Rating the Draft

A look at the top offensive players, ranked by position, heading into this weekend’s NFL draft. The defense will be rated Friday.

QUARTERBACK

1. Bobby Hoying, Ohio State--The best of the worst quarterback class in recent memory. Big, resilient, and won’t beat himself. A prototypal third-round pick who won’t be heard from again until 1998.

2. Danny Kanell, Florida State--A big, smart kid whose father is the Miami Dolphins’ team doctor. Not that Jimmy Johnson will confuse him for Troy Aikman and actually draft him.

3. Tony Banks, Michigan State--Ignore the fact that he runs an offense like a less-talented version of Randall Cunningham, and he may be worth a shot. He’s 6 feet 4, 222 pounds, and only getting smarter.

Out of Nowhere--Jeff Lewis, Northern Arizona. Would have been the first quarterback selected if he did not break his collarbone in the middle of last season. Somebody will use a high pick to take a chance on a guy tutored by Steve Axman, who also coached Aikman at UCLA and says the two are similar.

RUNNING BACK

1. Lawrence Phillips, Nebraska--He may not be the next Emmitt Smith, but at 5-11, 229, he’s certainly the next Rodney Hampton, capable of carrying a team to the playoffs immediately. If he keeps his volatile temper under control--he assaulted his ex-girlfriend last year--he is a franchise player worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick.

2. Tim Biakabutuka, Michigan--His stock has been rising fast enough to make him a potential top-five pick. But he sometimes disappeared in important situations for the Wolverines, a trait that will scare some coaches away.

3. Eddie George, Ohio State--Won the Heisman Trophy, which will probably mean he will be an NFL flop. He will be taken among first 10 picks, though, because of his ability to hit like Chris Warren and sprint like Marshall Faulk.

4. Leeland McElroy, Texas A&M--Last; fall, many thought he was an overall No. 1 pick. Then he started looking more like Eric Metcalf than Emmitt Smith.

Out of Nowhere--Richard Huntley, Winston Salem State. A big Senior Bowl will catapult this 5-11, 214-pounder into the first three rounds. Not fast, but mean and hard-working, the sort of guy the Buffalo Bills found in the seventh round last year in Darick Holmes.

FULLBACK

1. Mike Alstott, Purdue--There was a time when scouts wouldn’t even think about using a first-round pick on a 6-foot, 240-pounder who trains in the off-season by pushing a station wagon. But that was before the appearance of the Cowboys’ Daryl Johnston. This guy could be better.

2. Stanley Pritchett, North Carolina--He’ll be taken late Saturday night by somebody who thinks he is the next Edgar Bennett. That somebody should be told that Edgar Bennett’s teams have never won a championship.

Out of Nowhere--Chris Ryan, Clark Atlanta. No, we’ve never heard of the school, either. But at 6 feet, 280 pounds, with 4.64 speed, this guy is worth at least a gawk.

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Keyshawn Johnson, USC--He’s as tough as Sterling Sharpe, as athletic as Michael Irvin, and can be as arrogantly intimidating as Deion Sanders. But do you really want to spend an overall No. 1 pick on a wide receiver? Only four teams in 60 years have said yes.

2. Marvin Harrison, Syracuse--Keyshawn, without the mouth. Some team will take him in the lower half of the first round and find itself with another Isaac Bruce. Not big (6 feet) or particularly strong, but extremely fast, and had 173 receiving yards in the Gator Bowl despite a broken thumb.

3. Terry Glenn, Ohio State--Scouts who have seen the success of Joey Galloway and Chris Sanders from the same program will jump at this guy, who set school records last year after sitting on the bench for two seasons behind his noted predecessors. But beware his inexperience.

Out of Nowhere--Alex Van Dyke, Nevada. Teams won’t ignore the nation’s receiving leader. He doesn’t immediately project to 1,854 yards in a higher league, but his value as a kick returner will convince somebody to give him a chance.

TIGHT END

1. Rickey Dudley, Ohio State--Two words. Kellen Winslow. After losing many potentially great tight ends to basketball in recent years, the NFL finally has a chance to steal one back in this 6-foot-6, 248-pound athlete. He played more hoops than football in college, but his workout left scouts stunned, particularly his 40-yard time of 4.48--the same as wide receiver Glenn.

2. Johnny McWilliams, USC--Stock has been rising, but he’s plagued with the same doubts that dropped former teammate Rob Johnson into the fourth round last year. Is he tough enough? His Brent Jones-type hands, however, should land him in the first three rounds.

3. Marco Battaglia, Rutgers--Also has great hands, but size (6-2) is a concern. Unless your name is Keith Jackson, tight ends in this league still have to block.

Out of Nowhere--Jarius Hayes, North Alabama. He won consecutive all-conference honors, although we have no idea what conference. Scouts love him not only because he can block, but also tackle, which is important when you play on teams with such quarterbacks as, say, Rick Mirer.

TACKLE

1. Jonathan Ogden, UCLA--No matter where he is taken--probably third overall--he will have a longer and more celebrated career than anyone in this draft. He is the prototypal tackle in size (6-8), strength (no sacks allowed last season) and demeanor (quiet and mean).

2. Willie Anderson, Auburn--Another probable first-round pick. Like many players who skip their senior seasons, he is immature. But at 6-5, 324 pounds, with huge hands and feet, somebody will figure he’s worth the diapers.

3. Jermane Mayberry, Texas A&M; Kingsville--He is legally blind in his left eye. But he’s also legally huge (321 pounds), and mean, and was the only guy to stop Central State pass rusher Hugh Douglas in 1994. This is important because in 1995, no NFL tackle could stop Douglas.

4. John Michels, USC--Three years ago, he backed up Willie McGinest at defensive end. Two years ago, he backed up Tony Boselli at tackle. Think he has learned a few things about being a first-round pick? Despite his shortcomings as a run-blocker, every NFL scout knows that Trojan offensive linemen are the closest thing to a draft lock.

Out of Nowhere--Jamain Stephens, North Carolina A&T.; Don’t be surprised if somebody takes this 338-pound hulk in the first two rounds and promptly turns him into a standout defensive tackle.

GUARD

1. Pete Kendell, Boston College--Typical of the diminishing status of the position, none of these guards will be drafted until the second round. This is the meanest of the bunch, a college tackle who is more suited to be an NFL guard at 6-4, 292.

2. Jeff Hartings, Penn State--A Joe Paterno offensive lineman is as good as an extra coach. He is the first Nittany Lion lineman to be named All-American in consecutive years since Steve Wisniewski. And this guy doesn’t bite.

Out of Nowhere--Tony Hutson, Northeastern Oklahoma State. Stocky (6-2, 304) and willing to learn, he is the kind of small-school player that could make somebody plenty of money.

CENTER

1. Mike Flanagan, UCLA--One of only two centers who will be taken high, and even he may fall until deep in the third round. He has started 32 consecutive games despite injuries such as a broken jaw, so he’s tough enough. But is he mean enough? Why do people ask that question about almost every Southland collegian?

2. Clay Shiver, Florida State--A big-time blocker for a big-time program. When the Seminoles won the national championship in 1993, he allowed only one-half sack. A smart guy who could be somebody’s leader for years.

Out of Nowhere--Davie Millwee, Tulsa. An academic All-American, which matters at no other position but this one. He’s only 6-2, 278, but the kind of worker coaches love.

KICKER

After the failings of Steve McLaughlin, the St. Louis Rams’ third-round pick last year who was cut in October, no team in its right mind will draft a kicker before Sunday afternoon.

PUNTER

After the failings of Todd Sauerbrun, the Chicago Bears’ second-round pick last year who was so bad the Bears had to carry two punters, there may not be a punter drafted anywhere this year.