TIME'S All-America Team: The Pick of the Pros

OF the estimated 15,000 seniors who played football in college this fall, only 442 will be drafted by 26

teams of the National Football League next February. Herewith the scouts' ratings of the best players at each offensive and defensive position:

DEFFENSE

QUARTERBACK. John Reaves, Florida, 6 ft. 3 in., 210 Ibs. A classic dropback passer with a quick release. Reaves has the height to see over charging linemen, the muscle to shake off tacklers and the poise to spring the big play under pressure. If only because so many pro clubs have weaknesses at quarter back, two other passers will also be drafted high: Pat Sullivan, Auburn, 6 ft.. 188 Ibs., and Gary wichard, C.W. Post, 6 ft. 2 in.. 217 Ibs. Many ANDBANDworry that Heisman Winner Sullivan is a mite too small to mix it up with the big boys. Noting theANDexceptionally long stride he takes when setting up one scout figures that Sullivan is

5 ft. 6 in. when he's throwing.' Nevertheless. his accurate arm and play calling

skills mark him as an early round draft choice. Despite his small college background. Wichard (TIME, Dec. 6) has the size and the statistics (41 touchdown passes in three seasons) that the pros prize. RUNNING BACKS. Ed Marimiro, Cornell.

6 ft. 2 2 in., 214 Ibs., and Bobby Moore. Oregon. 6 ft. 2 in.. 212 Ibs. In the year of the runner. Marinaro ran farther than anyone, setting no fewer than five N.C.A.A. rushing records. Mindful of the success of Yale's Calvin Hill with the Dallas Cowboys, the scouts discount the fact that the Big Red's Machine played in the supposedly soft Ivy With every defense keying on explain the scouts, he had "to have something special to compile those<< records." The experts praise his durability and elusiveness, as well as "thaANDt lANDsomething that can't be taught: the knack of picking and cutting his way through! the line." Moore is "one of the most graceful big men you'll ever see, a real high-stepper, a streaker in the mold of O.J. Simpson." He has the speed (4.5 sec. in the 40-yd. dash) to break away for the long gainer and the sure hands that may prompt the pros to switch him to wide receiver. Other runners admired by scouts are Jeff Kinney, Nebraska, 6 ft. 2 in.. 210 Ibs.. Jim Bertelsen, Texas, 5 ft. 1 1 in., 190 Ibs., and Johnny Mus.so. Alabama, 5 ft. 11 1/2 in., 199 Ibs.

WIDE RECEIVERS. Terry Beasley, Auburn, 5 ft. 1 1 in.. 185 Ibs., and Tom Gatewood. Notre Dame, 6 ft. 2 in., 208 Ibs. Small by pro standards, Beasley, who was Sullivan's No. 1 target at Auburn, is described as a tough little monkey with great ball concentration." He is a master of the sideline pass. Despite injuries and Notre Dame's lack of an experienced quarterback this season. Gatewood is still the prime pro prospect he was when he grabbed 77 passes for 1,123 yds. in 1970, "If he grabs the ball anywhere within the 10 yd. line." says one scout, "he usually takes it in."

Other experts, though, question Gatewoods speed, and would vote for three less publicized receivers: Jerome Barkum, Jackson State, 6ft. 41n. 210 Ibs.. Mike Siani, Villanova, 6 ft. 3 in., 190 Ibs. and Tom Reynolds, San Di ego State, 6 ft. 2 in., 195 Ibs.

TIGHT END. Riley Odoms, Houston, 6ft. 41n.. 236 Ibs. Tabbed by the scouts as "the fastest tight end around.""

Odoms excels at taking a pass up the middle and then powering his way through tacklers. "And." adds one scout, "he gives you that extra bonus -- oh, how "he can block!" Often compared to the Baltimore Colts' bulldozing JohnAND Mackey. Odoms hauled in 45 passes this season, for an average gain of 16 yds.

GUARDS. Royce Smith, Georgia, 6 ft. 31n

230 Ibs.. and Reggie McKenzie, Michigan, 6 ft. 4 in.. 232 lbs. A mountain of muscle. Smith is "a real savage with great straight-aheaid blocking power." Since Georgia is mainly a running team, the scouts say that Smith will have to brush up on his pass protection. Even so, most agree that he "plays like a pro already." McKenzie, equally devastating at cutoff and down field blocking, was key to undefeated Michigan's vaunted running at tack. According to the scouts, he is still a growing boy>and will have no trouble adding the necessary 20 lbs, or so to play in the pros.

TACKLES. John Vella. U.S.C., 6 ft. 4 in., AND250 Ibs. and Lionel Antoine, Southern Illinois. 6 ft. 7 in.. 240 Ibs. Vella will follow a long line of giant Southern Cal tackles (offers: Ya31 Sid Smith,

Mary Montgomery whoANDANDhave flourished in the pros. He is rated as " tough, driving blocker who picks up rushers aggressively and forces them to concentrate on him instead of the quarterback." Antoine, who also played tight end and defensive tackle in college, has "all the tools: balance, great anticipation and a true N.F.L. physique." Praising his "great attitude," one scout adds: "One thing that counts with me is that he shaves his head. I like clean-cut players." Another highly regarded tackle is Tom Drougas, Oregon, 6 ft. 4 in., 257 Ibs.

CENTER. Tom DeLeone, Ohio State, 6 ft. 2 in., 227 Ibs. Big collegeAND centers are so hard to find that the pros often groom a college guard or tackl^tor the position. The best of a mediocre lot, De-Leone should make it in the N.F.L., provided that he packs on a few more pounds. Rated an "excellent long snapper," he never once misfired on a pass from center this season.

DEFENSE

ENDS. Walt Patulski, Notre Dame, 6 ft. 6 in., 260 Ibs., and Sherman White, California, 6 ft. 5 in., 250 Ibs. A consensus All-America, Patulski is lauded by one team as "the best we've seen for many years." All but unstoppable on the pass rush, he dazzled the experts with his "amazing agility and lateral mobility." One scout predicts that Patulski may be the first defensive lineman ever picked No. 1 in the draft since the Colts made Michigan State's Bubba Smith their first choice in 1967. White is a former high school basketball star who never played football until he reached college. Quick and aggressive, he led the Golden Bears in tackles and pass deflections this season. Though the scouts feel his play needs "more consistency," they also rate him as "can't miss." Another defensive end who will be drafted high is Herb Orvis, Colorado, 6 ft. 5 in., 236 Ibs. TACKLES. Mike Kadish, Notre Dame, 6 ft. 4 in., 265 Ibs., and Larry Jacobson, Nebraska, 6 ft. 6 in., 250 Ibs. One expert described Kadish as "stronger and a better rusher than Mike McCoy," the former Notre Dame All-America now with the Green Bay Packers. Charging through the middle like a bull rhino, Kadish led the Irish defensemen this season with 97 tackles. "He's a kid," says an admiring scout, "who plays with pain." Jacobson in-flic's pain. Heading one of the nation's toughest defensive units, he forced opposing backs to run wide of the middle --and even then he often caught them from behind. Says one scouting report: "Quicker than hell, superb attitude, a potential pro great." LINEBACKERS. Jeff Siemon. Stanford, 6 ft. 2 in., 223 Ibs., Willie Hall, Southern Cal, 6 ft. 3 in., 215 Ibs., and Mike Taylor, Michigan, 6 ft. H in., 224 Ibs. Siemon "hits 'em real good and has that extra speed for pass coverage." In short, says one scout, "he likes to pop people." So does Hall, especially on the blitz. He impressed most scouts with his speed and range--"more than enough to pick off an interception and go all the way." Taylor is no behemoth, but he hits like one. "He's a real sticker," says one scout, "with a nose for the ball. I'd compare him with Wil lie Lanier," star of the Kansas City Chiefs. Mark Arneson, Arizona, 6 ft. 2 in., 210 Ibs., is described by one pro talent watcher as "super quick, aggressive and a leader."

CORNERBACKS. Clarence Ellis, Notre Dame, 6 ft., 178 Ibs., and Willie Buchanan, San Diego State, 6 ft. 1 in., 179 Ibs. Though he needs more experience in man to man coverage, the scouts consider Ellis "the kind of solid hitter who intimidates pass receivers." The same goes for Buchanon, a "sure tackier who can pivot and backpedal with amazing quickness." He is such a "superb athlete," says one report, "that he has never been fully tested by college receivers. They just stayed away from him." Rated a shade behind these two prospects is Craig demons, Iowa, 6ft. 1 in., 190 Ibs.

SAFETIES. Tommy Casanova, L.S.U., 6 ft. 2 in., 195 Ibs., and Bobby Majors, Tennessee, 6 ft. 1 in., 197 Ibs. Casanova is a hustling, hard-nosed strong safety who put his darting speed (4.5 in the 40) to good use as a punt returner and occasional running back. Majors is a "110% competitor" who has intercepted 13 passes in his last two seasons. Says one scout: "He has blinding speed and something better--intelligence. He's just plain football smart." SPECIALISTS. Mary Bateman, Utah, 6 ft. 3 in., 220 Ibs. College football's leading punter (average: 48 yds.) is certain to be snapped up by a team that needs a kicker who "punts the ball out of sight." Bateman is also an accurate long distance place kicker, as is Chester Marcol, Hillsdale College, 6 ft. 1 in., 190 Ibs., who booted a record-breaking 62-yd. field goal as a sophomore.

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