FORMER LINEBACKER FOR HOKIES CATCHES EYE OF CFL TEAMS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 29, 1992                   TAG: 9202290179
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
FORMER LINEBACKER FOR HOKIES CATCHES EYE OF CFL TEAMS
Professional football prospects usually end up with a better senior-year statistical resume than linebacker Mark Scott's four tackles and a pass breakup.
Yet Scott is in Hamilton, Ontario, with apparently realistic hopes that he will be a first-round pick in today's eight-round Canadian Football League draft.
Scott played in Virginia Tech's first two games last season before Hokies coach Frank Beamer dismissed him from the team in September. Scott said he tested positive for a substance banned by the NCAA but that he was using the substance to heal a torn left hamstring.
"I went to everybody at Tech; basically their idea was rehabilitating it with time. I felt it was worse than that," Scott said. "I went to another source at home in New York, another doctor that was going to help in the healing process."
Scott said he got what he called a "muscle healant" and said he didn't know it was on the NCAA's forbidden list until he flunked a random drug test.
Scott remained on scholarship and in school. He and his agent, New York lawyer Alan Hodish, prepared videotapes of Scott that were sent to all eight CFL teams. Now, Scott said, the Saskatchewan Rough Riders are poised to make him the second overall pick today.
"I found out there was a lot of interest," Scott said from a hotel room in Hamilton. "I think it would surprise anybody. I'm just looking for another chance to play again."
CFL teams are attracted by Scott's speed (4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and versatility - he has been a running back, defensive back and linebacker in his high school and college career.
Scott's real asset, however, is his Canadian ties. Born in Jamaica, he spent eight years in the Toronto area with his family, which moved to New York before his senior year of high school. To be eligible for the CFL draft, a player must have lived in Canada for at least five years, Scott's agent said.
American players must be signed as free agents, a CFL spokesman said.
Teams apparently aren't dissuaded by Scott's suspension, in part because the CFL has no drug policy.
"All of them know what happened," he said. "They've said, `That's the past. That's not an indication of the kind of person you are.' "
Scott went to Tech from Nassau (N.Y.) Community College in 1990 and lasted one-plus years with the Hokies, playing mostly as a reserve. Nick Volpe, Toronto's player personnel director, likes Scott.
"Unfortunately, we don't pick until the third round," said Volpe.
Hamilton player personnel director Greg Mohns said CFL teams like "Americanized" players who have received more specialized coaching and played against tougher competition than Canadian college players.
The league's minimum annual salary is $25,000; Mohns said rookies average $30,000 to $33,000.
"He'll go very early," Volpe said, adding that Scott, at 6 feet 1 and 212 pounds, is not likely to be drafted by an NFL team. "He's kind of a 'tweener - not big and strong enough for an [NFL] linebacker, not quick enough for their halfbacks. We've got a wider field. We need more speed and look for smaller linebackers."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB