THE NFL DRAFT : Chargers Make John Friesz No. 1--but Not Until the Second Day

John Friesz, the Idaho quarterback considered by some scouts to be a top 10 pick, got to be No. 1 today--on the second day of the 1990 draft.

Friesz, selected by the San Diego Chargers, was a victim of two things--the influx of juniors into the draft and the immobility he showed in postseason all-star games. That made him the ninth quarterback to go--behind such unknowns as Craig Kupp of Pacific Lutheran--and the 137th overall.

“It actually doesn’t surprise me that much. I’ve never been the first person chosen,” said Friesz, who was called at 6:30 a.m. to be told that the Chargers were taking him.

“What bothers me the most is that nobody seems to understand why I wasn’t picked on Sunday. I don’t understand. My agent doesn’t understand. I don’t know what there could be.”

Today was hodgepodge day at the draft as teams looked for sleepers among the rejects from rounds one through five. It was also Bobby Beathard’s time. The new San Diego general manager specializes in late-round surprises and amassed eight picks for the sixth and seventh rounds.

Another quarterback, Mike Buck of Maine, went to New Orleans on the sixth round and the Saints, anticipating the loss of Bobby Hebert, who has demanded a trade, went for another, Nebraska’s Gerry Gdowski, two rounds later.

Buck might have been chosen earlier but for a knee injury that caused him to flunk some teams’ physicals.

Several college stars were bypassed in the early rounds Sunday.

Terance Mathis of New Mexico State, who set an NCAA record for career catches and receiving yardage, went to the New York Jets in the sixth round.

Mathis, the Associated Press first team All-America wide receiver from New Mexico, was the 140th pick in today’s second half of the draft.

Last season he set NCAA career records with 262 receptions and 4,254 receiving yards. Mathis, smaller and lighter than most NFL receivers, did not help his chances with his 40-yard times before NFL scouts at combined workouts in Indianapolis in February. But he figured his statistics at New Mexico, which also included 6,691 all-purpose yards (third best in NCAA history), would be enough.

Johnny Bailey, the running back from Texas A&I; who broke Tony Dorsett’s career rushing record and gained 6,320 yards in his career, wasn’t selected until the ninth round, when Chicago took him with the 228th pick of the draft.