Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 26, 1993 TAG: 9304260106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ASHBURN LENGTH: Medium
Washington general manager Charley Casserly spent his first- and second-round draft picks Sunday on Fighting Irish players, junior cornerback Tom Carter and running back Reggie Brooks.
"I don't think we'll be drafting any more Notre Dame players," he joked after announcing the selection of Brooks. "They're all gone."
He was right. With their first of two third-round picks, the Redskins grabbed linebacker Rick Hamilton, from Central Florida University in Orlando.
They used their other pick for a punter, 25-year-old Ed Bunn of Texas El-Paso. Besides his 47.7-yard average, the most distinctive thing about Bunn may be that he spent off-seasons as a repo man.
In selecting Carter with the 17th pick of the first round, the Redskins made a commitment to improve their secondary after a decade of near neglect.
Although they used second-round picks for Brian Davis (1987) and Tory Nixon (1985), both busts, it is the first time since 1983 and Darrell Green that the Redskins utilized their top choice on a cornerback. In Carter, they got a young, accomplished athlete they feel can grow into a stalwart of the secondary.
Carter, who doesn't turn 21 until Aug. 5, is 5-11, 188 pounds. That's three inches taller than Green and A.J. Johnson, the team's probable starting cornerbacks. He has a vertical leap of 43 1/2 inches, so unusual that he played power forward in high school.
A sprinter and long-jumper in high school, his last recorded time in the 40-yard dash was 4.32 seconds, not nearly as blistering as Green, but better than anyone else on the roster.
"He's one of the most athletic guys at that position I've seen in a long time," said Redskins defensive coordinator Emmitt Thomas. "With his vertical leap, he plays like he's 6-3 or 6-4. He's bigger than any cornerback we've had here in a long time, except for Barry Wilburn."
Casserly half-heartedly attempted to trade up so they could draft Clemson linebacker Wayne Simmons. Late Saturday, he emerged as their primary target with the 17th pick. But phone calls to Denver, the Los Angeles Raiders, Houston and Cleveland yielded nothing.
"[Carter's] a very young kid," head coach Richie Petitbon added. "His best football is all ahead of him."
After Petitbon and assistant head coach Larry Peccatiello returned from the Indianapolis combine glowing about Carter, Thomas journeyed to South Bend two weeks ago for a personal inspection.
"He was very impressive," Thomas said. "We didn't think there was any way he'd be there. We were holding our breaths, hoping he'd be there."
At the family home in Florida, Carter was holding his breath, too, wondering why he hadn't been selected yet and wondering if he'd made the proper decision to leave school early.
"It's been a long struggle since I decided to come out," Carter said. "I'm glad Washington was there to save me."
He intercepted 10 passes and had 89 tackles for the Fighting Irish.
Brooks, just 5-7, 209 pounds, also played cornerback for the Irish, though just part of one season. After serving as a reserve back for seasons, Brooks broke into national prominence last season. Averaging 8 yards a carry, he gained 1,343 yards, the fourth-best single-season figure in Notre Dame history.
Brooks, whose agent is Stanley Burrell - a.k.a. rap star Hammer - addressed his pass-receiving ability by offering that he has caught between 60 and 100 passes a day since Notre Dame returned from its Cotton Bowl victory over Texas A&M in January.
"He's a guy who can put the ball in the end zone," Petitbon said. "He's a game-breaker, a guy who can go all the way at any time. He is a home-run threat."
Hamilton, 6-2, 238 pounds, had his two best games last season against Virginia teams. He had a season-high 23 tackles against Liberty and 20 against James Madison. A four-year starter, he broke the school record for tackles, with 472.
by CNB