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Show SPORTS Unpredictable SECTION DailySHerald SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2006 ‘SPORTS EDITOR Damell Dickson - 344-2555 - ddickson@heraldextra.com NFL DRAFT e TODAY AND SATURDAY After enduring off-seasoncombines and analysis, Cougars hope to hear namescalled in NFL draft Darnell Dickson DAILY HERALD “Surreal and unreal.” Those are the words BYU receiver Todd Watkins used to describe the months leading up to today’s NFL draft, Words draft experts use to describe Watkins? Try “blazing speed” and “simply runs by defenders in man coverage.” They also say “inexperienced andstill a bit. unpolished” and “not overly physical.” Put those words all together and you get a player who will likely be picked somewhere betweenthe third andsixth rounds. Watkins has spenthis time since December's Las Vegas Bowlworking out and getting ready for the draft. He ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL Combines in March; not the fastest time (Florida's Chad Jackson ran a 4.37) butstill fast enough to draw the interest of NFL teams. “Wedid somedrills during BYU'spro day and I wentto the combine,” Watkins said. “I madea visit to the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago.” Whilein Nashville, Watkins talked to Norm Chow, the former BYU andUSC offensive coordinator now coaching for the Titans. ~“He had some good things to say,” Watkins said. “It’s always good to have BYU connections when af you're looking to get into the NFL.” Watkins came to BYU from Grossmont Junior Collegein California and made an immediate impact. He hada spectacular junior season, catching 52 passes for 1,042 yards (20 yards per catch) andsix touchdowns. Asa senior, Watkins’ numbers decreased but he still had 49 catches for 678 yards (13.8) and nine scores. Watkins was inconsistent as a senior, blowing EVAN WUCCI/Associated Press Cleveland forward LeBron James, right, hugs teammateLarry Hughesafter the Cavaliers defeated Washington Wizards 97-96 in a first-round NBAplayoff gameFridayin Washington. 4, up TCU with seven catches for 176 yards andthree © touchdowns but dropping three deepballs on national television against Notre Dame. Watkins had a good performance in the Las Vegas Bowl and made the SportsCenter highlights with his acrobatic 46-yard catch at the East-West Shrine Gamein January. “The scouts havesaid that my size and speed are mybiggest strengths,” Watkins said. “I'm a deep threat andall that. They want to see me not have concentration lapses.” Watkins hired Michael Hoffman as his agent, the same agent who worked with BYUlinebacker Brady Poppinga(fourth round, Green Bay)last season. Watkins, who has been running track for BYU this spring,said he will spend the two days during the NFL draft at homein San Diego. “I was planning on running in the track Cavsstarsinksfirst playoff game winner meet (Robison Invitational), but I thought Pr See BYU, C3 Joseph White BYU Prospects — Possible Draftees WASHINGTON — LeBron Jamesdrove around Antonio Daniels, collided with Michael Ruffin and banked in a 4-footer on the way downwith 5.7 seconds left’ MANAIA BROWN TODD WATKINS WR, 6-2, 202 DT, 6-2, 301 Is a‘tweener’ DE/DT who shows great upside if he worksat it. Strength:A tall receiv: er with blazing speed. Weakness:|s inexpe- Weakness: Has had multiple durability is- sues in the past. rienced and still a bit Chalk up another’milestone for the emerging legend: He made his first game-winningshot in the playoffs. Jamesscored a franchise playoff-record 41 points Fridaynight, | including two toughshotsin the FAHU TAHI FB, 511, 254 Strength: Is an aggres- | sive pass blocker. Weakness: Lacks had the final say over Gilbert Are- comer. ‘Overall: Tahiis a fairly ver | Overall: Has played both lot of similarities with line positions throughout his collegiate career, but his best fit in the NFL will likely be inside. Ashley Lelie (Broncos) paintin the final minute. In a thrilling one-on-onefourth-quarter duel between two youngstars, James the burst to tum the nas in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 97-96 victory overthe Wash- | when Lelie was at a similar stage of devel opmentat Hawaii. ington Wizards. but he isn't dominant in “We are any one area. twoAll-Stars,” Jamessaid. “We Texans surprise league, sign Mario Kristie Rieken HOUSTON — The Houston Texans’decision to snub Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bushand sign defensive end Mario Williams with the No.1 pick in theNFL draft has cut a slack-jawed swath across the NFL. But general manager Charley Casserly said the moveFriday night shouldn't be that surprising. “I think if people hadjust listened to what wehad said, they would have seen that we wereserious about Mario Williams,” Casserly said. “Once we brought him in hereour state- teams to lose 96 winning side. It was a great performanceby myself and Gilbert.” Jamesmade16 of28 shots and hadfive rebounds andthree as- sists. Arenas scored 17 of his 34 pointsin the fourth quarter — making all but one of the Wizards’field goals in the period — but he missed an open 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the ame. “It went in and cameout. You're ‘and I understand that people didn’t believeit, but we alwayssaid it and webelieved it.” Houstonstarted negotiating with both Williams and Bushthis week. going to miss more than you make in your career,” Arenas said. “I ~ missedthat one, but I’m going to have more opportunities to make While many expected the Southern California running back to be the Texans’choice, they wentfor Mario Williams the North nie State lineman inst. “This is a decision that took aid of time them.... I thoughtit was goingin. It was there,just a little off. It just wasn't our day. Wefoughtall 48 minutesof this basketball game and we deserved this win. ments never changed that we wereseriously considering him for the first pick in the draft don't want our WASH. lose, but I am happyI’ wason the Williamswith No. 1 pick in NFL draft THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CLEVELAND 97. the game. It was unfortunate that one team had to ~ See WILLIAMS, C3 See CAVS, C5 FRANK BOTT/Daily Herald BLAZE UTAH Kelly providing Blaze with playott hope Brandon Judd DAILY HERALD ‘ For a man who madehis first trip to Utah just three weeks ago, Andy Kelly sure knows how to makea strong first impression. During the past few weeks, the 37-year-old Tennessee native witha Photo courtesy Utah Blaze Andy Kelly has provided an instant spark to the Utah Blaze, guiding the team to two straight wins while throwingfor nearly 600yards and 12 touchdowns. In his first game with the Baza, Kelly threw for eight touchdowns and 314 yards in a 63-61 win over Los Angeles, earning him ArenaFan Online Offensive Player of the” ‘eek honors. Utah at The next week, he led Utah Lag Vegas tooneofthe Southern drawlhas helped the AFL league's biggest expansion Utah Blaze gofromthe Today upsetsof the. dregs of a four-gamelosing streak 8:30 p.m. season, a 52-40 to a two-game winning streak and Radio: 1280 AM triumph over Rea spot in the playorts. —_________ defending AFL dre oe aes champion Colothat knows this game and makes reraReally ken tee 2 ee 0 ally cnerene it so many times,” said Blaze general HoveySamal on teererge coach Danny White of of retaking the league lead in his new starting signal caller. “He's time touchdownpasses from New machinesike on: York’s Aaron Garcia, who is out the *WWW.HERALDEXTRA.COM — CALL 375-5103 TO SUBSCRIBE rest of the season with a brokenleg. Throughout their careers, Garcia and Kelly traded off as the top TD man,with Garcia currently stand- ing at 757. Kelly, who has 753 touchdown tosses,could takethe lead tonight when the Blaze head to Las Vegas for an 8:30 p.m. showdown at the Thomas and Mack Center. But for Kelly and the Blaze (5-8), their focus is on securing a pee spot — with three regular-ses games left, kal said Las Versare, tied with Chicagofor the fifth playoff spot in the American Confer. ence. With only six spots available at least one of the ine teams won't make the postseason. See BLAZE, C2 Top TD tossers Blaze quarterback Andy Kelly needs just four TD passes a to become thealltime AFL leaderin that category. x-Aaron Garcia, New York 757 Andy Kelly, Utah 753 Clint Dolezel, Dallas 745 John Kaleo, Columbus 550 xout for the season (broken leg) |