ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997 TAG: 9701200100
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
It has been the first week of the rest of their lives. They are stars seeing dollar signs. They are prospects. Some could become suspects.
For state Division I-A football, it's never been like this at the Senior Bowl. Of the 100 NFL hopeful seniors who will play in today's North-South game in Mobile, Ala., seven played at Virginia Tech and Virginia. Inexplicably but appropriately, the four Hokies and three Cavaliers are on opposing teams.
For five days leading to today's 2:30 p.m. kickoff, it's been an NFL meat - and meet - market. About 400 general managers, personnel chiefs, head coaches, assistant coaches and scouts have watched workouts. Among those is Charley Casserly, the Washington Redskins' GM, who isn't in Mobile because his coach, Norv Turner, is guiding the North squad.
``I don't remember a time when those two schools have had this much talent,'' said Casserly, who has been with the Redskins for two decades, since the late George Allen was his boss. ``Both schools have very good senior groups, and some of the players have really helped themselves here, too.''
Turner's team includes Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, defensive back Torrian Gray, defensive end Cornell Brown and offensive tackle Jay Hagood. UVa's South trio is running back Tiki Barber of Roanoke and linebackers James Farrior and Jamie Sharper. Also in Mobile is Barber's twin brother, Ronde, who hoped to talk his way onto the field. It didn't happen. As a junior leaving behind a year of eligibility for the NFL, he wasn't eligible.
Of the state Senior Bowlers, Farrior is the highest-rated player by scouts. Asked which state players would be the highest pick in the NFL Draft in April, Casserly said, ``It's going to be one of the Virginia linebackers. Farrior is the higher-rated of the two, but a lot of people really like Sharper.''
Casserly, like all personnel people, is guarded in his remarks to an extent. Who the Redskins like best may not be tops in another club's eyes. In his opinion, however, Farrior seems a sure first-round pick, with Druckenmiller and Sharper ``almost certain to be gone by the end of the second round.''
Casserly said that Druckenmiller's NFL promise has bloomed this week. ``He's a big guy with a strong arm and he's had a very, very good week of practice,'' said the Redskins' GM. ``He's improved, just in this week. The quarterback class is thin, among seniors, so that helps Druckenmiller, too.
``As for Tiki, he's a good football player, but it's hard to say where he will go because there are a number of good backs in this draft, particularly with the addition of the juniors coming out. I will say this. Those two and those two Virginia backers are guys who really should be playing in the NFL.''
While some scouts like Druckenmiller for his strength in the pocket, others prefer Arizona State's Jake Plummer, who will play for the South, because of his mobility in the West Coast offense. ``One of those two will be the first quarterback taken,'' Casserly said.
``Druckenmiller has improved his quickness here and he's smoothed out his motion some. The week of practice helps everybody here, and he's no exception. The other thing he's gotten is that while Tech runs a lot of shotgun, this is all up under center. That's important.''
Barber, although he's climbed to 193 pounds, still may be a bit small for an NFL running back in some eyes.
``Terry Allen [of the Redskins] is 205 pounds,'' Casserly said when asked for a comparison. ``Tiki is a little off on the weight. Is he a guy who can be a 300-carry guy in a year? Probably not. Is he one who can come in, like Philadelphia's Charlie Garner, and give you `X' amount of carries a game and maybe return some kicks? Sure. He's talented.''
Casserly said Brown is one of five college defensive ends who will play linebacker in the Senior Bowl. That's their projected NFL position. Scouts look at the most heralded of the Hokies as a tweener who must prove himself, particularly in playing the run. Some see Brown as no better than a fifth-rounder.
``This is a great opportunity for Brown,`` Casserly said. ``He's not big enough to play defensive end at our level, but he's not alone out there. This is his chance to show what he can do. In my eyes, his best position might be in the 34 [3-4 scheme, used by Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Carolina, among others], where he could be an outside backer to rush the passer.''
Gray is considered a middle-round prospect. ``He has some cover sense to him,'' Casserly said. Hagood, a left tackle at Tech ``has played right tackle here, too, and that's helped him. He's definitely improved as a run blocker this week.''
They quit paying Senior Bowlers in 1988. That wasn't why anyone went to Mobile, anyway. It's a time to see and be seen. It may be a good year for state seniors, but for a few of them, it's going to be even a richer experience.
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