All-America

All season long, scouts from the National Football League closely study college games, and run down tipsters' estimates in the search for the big boys who can play the man's game of the pros. Meeting in Philadelphia this week to draft college stars for next year's rosters, the pro teams were ruled by their own particular manpower requirements, ended up picking some players far down on everyone's lists. But, with surprising unanimity, the pro scouts this year agree on the nation's finest college players. The pros' All-America:

End: Jim Houston, 21, Ohio State; 6 ft. 2 in., 216 lbs. Major: education and physical education. Excerpts from pro scouting reports: "Can make it with the pros as offensive or defensive end. Pound for pound, he may be the finest college football player in the country today."

End: Chris Burford, 21, Stanford; 6 ft. 2 1/2 in., 199 lbs. Major: education. Burford led the nation in pass receiving (61 catches) for 756 yds., six touchdowns. "Great hands, fine speed and size. He's phenomenal, can catch anything, long or short."

Tackle: Dan Lanphear, 21, Wisconsin; 6 ft. 2 in., 222 lbs. Major: economics. "In the Ohio State game, he hit a couple of guys so hard they had to be helped off the field. Could be a great defensive end for the pros."

Tackle: Lou Cordileone, 22, Clemson; 6 ft., 245 lbs. Major: education. "May fill out more, and has the speed of a back. Looks like a pro defensive tackle."

Guard: Mike McGee, 21, Duke; 6 ft. 1 in., 220 lbs. Major: education. "Can outrun any back on the team, and could make All-America at fullback or halfback. May be the best lineman in the South. Might make a linebacker."

Guard: Roger Davis, 21, Syracuse; 6 ft. 3 in., 228 lbs. Major: physical education. "No. 1 prospect on the No. 1 team, tremendous offensive blocker with enough speed to make tackles all over the field. Could go as linebacker or defensive end."

Center: Max Baughan, 21, Georgia Tech; 6 ft. 1 in., 212 lbs. Major: industrial management. "Seems to make more tackles than most teams do. Can make it on offense or defense." The pros also like Center Carl Kammerer of the College of the Pacific, a husky linebacker (6 ft. 3 in., 240 lbs.) who did not play a minute this year because of a broken leg, but showed them more than enough a year ago.

Quarterback: Don Meredith (TIME, Nov. 2), 21, Southern Methodist; 6 ft. 3 in., 195 lbs. Major: business administration. In his three-year career, Meredith completed 61% of his passes, hit for 25 touchdowns. "One of the greatest players to come out of the Southwest since Sammy Baugh. Can throw off-balance, long or short. Has a great edge because he is tall and can see over the line." While the scouts admire Penn State Quarterback Richie Lucas for his all-round ability in both passing and running, they rank him behind Meredith because he falls short of outstanding mastery in either--and mastery in a specialty is a prerequisite for the pro. Sure to be drafted: Notre Dame's George Izo ("He has a pure arm on long passes, there's never a forced effort"), and, although he will wait a year to play, Stanford Junior Dick Norman, an A-minus engineering student who this year had more completions (152) and passing yardage (1,963) than anyone who ever threw steadily against major opposition.

Halfback: Billy Cannon, 22, Louisiana State; 6 ft. 1 in., 207 lbs. Major: pre-dentistry. "A cinch to make the pros on offense, or even defense; one in a century." Rated side by side with Cannon: Army's Bob Anderson, 21 (6 ft. 2 in., 205 lbs.). Says one scout: "If Anderson were eligible to play, he'd be a No. 1 draft choice. But he's got that three-year obligation to Uncle Sam."

Halfback: Ron Burton, 23, Northwestern; 5 ft. 9 in., 180 lbs. Major: education. "Great speed and elusiveness; whenever he carries the ball, he's a threat." Close behind Burton the pros rank Iowa's Bob Jeter ("as fast as you want them") and unsung Abner Haynes of North Texas State ("He's 180 lbs., and he runs the 100 in 9.7").

Fullback: Bob White, 21, Ohio State; 6 ft. 2 in., 214 lbs. Major: education. "A crunching runner who could also make it as a linebacker."

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