ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 21, 1997 TAG: 9704220025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on April 23, 1997.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Virginia Tech safety Torrian Gray in
the second round of the National Football League draft. A story Monday
reported the wrong round.
Hokies Antonio Banks and Cornell Brown, and Virginia's Duane Ashman get NFL calls.
On what was a long day - or long two days - for several of his Virginia Tech football teammates, the suspense ended early Sunday for Hokies defensive back Antonio Banks.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Banks in the fourth round of the NFL draft, which was higher than most of the draft analysts had predicted.
Tech defensive end Cornell Brown, a consensus All-American in 1995, was taken by Baltimore in the sixth round to give the Hokies a total of four draftees.
Defensive end Duane Ashman became the sixth player from Virginia to be selected when the Detroit Lions took him in the fifth round. A record five Virginia players went in the first three rounds Saturday.
As many as nine Tech players were viewed as potential draftees, including center Bill Conaty and tight end Bryan Jennings, rated in some reports among the top players at their positions.
Other Hokie hopefuls included offensive tackle Jay Hagood, defensive tackle Waverly Jackson and fullback Brian Edmonds, all of whom can be expected to sign free-agent contracts this week.
Neither Mel Kiper Jr. nor Joel Buchsbaum, both NFL draft analysts, had Banks rated among the top 30 cornerbacks, although Minnesota obviously was impressed with Tech's secondary. The Vikings drafted Hokies safety Torrian Gray in the third round Saturday.
Kiper wrote in his draft report that Minnesota needed depth in the secondary and the Vikings were one of the teams that were looking at Nebraska cornerback Micheal Booker in the first round. Instead, they took Alabama linebacker Dwayne Rudd.
Brown, whose size (6-1, 244) made some teams consider him a ``tweener,'' was one of four Baltimore draft picks listed as linebackers by the Ravens. One of those is Virginia linebacker Jamie Sharper, taken in the second round.
UVa's Ashman joins a Detroit team that had five ex-Cavaliers this season. Backup quarterback Don Majkowski is a free agent, but Ashman will join UVa alumni Herman Moore, Greg Jeffries, Ray Roberts and Chris Harrison.
Ashman said on a conference call that Baltimore called him early in the fifth round and asked him to stand by the phone. When the Colts picked Florida offensive lineman Jeff Mitchell, he was wary when the Lions called.
``I told them, "Are you sure you aren't going to put me on standby and call somebody else?' '' Ashman related. ``It was a big relief to be drafted, but ESPN went to a commercial and I didn't get to see my name on the screen.''
UVa seniors likely to sign as free agents include All-ACC punter Will Brice, place-kicker Rafael Garcia and cornerback Joe Rowe. Tight end Walt Derey from Roanoke is another possibility.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB