ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607300024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD.
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
He almost missed a bus two days into training camp. More people watch him practice and scrimmage than saw him play during his days at Ferrum College. It would be tough to find him on even the deepest depth chart.
Jim Kitts wouldn't have it any other way.
He was a star in the Arena Football League. He's mainly a spectator in the National Football League.
Kitts, a former all-state linebacker at Ferrum, still wouldn't have it any other way.
Even if he's standing around and watching more than he's practicing, Kitts is in an NFL training camp with the Washington Redskins. He's not promised anything more.
``They're pretty slim,'' Kitts said of his chances of making the team. ``But you never know what could happen. Being in an NFL camp can open up a lot of doors for you.
``This is just one big job interview.''
His Ferrum resume didn't bring any job offers from the NFL. Only one other player from Division III Ferrum is in pro football today - Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl running back Chris Warren. But raw data sometimes can override a reputation.
``Chris only ran a 4.3-[second] 40-yard dash. He ran a 4.4,'' said current Ferrum coach Dave Davis, who recruited Kitts to the Franklin County, Va., campus. ``That's not much difference.''
The difference was Warren became an NFL draft pick. Kitts had to take a more roundabout route to the pros.
First, he contacted a couple of agents based near his hometown of Chesapeake, Va. They both turned him down, but one told him to look at the Arena League. Kitts and his father contacted every team by themselves.
``We faxed a resume out to every team on a Thursday and Friday,'' Kitts said, ``and by Monday six teams had called back.''
He signed with the Albany (N.Y.) Firebirds. At 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, Kitts was much bigger than the day he entered Ferrum as a wide receiver/defensive back prospect. The Firebirds made him a middle linebacker and fullback in a league where many players go both ways.
``It was fun,'' Kitts said. ``Offense was a whole new thing for me. I had to learn to block. Running was easy.''
In 1995, he led Albany in rushing with 22 attempts for 104 yards while backing up team captain Mike Faulkerson, a former fullback at North Carolina. When Faulkerson left the Firebirds in 1995 as a Chicago Bears signee, Kitts kept his rushing lead and took over the reins as team captain.
``He set a tempo,'' said Albany coach Mike Hohensee, who chose Kitts as captain.
Hohensee called Charley Casserly, the Redskins' general manager, on Kitts' behalf, even though Hohensee later begged Kitts not to leave. Redskins scout Mike Maccagnan watched Kitts on videotape and signed him June 12.
Although Kitts, who now weighs 243 pounds, said he would rather play fullback, the Redskins are looking at him as an outside linebacker. They have penciled him in as their fourth option on the left side. Ken Harvey is the starter. Kitts at least can tell his grandchildren this: ``I backed up a two-time Pro Bowler.''
Much of Kitts' practice regimen has been watching Harvey and fellow starting linebackers Marvcus Patton and Rod Stephens go through their paces. He works out on the punt team, but that alone won't earn him a final roster spot.
``It's kind of frustrating,'' he said. ``I'm not getting a whole lot right now.''
After thinking for a moment, however, Kitts said, ``I played pretty well in the Pittsburgh scrimmage [July 20]. Hopefully, they'll take that into account and see how I play in game-like situations.
``It's tough. You just take things in stride. If things don't work out, I've always got Albany to fall back on.''
That's still a leap forward from his small-college roots.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Kitts (headshot)by CNB