Monroe, LA., Stocked With Football Talent

MONROE, La. - The Interstate 20 corridor long has been recognized as a hotbed for professional football talent.

But the region has not buzzed with this much pro scouting activity since a monster crop of players were drafted out of area colleges in 1976.

The bicentennial year produced an unparalleled crop of NFL players from northeastern Louisiana colleges. Grambling State had a first-round pick, James Hunter, among seven drafted players, including Sammie White and Robert Pennywell. Mike Barber and Pat Tilley were selected from Louisiana Tech - and became 11-year pro veterans.

The NFL draft has been abbreviated from 12 to seven rounds this year, but those seven rounds are sure to have a northern Louisiana flavor.

As many as eight area college players could be drafted, with another handful of players expected to wind up in NFL camps as free agents.

"You take Grambling, Louisiana Tech and Northeast, add Northwestern and Jackson State - the five teams in closest proximity to Monroe - and these five schools have as much talent this year as any group of schools in the United States," a scout for the Indianapolis Colts said, declining identification.

"In that group, you've got one early first-rounder, one late first-rounder and some guys who will go in the second and third rounds," an Atlanta Falcons scout added. "I went to all those schools and made sure to get all these guys timed."

"This is the most quality to come out of this area in quite some time," Kansas City Chiefs scout Jimmy Raye said.

Louisiana Tech's nationally rated defense and Northeast Louisiana's nationally ranked offense highlight the area's draft prospects.

As many as five Bulldog defenders could end up in NFL rookie camps, with three draft prospects.

As many as six NLU offensive players have NFL hopes, with three likely draftees.

The early first-round pick is Louisiana Tech offensive tackle Willie Roaf, who is projected by many as the top lineman in the draft on either side of the ball. Most analysts believe he will be among the first seven picks of the draft and could go as high as No. 4 - to Phoenix.

Northwestern State defensive back Adrian Hardy and Jackson State offensive tackle Lester Holmes are expected to be picked sometime in the first two rounds.

Northeast Louisiana boasts the most pro-worthy collection of talent in school history with running backs Roosevelt Potts and Greg Robinson, and receiver Vincent Brisby leading the way. All three could be drafted in the first four rounds, with Potts projected by some as a late first-round or early second-round selection.

Grambling features a handful of draft prospects, but only a moderate class compared to Eddie Robinson standards.

A complete starting team can almost be assembled from the area's top prospects. Roaf, who could anchor an NFL line at left tackle for a decade, is joined by gargantuan Neast Louisiana guard Jeff Blackshear, Louisiana Tech's Baron Rollins, and Grambling's Herman Arvie and Craigory Sam.

Brisby and Grambling's Stevie Anderson make for a pair of lightning-fast receivers. Brisby had a 4.42 clocking at the NFL combine. Anderson has been timed in 4.55.

In the backfield would be Northeast Louisiana's speed-and-power tandem of Robinson and Potts.

Louisiana Tech's Jason Davis was considered a prime prospect after his huge junior year yielded 1,351 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, but a shoulder injury and off-the-field problems have jeopardized his draft chances.

Defensively, hulking 6-5, 306-pound end Artie Smith of Louisiana Tech appears a certain draft pick.

Louisiana Tech's Myron Baker and Grambling's Ronald Perry are considered small for NFL linebacker standards, but they have an outside chance at sticking with a club.

Two more Bulldogs, safeties Doug Evans and Carey Broudy, gives Louisiana Tech five draft candidates from its defense, which ranked fourth in the country last season.

"When you're rated as high (fourth) as we were defensively, it's no big surprise we have that many draft prospects," coach Joe Raymond Peace said. "I've never been involved with this large a number either as a head coach or an assistant."

"No question this is the best group I've ever had," NLU coach Dave Roberts said. "Roosevelt, Greg and Vince are blue-chip players. I've told the scouts that these guys will make the team, and not only will they contribute, they'll contribute early."