1997 Draft Prospects:

Guards

 

PLAYER / COMMENTS

SCHOOL

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

40

REPS

RD

Chris Naeole

Former DL carried as much as 330 lbs, but is fluid and a force on traps, downfield blocks. In 41 games yielded one sack (1994).

Colorado

6-3

313

5.29

33

1

Ross Verba

Prep TE, college OT with great feet, agility, hands, technique. Should start at OG in pros.

Iowa

6-4 1/8

299

5.18

27

1

Dan Neil

Durable (started 46 gms), powerful (school wt. lifting records), intense. College OG with short arms may move to C.

Texas

6-2 3/8

291

5.15

25

1

Frank Middleton

Big legs, long arms, great foot agility for size but must keep weight down (was 364). JC transfer from Fort Scott, Kan.

Arizona

6-3 1/4

324

5.23

22

2

Damon Denson

Backup DL (93, 94) has ballast, strength, movement and potential to be standout OG. Needs time.

Michigan

6-3 1/2

303

5.36

18

2

Bob Sapp

Huge, strong, agile, hostile and puts it all together some of the time. Possible OT. If he becomes consistent, could be best OG in draft.

Washington

6-4 3/8

303

5.18

30

2-3

Chris Dishman

Former OT, only one season at OG. Best in small area, must keep weight down.

Nebraska

6-2 5/8

328

5.50

22

3

Steve Scifres

Four-year starter, last 3 at ORT, shows good pass protect technique. A 25-year-old rookie.

Wyoming

6-3 7/8

294

5.44

33

3

Marcus Spriggs

Cougars' OT must move to OG and control weight to make it.

Houston

6-3 7/8

315

5.43

29

3

Brad Badger

Prefers finesse and technique over force and tenacity. Must step it up for pros.

Stanford

6-4 3/8

296

5.21

21

4

Brent Smith

College TE, DL and, mostly, OT moves well and next move may be to OG.

Miss. St.

6-5

303

5.10

24

4

Lamont Burns

Powerful, tenacious former DE, TE needs to learn OL techniques.

E. Carolina

6-3 5/8

299

5.30

30

5

Brian Newnam

Great bulk, ballast below, arm strength above, but isn't nimble, quick.

Tulsa

6-3 3/8

291

5.29

31

5

Daryl Terrell

Measures, plays big and fast but needs to show more tenacity.

So. Miss.

6-4 1/2

307

5.19

28

5

Calvin Collins

Three-year starter at OG/C began to show pro potential as senior.

Texas A&M

6-1 5/8

307

5.17

22

5

Larry Moore

Pre-med scholar operates well, needs consistency, functional strength.

BYU

6-2 5/8

292

5.51

21

6

Donnie Young

Played OT and OG, but thick legs, short arms project him inside for pros.

Florida

6-3 3/4

315

5.32

NA

6

Nathan Parks

Knows what to do, but lack of functional strength, bad ankle are problems.

Stanford

6-5 3/8

307

5.38

NA

6

Ben Kaufman

Feisty OT must add bulk, move to OG or C to get a shot in pros.

Texas Tech

6-4 1/8

289

5.58

13

7

Jeremy Akers

Measures, runs, tests better in workouts than games. Worth bringing to camp.

Notre Dame

6-4 7/8

298

5.15

NA

7

  

1997 Draft Prospects

How Bill Walsh Evaluates Positions:

Guards