THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602110267
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
The longest, toughest day of their football careers ended too soon as far as Kenny McDaniel and Hugh Hunter were concerned.
``We'll see how I did come April,'' said McDaniel, a 315-pound offensive line prospect from Norfolk State after testing and working out Saturday for hundreds of NFL scouts and coaches.
``I think I did all right. Compared to the top Division I players, I did the same or better.''
When a day that started at 5 a.m. and ran until late afternoon finally ended, McDaniel's status for this April's NFL draft was largely unchanged. He's generally seen as an intriguing possiblity.
The same could be said of Hunter, a 265-pound defensive end from Wilson High School and Hampton University.
Hunter's speed and quickness continued to impress scouts. He solidified his status as a probable mid-round selection.
Both could improve their chances soon, as the arduous process of evaluation continues with another round of on-campus workouts in front of the scouts.
``Hopefully, I gave everyone an understanding of what I can do,'' he said.
``I am tired, tired, tired, dead tired.''
Today, NSU quarterback Aaron Sparrow and receiver James Roe have their chance at the RCA Dome. There appears to be wide-spread interest in watching both players.
McDaniel was grouped with players personnel people think can play both guard and tackle. The best-known names in that bunch were Notre Dame's Dusty Zeigler and Boston College's Pete Kendall.
Unofficially, McDaniel ran a slowish 5.35 40-yard dash, though that likely will be discounted because 40 times for everyone on the spongy RCA Dome Astroturf were off.
He was competitive in every other category, said one scout who watched most of his workout.
``He has the ability to play,'' he said after the workout. ``He'll get the opportunity. It may not be in the first four rounds, although there's a long way to go before that is determined. We know he won't embarrass himself.
``The best thing that could happen to Kenny is to get with a team that is willing to put him on the developmental squad, should he not be one of their top three linemen. It may be that all he needs is time.''
McDaniel's best showing was in the bench-press, which he executed Friday night. He pressed 225 pounds 29 times, second (by one) to UCLA's Jonathan Ogden among offensive linemen.
That likely will put him in the top 10 percent of all prospects tested here.
Still, that didn't completely satisfy the NSU senior.
``If I had anything to do over, it would be the bench-press,'' McDaniel said. ``Now that I'm mad about it, I bet I could do 34.
``I think I proved today that I can compete with these boys. You always hear about the different levels of competition. I know more than ever that I can compete. I just need the chance.''
One NFC scout who hadn't intended to watch Hunter admitted he found himself training an eye on the Pirates' all-time sack leader.
``He looked well, looked smooth and quick,'' he said. ``There's potential there.''
Hunter was hard on himself following his performance. He wasn't pleased with his 40 time (4.9), wished his endurance and strength (20 bench-presses at 225) had been better and worried that his legs felt tight and sluggish.
``I just felt a little behind everyone else,'' he said. ``But the whole process was backed up. There were long waits between drills. It was hard to find any sort of rhythm.''
Hunter, too, experienced some mind-benders. One team flashed a photo of a puzzle in front of him, yanked it down, then gave him some pieces and asked him to reconstruct it. He endured them good-naturedly.
``Some of the things they do are designed to see how much patience you have,'' he said. ``I'd heard about that before.''
Hunter was pleased with his flexibility exercises and was confident that he would easily trim his 40-dash time to 4.7 before scouts return to Hampton for more evaluations in late March or early April.
``When someone invites you to something special like this, you not only want to attend, you want to look your best,'' he said.
``It was everything I thought it would be. I know I can play on the next level. It's the little things people test you on that I've got to improve. I will.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Kenny McDaniel
Hugh Hunter
by CNB