USC Pair Made the Right Choice : NFL draft: By staying in school, Morton and McGinest improved their stock.

Their decisions were made two days apart in January, 1993. Johnnie Morton and Willie McGinest breathed deeply and announced they were returning for their senior seasons at USC and not declaring themselves eligible for the NFL draft.

Academicians applauded. In this era of mad dashes from class to cash, staying in school was politically correct.

If not financially ruinous.

Passing up millions as prospective first-round picks, the two USC stars walked a financial tightrope to stay and complete their educations while putting more money into the coffers of the beloved university.

Noble Trojans.

Unfortunately, nobility can’t hold reservations on NFL draft boards.

Ask Sean LaChapelle, the cross-town rival receiver from UCLA, who lost a small fortune when he returned to school after a sensational junior season, only to be slowed by injuries his senior year.

LaChapelle’s NFL stock dropped like a rock, and he ended up a fifth-round pick with the Rams in 1993.

“It stayed in the back of my mind a lot, coming back,” McGinest admitted.

Morton, the acrobatic receiver, and McGinest, the menacing defensive end, returned knowing one severe ankle turn could foil their futures.

Yet, fate has been kind. Both survived intact.

And both claim to be better men and players for having stayed.

“I’m twice the player I was last year,” Morton boasts proudly.

By staying, Morton and McGinest appear to have only improved their potential in Sunday’s NFL draft. Both are virtual first-round locks. Morton figures to go anywhere from No. 10 through 20.

Half a dozen teams could use him. Many have him pegged for the New York Jets at pick No. 13. But if dreams really do come true, Morton will end up with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the 17th pick.

Morton has fashioned his style after Lynn Swann, the former USC and Steeler star.

“He inspired me to play,” Morton said. “I was a running back before watching those Super Bowls when he was making all those catches. I tried to do that on the playgrounds and developed into a receiver. That would be something, me going from USC to Pittsburgh. If it happens, you’ll have to tell ABC to get ready. I’ll probably go there too.”

The Steelers like Morton, although they aren’t ready to dub him son of Swann.

“It’s hard to compare a college wide receiver with a receiver who should be in the Hall of Fame,” Tom Donahoe, Steeler director of football operations, said. “But the one thing that impresses us about (Morton) is his ability to go after the ball and catch the ball. Lynn was a fearless player. You can see some of the same in Johnnie.”

McGinest, on the other hand, has been moving up the draft board like a hit pop single on the Billboard charts.

Although his production fell off--from 16 sacks as a junior to six last season--McGinest has been dropping jaws around the league with his impressive workouts.

Having added about 10 pounds to his 6-foot-6 frame, the 255-pound McGinest is now projected to go as high as No. 4, to New England. Though it appears now the Rams won’t use their fifth pick on McGinest, they rave about his potential.

“He’s a very, very hot item in this draft,” said, John Becker, the Rams’ personnel director.

Buddy Ryan, the Arizona Cardinals’ coach, might agree to have his jaw wired to get McGinest, an intriguing outside linebacker-defensive end hybrid in the Charles Haley mold. The Cardinals have the 10th pick and might be willing to trade up.

According to his agent, McGinest has been timed at 4.46 and 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

“You’ve got to be blind not to see,” one NFC personnel man said. “Let’s say three or four scouts are debating this guy, and you’ve got some who are negative. All you do is say, ‘Come on over Willie, let’s see what you can do.’ All doubters look like idiots.”

The scouts also think Morton and McGinest polished their skills with an additional season, likening USC to NFL finishing school.

The players credit John Robinson, who returned to coach USC after 10 seasons with the Rams.

Using pro-style techniques with the Trojans made his two stars better NFL prospects.

Morton returned to put an exclamation point on his great USC career with a senior season in which he caught 88 passes for 1,520 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He was named USC’s most valuable player.

He leaves as the Trojans’ leading receiver with 201 catches, 3,201 yards and 23 touchdowns.

“They made me All-American,” Morton said of Robinson and receiver coach Mike Sanford. “They showcased me, let me do things I can do. I wish (Robinson) could coach me the rest of my career. He knows how to make you play your best, and how to handle you off the field. In a way, it’s sad. He made my last year my best year.”

The handling of McGinest appeared curious at first. After two years at linebacker, McGinest was moved to defensive end by Robinson. McGinest’s sack totals fell off dramatically, but he had a solid season otherwise and is now even more intriguing to the pros.

What position will he play?

“Some people see him as an outside pass rusher, others as an outside linebacker,” said Bob Ackles, the Cardinals’ assistant general manager. “It’ll be interesting to see where he plays and how he plays. It’s hard to say.”

McGinest said he became a more complete player under Robinson.

“He brought the pro style to our team,” McGinest said. “He told us what we needed to do. He brought that atmosphere. He’s been there. He gave me a lot of insight. You’re always learning.”

In fact, about the only regret Morton and McGinest had about staying in school was the time they had to kill this week waiting for draft day.

Morton has already graduated, with a degree in communications. You might have seen him last week, flipping through magazines at bookstores around town.

“‘It doesn’t seem real,” Morton said of the prospect of being a prospect. “It seems like so far away. I can’t comprehend it. Kids dream of playing in the NFL. To actually have your dream come true. . . . I won’t realize it until after the draft, the first day of mini-camp. Running on the grass. Maybe it will hit me.”

McGinest is two classes short of his degree in public administration.

Regrets? He’s had a few. Returning to school isn’t one of them.

“My main objective was finishing up school and improving my skills,” he said. “I’m glad everything panned out.”