like a bust, it’s anyone’s guess.
“Everyone this year has a little bit of a hole,” Oakland scout Jon Kingdon said.
RUNNING BACKS
Journal Sentinel pro football writer Bob McGinn assesses the top running backs available in the National Football League draft Saturday and Sunday. Included is each player’s school, height, weight, 40-yard dash time and round in which he is projected to be selected.
1. WARRICK DUNN, Florida State 5-8 179 4.46 1-2
“I’ve never taken to a player like I took to him,” Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden
said. Not only a tremendous performer but also a tremendous person. Often compared to Oakland’s Napoleon Kaufman and Philadelphia’s Charlie Garner because of size and quickness. “I think he’s probably the best third-down back I’ve ever seen,” San Francisco scout John Brunner said. “He can play every down but you couldn’t play him every down because he would never last.” Definitely not the next Thurman Thomas, who entered the league weighing 193. Hasn’t returned kickoffs or punts but should be able to do so. “Best eyes in the draft,” one scout said. “He’s good for breaking a long run once a game. He’s got good hands, not great hands.” It just comes down to size. “I love him but he’s almost trinketlike,” said Ron Hughes, Detroit’s director of player personnel.
2022 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 12th overall by the Buccaneers. NFL games: 181. Pro Bowls: 3. All-pro selections: 0.
2. ANTOWAIN SMITH, Houston 6-21⁄2 224 4.47 1-2
“A real prototype running back,” Buffalo general manager John Butler said. “His style of running fits the successful teams of today.” Most of the time he will slam it hard inside, but possesses the speed to turn the corner, too. “Little bit of an upright guy who has some burst but in the open field he can’t elude the secondlevel guy,” one scout said. Late blooming 25-year-old who stayed home for two years out of high school, then spent two years in junior college and an injury-riddled ‘95 at Houston before gaining 1,248 yards in ‘96. “He ran pretty well in the Senior Bowl but he’s an older guy,” said Tom Boisture, the New York Giants’ director of player personnel. “How much is in front of him?” Ordinary hands.
2022 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 23rd overall by the Bills. NFL games: 131. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
3. COREY DILLON, Washington 6-01⁄2 222 4.52 1-2
Has a long history of getting in trouble and attended more than one junior high, high school and junior college. Spent just one semester at Washington, becoming a starter in Week 4. Then he gained 1,555 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. “He’s never finished anything that he’s started,” one scout said. “Very poor background. Got a lot of baggage.” Some teams wouldn’t touch him. “You saw what happened to Lawrence Phillips,” Jerry Reichow, Minnesota’s scouting director, said about the former Nebraska back drafted by the Rams. “It makes you think.” Hiring Marvin Demoff as his agent was a good move, New Orleans general manager Bill Kuharich said. Not quite as fast as Smith and his hands are questionable, as well. “Not quite as big a thumper as Bam Morris or Jerome Bettis but he’s your big back,” Kuharich said.
2022 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 43rd overall by the Bengals. NFL games: 150 games. Pro Bowls: 4. All-pro selections: 0.
4. SEDRICK SHAW, Iowa 6-0 214 4.60 1-2
“He’s an erect runner but he rushed for over 1,000 yards three successive years,” Atlanta scout Dick Corrick said. “He’s pretty damn good.” A tough, determined runner with a lethal spin move. “You don’t see the huge burst out of him but he’s a great athletic runner,” one scout said. “He’s not really a guy that at the end of the run will get you the extra yard straight ahead because he’s always looking to escape. He’s a flashy runner but he still runs strong.” Added another scout: “He’s slow.”
2022 lookback: Drafted: 3rd round, 61st overall by the Patriots. NFL games:
18. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
5. TIKI BARBER, Virginia 5-91⁄2 203 4.52 2
“He’s probably the best (back) but for some reason everybody always talks him down,” Boisture said. “Why? He’ll play every down if you want him to. Durable. Returns punts and kickoffs. Makes long runs. Catches well. Smart. Strong background.” Put on 20 pounds before the ‘95 season, which helped lead to consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. “Only thing that worries me is he’s not a slam-bang guy,” one scout said. “Whatever’s there athletic-wise and finesse-wise, he’ll get. But in pro football, you’ve got to be able to blast through there.”
2022 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 36th overall by the Giants. NFL games: 154. Pro Bowls: 3. All-pro selections: 1.
6. BYRON HANSPARD, Texas Tech 5-101⁄2 198 4.40 2
“He’s not very big so durability would be a question, but he has exceptional speed,” said Tom Donahoe, Pittsburgh’s operations director. Had five 200-yard rushing games in ‘96. Graceful athlete with fine hands. “But sometimes he looks more for the sidelines than he does for the extra yard,” Butler said. Licensed Pentecostal minister who often cites Bible passages when discussing football.
Third-year junior, 21 years old. “I had the strangest feeling that this guy had no clue what he was getting into in the NFL,” one scout said.
2022 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 41st overall by the Falcons. NFL games: 28. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
FULLBACKS
1. MARC EDWARDS, Notre Dame 6-0 236 4.70 2-3
Starter since mid-1994. “He’s a throwback to the (Don) Nottingham days,” Braatz said. “Meat and potatoes.” Helped himself at the Senior Bowl. Solid receiver, decent runner and adequate blocker. “He’s a hammer head so he’ll be able to understand his role and do it,” one scout said. “I wouldn’t give him the ball. I’d let him carry it out to practice.”
2022 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 55th overall by the 49ers. NFL games: 132. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
2. JERALD SOWELL, Tulane 6-01⁄2 245 4.71 2-3
Recruited as a quarterback. Highly intelligent and a skilled receiver. “He’s a poor man’s (Mike) Alstott,” Kuharich said, referring to the Tampa Bay rookie from Purdue. “Alstott is a little nastier guy but Sowell’s every bit the catcher Alstott is. He’s not a power runner and not a burst runner.” Probably not talented enough to be featured in one-back sets and doesn’t seem much interested in blocking. “He’s a halfback masquerading as a fullback,” one scout said. “Can’t block.”
2022 lookback: Drafted: 7th round, 231st overall by the Packers. NFL games: 148. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
3. DUCE STALEY, South Carolina 5-11 220 4.65 3
Junior-college wide receiver who rushed for 1,852 yards in two seasons as the Gamecocks’ featured back. “Probably the best blocker of the (halfbacks) coming out,” one scout said. “Thirddown kind of a back, also. Tough kid.” Never played fullback but his marginal speed might force him into a complementary blocking role. “Maybe he doesn’t give you all the flash but when you look up he gave you a day’s work,” Butler said.
2022 lookback: Drafted: 3rd round, 71st overall by the Eagles. NFL games: 114. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: