DATE: Saturday, April 19, 1997              TAG: 9704190844

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   57 lines

DRUNKENMILLER COULD BE THE FIRST QB TAKEN

Jim Druckenmiller's phone did not ring with one Division I-A college football scholarship offer when he was coming out of high school in Northampton, Pa. This past week, as he prepared to move from college to the NFL, his phone wouldn't stop ringing.

``It's been real overwhelming, all the phone calls like this,'' Druckenmiller said during an interview Thursday, when he had 41 phone messages in just over four hours at his Blacksburg apartment. ``It's sick.''

The only phone call Druckenmiller wants to receive is the one that will come today from an NFL team, telling him he has been selected in the draft, probably in the first round. He will await that call today at PKs, a Blacksburg bar.

The 6-foot-4 1/2, 223-pound Druckenmiller made himself into a quarterback with hard work at Virginia Tech after a year of prep school. He is regarded as the top quarterback in the draft by most experts, although Arizona State's Jake Plummer and California's Pat Barnes could sneak ahead of him.

``He's a man among boys,'' Miami Dolphins director of scouting Tom Braatz has said of Druckenmiller. ``He has the size, the strength.''

Virginia Tech has not had a first-round draft pick since the New England Patriots took offensive guard Eugene Chung 13th overall in 1992. That was also the last time Virginia had a player taken in the first round when offensive tackle Ray Roberts was chosen 10th overall by the Seattle Seahawks. But today, three players from Virginia schools could be among the top 15 picks as Druckenmiller is expected to be joined in the early selections by Virginia linebackers Jamie Sharper and James Farrior.

It could be a good year for Virginia schools in the seven-round, two-day draft. The Hokies, for example, feasibly could have seven other players drafted - safety Torrian Gray, defensive end Cornell Brown, tight end Bryan Jennings, center Billy Conaty, offensive tackle Jay Hagood, cornerback Antonio Banks and fullback Brian Edmonds.

But it's Druckenmiller who is attracting the most attention. He threw for 17 touchdowns against just five interceptions his senior year while completing 57 percent of his passes. Druckenmiller led the Hokies to a 20-4 record in his two years as a starter, which included a pair of Big East titles and appearances in the Sugar and Orange bowls.

``Has a very strong arm and can rifle the ball,'' Joel Buchsbaum wrote of Druckenmiller in Pro Football Weekly's draft preview. ``Is starting to develop some touch and discipline. As tough as shoe leather physically. Will stand in vs. the rush and is so big and strong he can shake off tacklers the way Roman Gabriel and Terry Bradshaw used to.''

Druckenmiller - who will be 25 in September, probably older than several veterans who will be his NFL teammates - said he has no clue where he is headed for his first job out of college.

``One of 30 cities,'' Druckenmiller said. ``I'm hoping to get picked early and by somebody that's good.

``I'm excited right now, that's the main thing. It's overwhelming all the feelings - there's a bunch.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

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