QUARTERBACK
David Klingler, Houston 6-2 1/2 205
Analysis: Klingler, who struggled through a disappointing senior year, is the only quarterback who'll definitely go in the first round. This simply isn't a vintage quarterback draft. Matt Blundin of Virginia, Casey Weldon of Florida State and Tommy Maddox of UCLA, who came out after his sophomore year, will get a look down the line.
RUNNING BACKS Vaughn Dunbar, Indiana 5-10 204
Tommy Vardell, Stanford 6-1 238
Tony Smith, S. Miss. 6-1 188
Derrick Moore, NE Okla. 5-11 216
Tony Brooks, Notre Dame 6-0 230
Siran Stacy, Alabama 5-11 203
Analysis: There are no Barry Sanders in this draft, but Dunbar, Vardell and Smith could all go in the first round and be productive runners.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Desmond Howard, Michigan 5-10 184
Carl Pickens, Tennessee 6-2 206
Jimmy Smith, Jackson St. 6-0 200
Courtney Hawkins, Michigan St. 5-9 183
Patrick Rowe, San Diego St. 6-1 191
Charles Davenport, N.C. St. 6-3 206
Analysis: Howard, the Heisman Trophy winner, is the class of this group and will be the first one selected. But there's much depth at the position this year.
TIGHT ENDS
Derek Brown, Notre Dame 6-5 252
Johnny Mitchell, Nebraska 6-2 258
Analysis: In recent years, there always seemed to be shortage of tight ends. Most of the potential tight ends seem to be playing power forward in the NBA. Brown's the only certain first-rounder this year.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Bob Whitfield, Stanford 6-5 205
Leon Searcy, Miami (Fla.) 6-3 296
Ray Roberts, Virginia 6-5 304
Greg Skrepenak, Michigan 6-6 316
Eugene Chung, Va. Tech 6-4 295
Supeli Malamala, Washington 6-5 313
Analysis: This is a solid group with as many as five or six linemen figured to go on the first round. Whitfield is likely to be the first one selected, even though he is virtually blind in his right eye.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Steve Emtman, Washington 6-3 286
Sean Gilbert, Pittsburgh 6-4 315
Alonzo Spellman, Ohio St. 6-4 280
Robert Porcher, S.C. St. 6-4 283
Chester McGlockton, Clemson 6-4 337
Marco Coleman, Ga. Tech 6-3 259
Shane Dronett, Texas 6-5 273
Robert Harris, Southern 6-4 285
Chris Mims, Tennessee 6-4 261
Analysis: There's always a premium on defensive linemen who can get to the passer, which is why this group is so coveted. Emtman will be the first pick, and Gilbert is likely to be the second to lead a parade of five or six linemen on the first round. The group would have been even stronger if Bill Johnson of Michigan State hadn't suffered a serious knee injury while scuffling with former teammate Percy Snow. That injury knocked him out of the first round. A word of caution: Defensive linemen are often busts. Remember Kenneth Sims and Walt Patulski?
LINEBACKERS
Quentin Coryatt, Texas A&M; 6-3 237
Robert Jones, E. Carolina 6-2 236
Chuck Smith, Tennessee 6-2 242
Todd Collins, Carson-Newman 6-2 242
Tracy Scoggins, Tulsa 6-3 255
Mark D'Onofrio, Penn State 6-2 236
Ricardo McDonald, Pittsburgh 6-2 230
Kurt Barber, USC 6-3 243
Keith Goganious, Penn State 6-2 237
Analysis: Coryatt is expected to be the third pick in the draft, but there's a drop-off after him, and the next one probably won't go until late in the first round. But it's a solid group that should get a lot of second-round action.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Troy Vincent, Wisconsin 6-0 191
Terrell Buckley, Fla. St. 5-9 174
Kevin Smith, Texas A&M; 5-11 173
Dale Carter, Tennessee 6-0 188
Darryl Williams, Miami 6-1 191
Dana Hall, Washington 6-2 206
Ashley Ambrose, Miss. Val. St. 5-10 177
Steve Isreal, Pittsburgh 5-10 186
Dion Lambert, UCLA 6-0 185
Marquez Pope, Fresno St. 5-11 185
Analysis: Vincent and Buckley are ranked at the top of what is one of the best positions in this draft. At least six of these players could go in the first round. This is a good year for teams looking for defensive backs.
PUNTERS, KICKERS
Jason Hanson, Washington St. 5-11 183
Analysis: Hanson, who made 17 of 26 field-goal attempts last year, is expected to be the first kicker drafted. He hopes to go in the second round, but could wind up going lower.