NFL Clears 22 Underclassmen for Draft

A year after underclassman Barry Sanders made himself available for the NFL draft, the league cleared 22 more juniors Thursday for the 1990 draft. Pro scouts rate perhaps 10 of them as first-round picks, making this potentially the deepest draft since 1983, when John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Eric Dickerson were first-round picks.

Linebacker Keith McCants of Alabama might be the first player selected in the draft. Other highly regarded players include linebacker Junior Seau and safety Mark Carrier of USC, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Andre Ware of Houston, running back Emmitt Smith of Florida, quarterback Jeff George of Illinois, quarterback Scott Mitchell of Utah, running back Leroy Hoard of Michigan, running back Rodney Hampton of Georgia and linebacker Ron Cox of Fresno State.

Tennessee running back Reggie Cobb applied but was not cleared. He was suspended in midseason after testing positive for drugs for the third time.