                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995                 TAG: 9504210645
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Long  :  129 lines

STATE AND AREA PROSPECTS ARE LEAN AN ANALYST SAYS HOKIES WIDE RECEIVER ANTONIO FREEMAN IS THE TOP PROSPECT.

No matter what happens this weekend, Antonio Freeman considers it the high point of his life.

So he won't fret about where or when he goes in the NFL draft.

``I'm not going to put any added pressure on myself,'' said Freeman, who concluded his Virginia Tech career with a slew of Hokie pass-catching records.

According to draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Freeman is the top prospect among players who hail from Virginia colleges, as well as former East Carolina players or athletes who played high school ball locally. But being the top prospect among that group isn't as lofty a position as it has been in recent years.

There is no one comparable to Eugene Chung at Virginia Tech, Robert Jones at East Carolina or Ray Roberts at Virginia - all former first-round draft picks.

There's not even a likely second-rounder such as Virginia's Chris Slade or Virginia Tech's Tyronne Drakeford.

Kiper rates Freeman a fourth-round pick.

``When you get to this point, you've gotta sit back and let the man upstairs handle this'' Freeman said. ``I don't really think about it a lot. I'm pretty relaxed right now.

``I've done all I can to impress these scouts, so it's up to them to decide who they select.''

Rated slightly below Freeman are Virginia wide receiver Tyrone Davis, Virginia Union running back Bobby Phillips, Virginia defensive end Mike Frederick and North Carolina defensive tackle Riddick Parker.

Parker is one of four South Hampton Roads prospects eligible for the draft. He attended Southampton High. The others are Virginia Tech kicker Ryan Williams of Suffolk, Richmond safety Maurice Glenn of Salem High and Hampton linebacker John Meredith of Deep Creek.

Based on Kiper's rating system, only eight state/area players are apt to be drafted. Anyone rated below a 6.0 is not considered likely to be chosen in the seven-round draft.

In addition to the top five state/area players in Kiper's ratings, only Virginia fullback Charles Way, Virginia Tech linebacker Ken Brown and Hampton defensive tackle Corey Swinson are probable draft picks.

No matter what happens this weekend, Antonio Freeman considers it the high point of his life.

So he won't fret about where or when he goes in the NFL draft.

``I'm not going to put any added pressure on myself,'' said Freeman, who concluded his Virginia Tech career with a slew of Hokie pass-catching records.

There is no one comparable to Eugene Chung at Virginia Tech, Robert Jones at East Carolina or Ray Roberts at Virginia - all former first-round draft picks.

There's not even a likely second-rounder such as Virginia's Chris Slade or Virginia Tech's Tyronne Drakeford.

Kiper rates Freeman a fourth-round pick.

``When you get to this point, you've gotta sit back and let the man upstairs handle this'' Freeman said. ``I don't really think about it a lot. I'm pretty relaxed right now.

``I've done all I can to impress these scouts, so it's up to them to decide who they select.''

Based on Kiper's rating system, only eight state/area players are apt to be drafted. Anyone rated below a 6.0 is not considered likely to be chosen in the seven-round draft.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projects Virginia Tech receiver Antonio

Freeman as a fourth-round selection.

Graphic

Comments from Mel Kiper Jr.'s 1995 Draft Report about the top

five players in the draft with state/local ties:

Antonio Freeman, WR, Virginia Tech: ``The only factor keeping him

out of the top echelon is a lack of eye-catching 40 speed. Freeman

is an extremely competitive yet disciplined wideout with good size

and above average natural pass receiving skills. Some receivers have

enough trouble just making the reception. With Freeman, it looks

like he's thinking about the move he'll put on the CB while the ball

is still in the air.''

Tyrone Davis, WR, Virginia: ``When projecting Tyrone to the next

level, he doesn't stack up quite as well as his (college) production

may indicate. While he gained a physical mismatch against collegiate

DBs, the same won't be true in the NFL. Straight-line speed is

pretty good for a player his dimensions, but he tends to round off

his patterns, failing to consistently show a burst out of his

break.''

Bobby Phillips, RB, Virginia Union: ``Star performer at a low

level of competition, rushing for over 4,000 yards during his

exceptional four years with the Panthers. ... He's an effective

scat-back due to his strength and quickness, displays adequate hands

coming out of the backfield , and has proven to be a dangerous

return man. Appears under-sized on paper, but when he straps on the

pads you see a hard-nosed athlete who can hold up physically.''

Mike Frederick, DE, Virginia: ``He's an active, hard-working

football player who brings a cerebral approach to the job at hand.

... In the NFL he could hit a wall due to a lack of top notch

athletic skills and closing speed. He doesn't have an assortment of

moves, getting by more with hustle and a relentless style.''

Riddick Parker, DT, North Carolina: ``Spent five years in the Tar

Heel program, most of which was spent as a backup at DT. Finally

moved into a starting role this past season, grading out as their

most consistent defensive performer according to the coaching staff.

... Overall, my grades on Riddick were decent, but nothing to make

you do cartwheels. Within their scheme he was solid, but I didn't

see enough impact plays behind the line of scrimmage.''

Compiled by Steve Carlson

by CNB