ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
AN IMPRESSIVE clocking in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in Indianapolis has done wonders for the draft stock of Tech wide receiver Bryan Still.
Few players awaiting this weekend's NFL draft have seen their stock skyrocket as quickly as Virginia Tech flanker Bryan Still.
Since breaking two long touchdowns in Tech's 28-10 Sugar Bowl victory over Texas on Dec. 31 and running the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Still has watched his name climb higher and higher on many NFL clubs' draft boards.
``He's a guy who really moved up,'' noted draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said this week. ``A lot of people like him. I wouldn't be shocked if he went late in the first [round] or early in the second round. I'd be stunned if he got out of the second round.''
While Still may have impressive speed, nobody - himself included - could have figured five months ago he'd be running in such fast company. Until the Sugar Bowl, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver was virtually unknown to some NFL scouts.
In New Orleans on New Year's Eve in front of a national television audience, Still was a veritable one-man highlight film, catching a 54-yard touchdown pass and returning a punt 60 yards for a score. He was a unanimous choice as the game's MVP.
``I think the Sugar Bowl helped me a bunch,'' Still said. ``Before then I think a lot of people kind of questioned whether I could perform big or whatever.
``I think after that a lot of people saw I could make a lot of things happen on a football field ... make big plays and kind of change the tone of a game.''
Kiper noted: ``He single-handedly beat Texas as a receiver and a return man. He's a deep threat, the kind of guy who can make people miss. He isn't very big, but he's exciting.''
Any lingering doubts concerning Still were erased during the combine in Indianapolis. In a clocking that had scouts' heads spinning, Still covered the 40 yards in 4.36 seconds, sending his draft stock even higher.
``It really helped me, because I don't think a lot of people really knew how fast I really was,'' Still said. ``When I showed everybody I could run a 4.3, I think that really helped me out.''
Still could use some help now trying to figure out when his name will be called. Not everybody has him going as high as Kiper. ``I've seen a lot of wide receiver ratings, and I wasn't even on some,'' S4till said. ``I've heard a lot of predictions and stuff, but the thing about it is nobody really knows. No general manager or head coach has called and said, `We're going to take you with this pick,' so it's still all up in the air to me.
``But whenever I go, wherever I go, I'll be happy.''
Still said he figures he's most likely to land with a team that sent more than a scout to one of his numerous workouts. At least eight NFL clubs - Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta, Indianapolis and the New York Giants - flew their wide receivers coaches to Blacksburg for a closer look.
``To go to a team on the East Coast would be my preference,'' Still said. ``But, hey, I have no choice. I'll play for anybody.''
And why not. Lucky are the chosen few who get an opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream.
``Getting drafted and playing in the NFL has been a goal of mine ever since I started playing football as a youngster,'' Still said. ``As a young kid, I used to watch Tony Dorsett and all the other pro guys and I wanted to be like them. Now I have that chance and I want to make the most of it.''
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. ALAN KIM/Staff Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. onby CNBVirginia Tech's Bryan Still: ``He's a guy who really moved up. A
lot of people like him. I wouldn't be shocked if he went late in
the first [round] or early in the second round. I'd be stunned if
he got out of the second round.''
2. headshot of Still KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL