Before an audience of more than 20 pro scouts, three NFL head coaches and 13 former Nebraska teammates, Jared Tomich finally got a chance to show his physical skills.
Tomich, an All-America rush end two years ago and Lombardi Award finalist last season, had been held out of physical testing since January. He broke his ankle during practice for the Senior Bowl and went to the NFL Scouting Combine on crutches. He missed previous tryouts while undergoing therapy and waiting for the fracture to heal.
"Did it cross my mind that the whole thing of playing pro football would fall apart?" Tomich said. "Yes. I think it hurt me a bit becauseI couldn't test and I was injured."
But three weeks ago, Tomich was able to resume running. Tuesday afternoon, he was able to go through a series of physical tests for the NFL scouts andcoaches at Cook Pavilion.
"Jared did very well and hell get drafted somewhere," said Scott Studwell, former pro and longtime scout for the Minnesota Vikings. "He's a great football player. Scoutsknow that. He's worked hard to get in as good a shape as he's in right now. He'll get better."
Studwell and Tomich agreed that the former Husker's future in the pros would be at a new position.
Tomich played rush end, opposite Grant Wistrom, the last two years. At 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, Tomich will probably switch to middle linebacker or outside linebacker in the NFL.
"Right away, he'd be a situational player, pass rusher like he was in college," Studwell said. "Eventually, he'll be a linebacker." Tomich said learning to run backward in pass coverage will be the biggest adjustment. "I ran backwards for the pros today and didn't fall down. I guess that's good," he said.
He earned one other plus during Tuesday's testing. "I heard somebody pawing at the door, trying to get in here (Cook Pavilion) and I went and let them in," Tomich said.
"It was Marty Schottenheimer (head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs). That was a good feeling. , You know, he'll be thinking `The kid , is polite: That's only a plus."
Carolina Panthers head coach Dom Capers and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin were among the observers watching the Huskers this week. Last week, 25 scouts tested the former Huskers.
"Nebraska always has good people to look at," said Studwell. "They have six defensive backs who will all be in the pros next year. They all run well.
They know defense because they played for Charlie McBride." Nebraska's returning players will go through physical testing today. Tomich, a 6-2, 260-pounder, waited much longer to learn his fate in the draft, largely because scouts feel he lacks the size to play defensive end and might not have the cover skills or instincts for linebacker.
"Some say I'm not big enough to play the run at defensive end," Tomich said. "But I just talked to (Saints Coach) Mike Ditka, and he says I'll play a true defensive end. He said he loves my style of play and that I may play a lot."
Tomich spent Saturday in his hometown of St. John, Ind., where he grew up watching Ditka coach the Bears in nearby Chicago.
"I've always been a huge Ditka fan," Tomich said. "I either wanted to play for Chicago or play for Ditka. He is a lot like (Nebraska defensive coordinator) Charlie McBride. They both like hard-working players. Ditka is not as worried about size and speed as he is determination and heart. I couldn't have asked for anything more."
This is going to break some hearts in Boulder, but the "N" on those Nebraska helmets actually stands for Nuclear Physicist. At least in the case of Huskers linebacker Jon Hesse, a projected middle-round pick in next weekend's NFL draft. Hesse scored a 48 on the Wonderlic Personnnel Test, the highest score of any draft prospect. To put that number in perspectice, a score of 41 computes to an IQ of 140, and a perfect 50 computes to 146...
So much for that stereotype.
A phone call from an NFL team can't come any ealier than Mike Minter has been getting up this week. The annual NFL draft begins Saturday with three rounds, and the final four rounds are Sunday.
Nebraska could have as many as 10 players chosen: Minter, Michael Booker, Jared Tomich, Terrell Farley, Jamel Williams, Jeff Ogard, Eric Stokes, Brian Schuster, Chris Dishman, and Adam Treu.
Minter actually picked up the best news of the week. Monday at 4 a.m., he became a father for the second time. Minter's wife Kim gave birth to 9-pound Isiah Kiante Minter, giving 2-year-old Michael a little brother.
"After the beginning of this week, I don't know if anything can be more exciting," said Minter. "I don't think I've slept more than a couple of hours. And now, since my wife and newest son are healthy, I'll probably start worrying about the draft."
Like most of those eligible for the NFL draft, Minter can only guess what his immediate future in football will be. He is listed in some mock drafts as being drafted as high as the first round and by others in the fourth round.
"You never know anything until the real thing happens," he said. "Mike Ditka, coach at New Orleans, said he'd probably pick me when their second-round pick comes around. But he said I would probably be gone by then. That made me feel ood and it made me wonder at theame time."
Minter, who played safety and linebacker at Nebraska, is being touted as a cornerback by some pro teams, including New Orleans and St. Louis, and as a safety by others, including the New York Jets and Chicago.
"I'm at the point where I'll try anything," he said. "I have a new mouth to feed."
Minter, who is from Lawton, Okla., has shown he has completely recovered from an 1994 knee injury. He blazed through tryouts for the pros, coming close to the 4.4-second time in the 40-yard dash he had as a freshman. He also played well in the Senior Bowl, showing his ability to play cornerback.
If the draft does not work out, Minter will take to the job recruiting trail. An engineering graduate, Minter has job offers in California, Texas and Nebraska.
"It's good to have that degree to rely on, because the pro thing is such a hard thing to count on," he said. Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said he expects seven or eight of his former players to be drafted.
"My main thing is to see them graduate and play college football," he said. "If they leave here without a degree. then I have failed. But if they go to the NFL, I'm happy cause it's a chance to keep playing." Osborne said his confrontation with the NFL last fall, when banned scouts from the NU campus hasn't hurt his players' chance the pros.
"They (pro scouts) aren't going blow a first-, second- or third-round pick because they are upset with me," he said. "We had the scout this spring and they got all the in mation on our players they need."
Michael Booker wants to play a major role right away for the Atlanta Falcons. He may have no choice.
"We won't force him into the lineup, but we wouldn't have taken him if we didn't feel he had the ability to come here and challenge for a starting position right away," said first-year Falcons Coach Dan Reeves, whos club selected Booker with the 11th pick of the NFL draft Saturday in New York.
Three other former Nebraska Players were picked during the first three rounds of the seven-round draft that ends today.
Booker, a two-year starter at Nebraska, was the fourth cornerback selected in a draft that is considered deep at the position.
"I anticipated going as the third corner," Booker said. "Tom Knight slipped in ahead of me, but I thought if I wasn't the best corner out there, I surely had to be the third best."
"Westbrook and I were bound for greatness," Booker said.
Booker goes to a team that has allowed 190 TD passes in 112 games during the 1990s. Last season, the Atlanta secondary allowed 234 passing yards a game and 26 touchdowns, with a league-low six interceptions. The facons finished 3-13.
Reeves hopesthe additions of Booker and free-agent cornerback Ray Buchanan provide an immediate impact. Both are projected starters.
"We definately sent a message that we want to improve at that position." Reeves said.
Scouts and analysts like Booker's size (6'1" 200 lbs), speed (4.41) and ability to play bump-and-run coverage.
Booker was reminded the Falcons took another Nebraska defensive back, Bruce Pickens, with their No.1 pick in 1991. Pickens was a bust, but Booker plans to shine.
"I've been playing too long to come in and sit on someone's bench," he said. "I don't expect to be draft in the first round and not play."
...Minter was also pleased.
"I was sitting around feeling pretty good for Booker and Jared when they got picked, and I was feeling pretty good when all those defensive backs got picked early because it moved me up on the board," said Minter, whose wife Kim gave birth to a 9-pound boy Monday morning.
"What a great week - a second son and now this."
Minter, a 5-10, 185-pounder with a degree in engineering, will be reunited with former Nebraska linebackers coach Kevin Steele, who coaches the position for Carolina, which lost to Green Bay in the NFC championship game last season.
Adam Treu, a 6-5, 302-pounder, becomes the fifth Lincoln player drafted in the last decade. The news that Oakland took him set off a miniature fireworks display at his parents' home in Lincoln.
Treu's deep-snapping ability and versatility are his primary assets.
"I've heard all kinds of things said about me, but the Raiders picking me shows a lot of respect for our program at Nebraska and the people who helped me reach this point in my life.
"I'll probably watch the draft (today), wishing for my other teammates and other guys I've met. But it will certainly be a more relaxed feeling. The burden is off for now."
Aaron Taylor was mystified, while Eric Warfield was simply relieved it was over.
The former Nebraska standouts waited anxiously by the telephone for hours Sunday before learning they were seventh-round selections in the National Football League draft, which wrapped up its two-day run in NewYork.
The Kansas City Chiefs made Warfield, a 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back, the 216th pick overall.
Taylor, a 6-foot, 305-pound offensive lineman, was the first pick of the final round, the 190th selection overall. A total of 33 offensive linemen were taken* before the Indianapoli5 Colts drafted Taylor.
It was an interesting and somewhat startling development, considering Taylor was awarded the Outland Trophy last season as the nation's top interior lineman.
The Wichita Falls, Texas, native anchored an offensive line that bullied most foes. Nebraska led the nation in rushing offense, total offense and scoring offense. Four other seniors from the 1997 line weredraft hopefuls, yet only Taylor gotthe call.
"I definitely don't understand it," Taylor said. "I went to the Senior Bowl and saw linemen who would have trouble playing on the offensive line at Nebraska. To me, there's something wrong.
"I guess people look for different things. All we can do is hope for a chance to show what we can do."
At least two factors apparently worked against Taylor: His lack of height and the fact he comes from a run-oriented offense.
Of the 33 offensive linemen chosen ahead of Taylor, only six were shorter than 6-4 and none were shorter than 6-2. Taylor, who was dogged by height questions coming out of high school, wonders why it matters.
"There's no theory in the world that proves height matters," he said. "It's something some people have in their heads that they can't get rid of. At Nebraska, if a player has a big enough heart, they will take you. "The size thing is ridiculous to me. The most important thing is I'm getting a chance. Now it's up to me to take advantage of it"
Taylor, who spent time at guard and center in college, anticipates playing center for Indianapolis, which was 3-13 last season. The Colts played without a true backup to starting center Jay Leeuwenburg, aseven-year veteran. Colts President Bill Polian was pleased Taylor was still available in the seventh round.
"We wanted to get younger on the offensive line, and drafting Aaron Taylor helped us do that," Polian said. "He can play guard or center and is a winner. I don't think you can ever go wrong with Nebraska offensive linemen. They are well-coached and well-trained and come from a great program."
Of Indianapolis' seven draft picks, five are offensive players, including No. 1 overall selection Peyton Manning, the quarterback for the Tennessee team that fell to Nebraska in last season's Orange Bowl.
"I'm stepping into a good situation," Taylor said.
Warfield, a third-team All-Big 12 free safety last season, hopes to step into an already talented Kansas City defensive backfield. Chiefs Coach Marty Schottenheimer said in a prepared statement that Warfield will initially be tried at cornerback, a position occupied by Pro Bowl selections Dale Carter and James Hasty.
"Any time you have a player with Eric's size and athletic ability, you I try him at corner first - that's a given," said Craig Domann of Chicago, who is Warfield's agent. "Every team covets a corner of that size."
Warfield runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and has an eye-catching 40-inch vertical leap. But some scouts wonder if he can make the conversion to cornerback and if he is physical enough to play safety in the NFL.
For now, Warfield said, he is just happy to know his immediate future.
"I've been on pins and needles all weekend," he said. "It's just a dream come true. But to sit there for two days, knowing you have a chance to be drafted, but not knowing when or where you're going - that's what gets to you."