Sunday stars: appreciate these guys in their final amateur performances. The next time you see them, they'll be shaking hands with the commish

You might say it's an amicable split. As remarkable as Auburn's 12-0 season has been, it's even more impressive to see how well, and how willingly, top-shelf running backs Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and Ronnie Brown have worked together for the greater good.

After the Sugar Bowl, it will be time for them to move on to first-round draft status. Separately. "They are distinctly two different players," says Packers director of college scouting John Dorsey. There have been only three occasions on which running backs from the same team have been selected in the first round (1971: John Brockington and Leo Hayden, Ohio State; 1986: John L. Williams and Neal Anderson, Florida; 1987: Roger Vick and Rod Bernstine, Texas A&M). Of those backs, only Brockington was a top 10 choice.

The Cadillac has the moves. He can take his 207-pound frame the distance from anywhere on the field. Plus, he is extremely elusive and finishes his runs with considerable verve. "The question is whether he's a three-down back," says NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock.

Brown can play on any down. He's a 230-pounder with comparable speed to Williams, blocks well and has great hands. He's looked at in the same vein as Baltimore's Jamal Lewis and Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis: big, powerful and productive. Auburn has used him at tailback, full-back, on the wing and split wide. Brown should be quite attractive to a league looking for supersized runners. "'The Escalade' heats you with power and hands," Dorsey says.

Armed but dangerous

The debate about Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter rages.

"I watch him sometimes and wonder why he made this decision on this play when it was a fairly easy read," Mayock says.

"He may just be trying to make plays," Dorsey says.

"Some games, he looks like the first pick in the draft," says an AFC scouting director. "Then, he has lapses."

Everyone can agree that Walter has a big arm. He's accurate. Has good size, too. And it doesn't bother anyone that he suffered a third-degree shoulder separation in the regular-season finale against Arizona. But ...

"I wonder about his mobility," longtime NFL scout Dan Shonka says. "He can sidestep a rush, but you have to be mobile to be an NFL quarterback."

In the end, Walter (6-5, 235) could be the first quarterback selected, although he might find himself behind Akron's Charlie Frye. If juniors such as USC's Matt Leinart, Cal's Aaron Rodgers and Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst enter the draft, Walter will drop--maybe out of the first round. "Somebody's going to take a chance on him because he has a lot of tools," the AFC scouting director says.

And a lot of questions.

The heart of Texas

Mack Brown might have needed to campaign for votes to help his Texas team garner a BCS bid, but he doesn't have to stump too hard for Longhorns running back Cedric Benson and linebacker Derrick Johnson.

Benson takes a spot next to Auburn's dynamic duo among the nation's best running backs and is a likely top 15 pick. He gets points for his vision and ability to make lateral moves in the open field. "He makes good yardage after contact, and he's a real grinder," says the AFC scouting director, who compares him to the Bears' Anthony Thomas. Benson isn't going to wow anybody with his speed or elusiveness, though his consistency did improve this year. "He came to play every game," Mayock says. "Even in the Oklahoma game, he gained hard-earned yards."

Benson isn't fast, but Johnson is. He could be the first defensive player taken. "He's got excellent speed and range on the field," Shonka says. Johnson tracks down ballcarriers from behind, is excellent in pass coverage and creates turnovers, just like the Bucs' Derrick Brooks.

Don't look for him inside on Sundays, even if that's where he hangs at Texas. He's 230 pounds and not particularly skilled at taking on big blockers, so he's projected as more of an outside force, particularly in a 34. "He's a rare athlete who can change the game," the AFC scouting director says. "He puts himself in positions on the field that others can't because of his outstanding speed and change-of-direction skills."

First and five

Dorsey needed two full days in Norman to check out all the Oklahoma prospects. "You can't leave if you have unanswered questions," he says.

There are plenty of answers on the Sooners' squad. Come draft day, as many as 12 OU players could be selected, depending upon how many juniors declare, and five of those prospects could go in the first round. It isn't Miami's 2003 class, but it's pretty close.

The top candidates for the first round are defensive end Dan Cody, wideout Mark Clayton and offensive tackle Jammal Brown. Safety Donte Nicholson and cornerback/return man Antonio Perkins could reap first-round rewards if they show well in the Orange Bowl, at postseason all-star showcases and in individual workouts.

Scouts consider Brown a classic right side man, thanks to his good run blocking. "He does a great job of finishing his blocks," Shonka says. "He slides his feet well and looks athletic." Cody is blessed with a high-revving motor and great quickness, but Mayock wonders whether he can hold up against the run over 16 games. "Still, the NFL places value on getting to the quarterback, and he can do that," Mayock says. Clayton thrills fans and scouts with his ability to turn short passes into long gains. Though only 5-10, he is attractive because of his playmaking ability. Dorsey likens him to the Patriots' Deion Branch.

Perkins has great punt return ability (eight career touchdowns), but nagging injuries throughout the '04 season mean he'll need to lock down some folks in January to prove he's an NFL corner. Nicholson is a run stopper who should benefit from a shaky crop of senior safeties. Scouts still have questions about his coverage ability.

Gone, but not forgotten

Snoop Dogg caused quite a stir when he showed up to catch passes at Southern California, but the Trojans would much rather have had Mike Williams hauling in Matt Leinart's aerials throughout the '04 season. After being ruled ineligible for last year's NFL draft, the NCAA forced Williams to sit out his junior year.

"It's kind of unfair how he was treated," Dorsey says. "He did everything he was supposed to, and they still said he couldn't play. All it did was hurt the kid."

Or did it? Williams missed the Trojans' run to Miami, but he remains squarely in the NFUs sights and reminds scouts of another former Trojans star--Keyshawn Johnson. Unlike Johnson, Williams won't go No. 1 overall, but he could go in the top 10. "He's really a big-time receiver," Shonka says. "He's big enough to compete for the ball and has excellent bands."

Williams isn't a burner and likely will run in the 4.6 to 4.7 range this spring in the 40--not bad for someone 6-5, 230. "He'd still beat Keyshawn in a footrace," Shonka says. And all scouts have to do is turn on the video machine and check out his highlights--like that one-handed grab against Oregon State--to remember that he's still quite a weapon.

INSIDE DISH

Look for Florida RB Ciatrick Fason, the SEC's leading rusher, to skip his senior season and enter the draft. Fason is married and has two young children and has spoken about his desire to take care of his family financially. The loss won't hurt the Gators too much. Florida's former coaches believed sophomore RB OeShawn Wynn was a more physical back than Fason before nagging injuries hurt Wynn's development this season.

Miami coach Larry Coker says his team needs to develop a physical, intense attitude. To that end, the Canes will hit more in bowl practices instead of getting younger players more repetitions. Coker is trying to instill an attitude he says the Hurricanes lost this season, and he needs a win against rival Florida in the Peach Bowl to salvage a disappointing finish. Miami lost three of its last five games, and a loss to the Urban Meyer-less Gators would take more shine off the coach who is an un-Miami-like 19-6 since winning his first 24 games. It's no secret that the talent level has dropped from Butch Davis' recruits to Coker's. Only one Miami player-CB Antrel Rolle, a Davis recruit--will be a first-round pick in the next NFL draft. There were 10 Canes taken in the first round in the past two drafts. > Syracuse simply put a Band-Aid on the future of its program by retaining longtime coach Paul Pasqualoni. Don't think Pasqualoni is too excited; he'll likely be around for only one more season, unless the Orange do the unthinkable and win the Big East next year. Syracuse is in the process of hiring a new athletic director to replace lake Crouthamel, and the new A.D. will want to hire his own coach. Moreover, the Orange will have to deal with the program's uncertainty on the recruiting trail this winter; Pasqualoni will be considered a lame-duck coach. > California veered from its historically conservative (read: cheap) philosophy on paying coaches when it signed coach Jeff Tedford to a five-year, $7.5 million contract. Two thoughts: 1) Cal is serious about its football program. Though it has moved slowly on proposed stadium and facilities renovations, Cal will break tradition soon and spend money on facilities. 2) The extension doesn't ensure Tedford will stay in Berkeley. The deal essentially has no buyout clause--even if it did, would it matter to a school with deep pockets?--and just reduces the field in terms of which schools actually could afford Tedford the next time around. > One of the best coaching jobs this season: John Bunting's at North Carolina. Despite constant criticism and a shaky job status, Bunting produced significant growth this season. Here's a scary thought for ACC rivals: Bunting relates to high school recruits with his easy, fatherlike personality. If he gets it going--a win against Boston College in the ContinentalTire Bowl would be huge for recruiting-with those immaculate UNC facilities as part of his sales pitch, the Tar Heels will be a factor in the ACC. > A 5-6 record--the first losing season in coach Mike Bellotti's 10 years--likely won't lead to staff changes at Oregon. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig has been criticized for the uneven play of the offense, but he will be retained. Bellotti will take a more active role in the offense this offseason, but he insists the Ducks simply need to recruit better. Oregon, which had one of the nation's top recruiting classes last year, has only 18 to 20 scholarships to offer this February. > New Illinois coach Ron Zook and Meyer will go head-to-head for numerous key recruits in the state of Florida, but none will be more critical than QB Jonathan Garner. An Elite 11 selection, Garner orally committed to Florida while Zook was coach, and his dual-threat style now seems like a perfect fit for Meyer's offense. But the relationship Garner built Q with Zook and new Illinois offensive coordinator Larry Fedora could sway him to sign with the Illini. > Arizona State will not tweak its offense for new QB Sam Keller, who will replace injured starter Andrew Walter (shoulder) in the Sun Bowl. A sophomore with a big arm and loads of potential, Keller played well into the second half of a loss to Arizona in late November. The Sun Devils fumbled four times in the defeat, overshadowing Keller's solid performance. But Purdue's defense is much faster and aggressive than Arizona's, and Boilers coordinator Brock Spack will use pressure to force quick decisions by Keller.--M.H.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group