Sport: A Pro Football Scout’s Notebook

If Notre Dame Coach Ara Parseghian were a pro football scout, he might well select Running Back Anthony Davis of Southern California as the first pick in the N.F.L. draft. Many fans would agree. Davis, after all, not only humiliated Notre Dame recently with four touchdowns, including a 102-yd. kickoff return, but also eclipsed O.J. Simpson’s career rushing record at U.S.C. Moreover, he was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy (the prize went last week to Ohio State Running Back Archie Griffin, a junior). Those who hunt pro talent for a living though, say that Randy White, a defensive end from Maryland, is likely to go first in the draft. In fact, according to TIME’S annual poll of pro scouts, several Brobdingnagian blockers and tacklers may well be picked ahead of Davis because this year’s senior class is rich in linemen. If the scouts pooled their research, this is what their collective notebook would look like for an All-America team, 1974.

Offense QUARTERBACKS: Steve Bartkowski, University of California, 6 ft. 4 in., 215 Ibs. A strong drop-back passer with a high release and quick wrist who broke Craig Morton’s single-season passing record at Cal by throwing for 2,580 yds.

and twelve touchdowns.

Dave Humm, Nebraska, 6 ft. 2 in., 186 lbs. A lefty who is tall, sharp and poised and knows how to take command. During Humm’s tenure as signal caller, Nebraska ran up 26 victories against only seven defeats.

RUNNING BACKS: Anthony Davis, Southern Cal, 5 ft. 9 in., 183 lbs. A durable, strong, well-balanced runner who is about as easy to bring down as a supercharged rhinoceros. With remarkable acceleration and shiftiness, Davis gained 3,657 yds. at Southern Cal and set a new N.C.A.A. record by running back six kickoffs for touchdowns. He is also a surehanded receiver.

Walter Payton, Jackson State, 6 ft., 208 lbs. A dependable high-speed truck whose stats show a long series of 100-yd. days. Payton averaged a potent 6.1 yds. per carry at Jackson State.

Don Hardeman, Texas A & I, 6 ft. 1 in., 230 Ibs. A former defensive end and linebacker who rushed for an average of 123 yds. per game this year as an A&I fullback.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Larry Burton, Purdue, 6 ft. 1 in., 188 lbs. An Olympic sprinter who has been clocked at 9.3 in the 100-yd. dash and has all the moves of a top receiver. At Purdue he averaged better than 18 yds. per catch.

Danny Buggs, West Virginia, 6 ft. 3 in., 181 lbs. He is exceptionally quick for a big man and has good hands and maneuverability. Buggs, who can run short or long patterns, caught 86 passes at West Virginia.

TIGHT ENDS: Elmore Stephens, Kentucky, 6 ft. 3 in., 230 lbs. A fast receiver with sticky hands who doubles as an exceptionally effective blocker around the goal line or on short-yardage situations.

Oscar Roan, Southern Methodist, 6 ft. 6 in., 215 lbs. With pro tight ends getting bigger and bigger, Roan has the size to carry out blocking assignments. As a receiver, he catches anything close to him and can run long patterns with surprising speed.

TACKLES: Kurt Schumacher, Ohio State, 6 ft. 4 in., 250 lbs. A superior pit fighter. Another block of stone from Ohio State who is an excellent power blocker and a brainy player.

Doug France, Ohio State, 6 ft. 6 in., 260 lbs. A tight end at Ohio State who will be moved to tackle in the pros. France looks lean and hungry despite his size.

Dennis Harrah, Miami (Fla.), 6 ft. 5 in., 259 lbs. An eager, agile blocker; a well-disciplined lineman who consistently outcharges the defense to open gaping holes.

GUARDS: Ken Huff, North Carolina, 6 ft. 4 in., 250 lbs. A big strong kid who can pull and pass-block with equal skill. He has those quick but solid feet that keep him upright under the pass rush. He really rocks ’em when he hits ’em.

Bill Bain, Southern Cal, 6 ft. 3 in., 268 lbs. A bruiser who can play anywhere along the line. He’s been prying open gaps for Anthony Davis for two years.

CENTER: Geoff Reece, Washington State, 6 ft. 4 in., 245 lbs. Exceptional centers are always hard to find, but Reece comes equipped with a sure, accurate snap and good speed off the ball when he steps out to block.

KICKER: Steve Mike-Mayer, Maryland, 6 ft., 180 lbs. A sidewinder from Hungary who kicked 37 field goals during his career at Maryland. His brother Nick is already a successful kicker with the Atlanta Falcons.

Defense

ENDS: Randy White, Maryland, 6 ft. 4 in., 248 lbs. The quickest defensive lineman in college. Blessed with tremendous upper-body strength, White simply overpowers blockers. He sacked opposing quarterbacks twelve times this year.

Mack Mitchell, Houston, 6 ft. 8 in., 250 lbs. If White is selected first, Mitchell will likely be second. Mitchell sheds blockers quickly and reads plays well.

If he doesn’t eat the quarterback up, he intimidates him into throwing prematurely and then bats down the ball.

TACKLES: Mike Fanning, Notre Dame, 6 ft. 6 in., 253 lbs. A rough competitor who puts out the kind of pursuit that upsets running backs and terrorizes quarterbacks. At Notre Dame, Fanning accounted for 164 tackles.

Gary Johnson, Grambling, 6 ft. 3 in., 260 lbs. Big and raw, Johnson really knows how to turn the heat on a passer and can stop any runner in his tracks with a huge bear hug.

Doug English, Texas, 6 ft. 5 in., 250 lbs. Extremely quick for his size, he will blow down two or three opponents in one play. He fights till the whistle.

LINEBACKERS: Rod Shoate, Oklahoma, 6 ft. 1 in., 213 lbs. A good tackier with great range who can smell out the play-action pass, then hit the receiver like Rocky Marciano. While Shoate was anchoring their defense, Oklahoma held opponents to an average of 8.7 points per game.

Robert Brazile, Jackson State, 6 ft. 4 in., 230 lbs. A good red-dogger who couples size and natural football instincts. This season alone Brazile has had a hand in 209 tackles (129 unassisted) and also intercepted 9 passes.

Bob Breunig, Arizona State, 6 ft. 3 in., 242 lbs. The ideal man to play middle linebacker in the N.F.L.: very big, very fast and very nasty.

Ralph Ortega, Florida, 6 ft. 2 in., 235 lbs. He loves to cream wide receivers and always seems to be in front of the ball carrier, ready to stop the play.

Ortega has the kind of speed coveted in linebackers.

CORNERBACKS: Neal Colzie, Ohio State, 6 ft. 2 in., 202 lbs. He can beat you many ways. Colzie is tough to fake in or out and hits with a crunch.

He made 13 interceptions for Ohio State.

Mike Williams, Louisiana State, 5 ft. 10 in., 178 lbs. The word here is toughness. He comes up to tackle on sweeps and pitchouts as well as covering downfield receivers.

Mike Washington, Alabama, 6 ft.

2 in., 187 Ibs. Sometimes he runs a pattern better than the receiver. Washington intercepted 11 passes for Alabama Coach Bear Bryant.

SAFETIES: Dave Brown, Michigan, 6 ft. 1 in., 188 lbs. Like a jailer back there —if you get close to him, he’ll lock you up. Brown cuts off the deep game and moves fluidly from sideline to sideline.

Robert Giblin, Houston, 6 ft. 2 in., 205 lbs. He can blitz or roam with the greatest of ease and always has his radar up tracking the ball. He knocks the stuffing out of opponents.

PUNTER: Jeff West, Cincinnati, 6 ft.

3 in., 210 lbs. With an average of 41.5 yds. per punt, West should get an early call at a time when a good punter is a priceless commodity for any pro team.