USFL Draft : Generals Pick Flutie; L.A. Selects Del Rio

Quarterback Doug Flutie, the Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College, was among the 11 first-team All-Americans chosen Thursday by United States Football League clubs in their third annual draft.

The New Jersey Generals, with the rights to Boston College Players under the league’s territorial system, chose Flutie and four of his teammates.

Other Boston College players picked by the Generals were All-American defensive back Tony Thurman, wide receiver Gerard Phelan, tight end Scott Gieselman and defense back Todd Russell.

The Los Angeles Express got the rights to three All-Americans--linebacker Jack Del Rio of USC and linebacker James Seawright and guard Del Wilkes of South Carolina.

The Generals said they will try to sign Flutie, who also is expected to be coveted by teams from the rival National Football League. The NFL holds its draft on April 30 and the Buffalo Bills, with the worst record (2-14), have the No. 1 pick.

The signing of Flutie by the Generals would give them another Heisman Trophy winner to go along with running back Herschel Walker of Georgia, the 1982 winner. The USFL also has the 1983 Heisman winner in former Nebraska running back Mike Rozier, who played last year with Pittsburgh, which folded. Rozier’s rights now belong to the Baltimore Stars, who moved from Philadelphia.

The USFL also conducted a 15-round open draft, with wide receiver Jerry Rice of Mississippi Valley State going first--to the Birmingham Stallions.

The USFL, bidding for survival, will try to outbid the NFL for players, but in many cases, some teams from the new league may not be able to afford more than one high-priced athlete.

That is not the case for owner Donald Trump in New Jersey. The Generals are seeking another attraction in the prime Metropolitan New York area and will be needing a replacement for veteran Brian Sipe at quarterback.

Trump, the multimillionaire builder and most visible owner in the league, was conspicuous by his absence Thursday at both the hotel where the draft was conducted and at the General’s offices.

Jay Seltzer, General’s president, said, “If he (Flutie) decides to wait for the NFL draft, he may be selected by a team in disarray. He may be faced with the prospect of being savior of a decimated football program. Here it is just the opposite. We have a 35-year-old quarterback who was MVP of the NFL in 1980 and he has the temperament to help (Flutie).

“The best quarterback in football is Doug Flutie. Why should I go for less? They don’t come any better.”

Flutie, the all-time NCAA total offense leader, has said, “I’d like to play in the NFL, but I’d have to take a look at the USFL.”

Buffalo Bills General Manager Terry Bledsoe said Flutie was among several players under consideration as the No. 1 pick. He said a decision on the choice would not be made until late January.

Under the territorial system, each of the 14 teams--down four from last season under the new alignment--had six designated schools from which to make 25 choices.

In the past two years, each team had five territorial teams to choose from, but it was raised to six this year, conveniently giving the Generals Boston College.

The Generals also used a territorial pick to select Colgate quarterback Steve Calabria, who at 6-3 is considered a top pro prospect by many scouts.

Elsewhere, Baltimore chose two All-Americans--defensive end Bruce Smith, the Outland Trophy winner from Virginia Tech, and Pitt tickle Bill Fralic.

Other All-Americans picked were wide receiver Eddie Brown of Miami (Fla.) by the Orlando Renegades (formerly Washington), linebacker Gregg Carr of Auburn, by Birmingham, defensive back Jerry Gary of Texas, by the San Antonio Gunslingers and center Mike Traynowicz of Nebraska by the Houston Gamblers as their top choice (ninth overall) in the open draft. The Denver Gold had the rights to Nebraska players but skipped Traynowicz.

The Tampa Bay Bandits chose 10 Florida players, but passed on All-America offensive tackle Lomas Brown, apparently conceding the 6-5, 277-pounder to the NFL.

Tampa Bay announced the signing of one of its territorial picks, Russell Gallon, a 6-8, 295-pound defense end from Florida.

San Antonio also selected defensive tackle Tony Degrate, the Lombardi Trophy winner from Texas, in the territorial phase.

Three San Diego State players were chosen in the open draft. Defensive back Tory Nixon was taken with the second pick in the first round by Arizona. In he fourth round, Portland drafted linebacker James Johnson (No. 50) and Arizona got tackle Richard Moran (No. 57).

University of Pacific quarterback Paul Berner, who attended Clairemont High School and San Diego Mesa College, was selected by the Express in the territorial draft.