Rams News

Cream of the Crop: Running Backs.
Saturday, April 12, 1998


* Don't Overlook: Tavian Banks, Iowa; Ahman Green, Nebraska; Skip Hicks, UCLA; Michael Pittman, Fresno State; Rashaan Shehee, Washington.

* Sleeper: Wilmont Perry, Livingstone (N.C.) College. At 6-1, 235 pounds, rushed for 1,770 yards and 20 TDs for the NCAA Div. II Blue Bears.

* Local Line: Holcombe, Illinois; Ernest Blackwell, Missouri; Ron Janes, Missouri; Brock Olivo, Missouri. Holcombe projects as a late first-round, early second-round pick. There's some flash to Blackwell, but some question his blocking and his ability to gain tough yards. The best hope for Janes and Olivo is as undrafted free agents.

* Did You Know: UCLA's Skip Hicks owns a 5-foot boa constrictor named Wilma.

* One Year Ago: FSU's Warrick Dunn (12th, Tampa Bay) and Houston's Antowain Smith (23rd, Buffalo) were the only first-rounders.

* Quotable: "As long as I've played football, people have looked at my size. But they can't look at my heart. My heart is bigger." - John Avery of Mississippi.

* Overview: Probably a dozen running backs here who can help some club,
including maybe four first-rounders. Top FB prospects include Michigan's Chris
Floyd, North Carolina's Jonathan Linton, Stanford's Jon Ritchie, Clemson's
Raymond Priester, and Rice's Benji Wood.

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