1978 Profile: Jerome Barkum

Tight End

No. 83

Jackson State

Ol' Debbil injury's got him. Barkum has been bothered the last two years by pains and sprains. He was given a new outlook on a successful NFL career by switching to tight end last year. He stayed healthy long enough to catch 26 passes (17.3 yards per reception) for six touchdowns. Barkum remains one of the game's finest deep threats, with many good years ahead.

Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, he set a high school single-game rebounding record of 30 in Gulfport, where he still lives. A teammate of Rich Caster at Jackson State, Barkum was a No. 1 draft pick in 1972. His career average per catch is 16.0.

He's light for a tight end; his blocking won't remind anyone of Dave Casper. So figure on Todd to keep the ball in the air."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Always considered among pro football's premier receivers, Jerome has excellent size and strength. His most catches in a game were the eight he snared against the Bengals in 1983. He has also become a fine blocker for the Jets.

Jerome is a cousin of the Lions' Lem Barney."

-1978 Topps No. 442

1978 Profile: Wesley Walker

Wide Receiver

No. 85

California

"Does things in a big way. He led AFC receivers last year as a rookie with 21.1 yards per catch. Todd's 87-yard touchdown pass to Walker was the second longest in the conference.

Walker is a big-play performer. He set an NCAA record for average career receptions (25.7) at California, set a Pacific-8 record with 289 yards receiving in one game and set a Cal record with an 88-yard touchdown catch. A five-yard reception is out of the question for Walker.

Born in San Bernadino, California, he ran four years of track at Cal, timed once at 10.4 in the 100-meter dash. Walker was Cal's first four-year, double-sport letterman since before World War II. The Jets were able to draft him in the second round and have been grinning ever since."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"One of the finest rookies in pro football last season, Wesley was rewarded for his outstanding performance with selection on the NFL's All-Rookie Team. An exciting deep threat, his longest reception of the campaign went for 87 yards.

Wesley holds the NCAA mark with a 25.7 career average per reception. His 88-yard touchdown catch against Georgia in 1976 was the longest in California history."

-1978 Topps No. 327

WESLEY WALKER: SECOND HALF OF THE JETS' BOMB SQUAD

Around Shea Stadium, The Todd-Walker Connection Has Stirred Up Memories Of Namath-Maynard

"If it weren't for the green helmets and spiffy new uniforms the New York Jets are wearing, their fans might have thought for a moment they were living in the past.

Richard Todd and Wesley Walker were so impressive in the Jets' early season games they couldn't help but remember the great Namath-to-Maynard passing combination.

Todd and Walker gave notice to NFL foes early with touchdown passes of 47 and 43 yards and saw a third called back due to a holding penalty in the season opener against Miami. In all, Walker caught four passes for 108 yards, an average of 27 yards a catch, and he represents a major headache for Jets' opponents this season.

While he and Todd have shown the potential that could develop into the Namath-Maynard of the 1980s in New York, Walker acknowledges it's a little early to put them in the same class.

Wesley had some trouble holding on to passes in his rookie season a year ago, but that doesn't stop the comparisons.

'I remember when they said that Don Maynard was a pass-dropper,' says Jets head coach Walt Michaels.

Using that to link the two is stretching the point, but the second-year receiver from California has demonstrated the ability to get open deep- no easy task with today's sophisticated defenses.

Last year he was named to the National Football League's and Football Digest's All-Rookie teams after leading the entire league in average yards per catch (21.1).

Many a hot-shot young receiver will brag about his speed or natural talent as the reason for his success. Walker gives much of the credit to Jets receiving coach Dan Henning.

'I think the big reason I'm getting open as well as I have is that I'm very well coached,' the modest 23-year-old says.

'When I first came to the Jets I didn't necessarily agree with some of the things they were teaching. I was used to just running straight up and down patterns.

'We have things we do here to make the defensive backs react a certain way ... I come off the ball at different angles or approach a defensive back to turn him in a different direction.'

The moves combine with 4.4 to 4.5 speed (in the 40-yard dash) to make Walker a constant deep threat.

Walker feels his problems with catching the ball last year were just a matter of concentration. Three times he dropped passes in the end zone when open.

'I'd catch the ball over the middle where you have to be concentrating,' he says. 'But I'd get out there (open) waiting on the ball and I could see the ball coming down and I could see the defensive back coming and I'd be ready to take off before I had it. It would go right through.

'I didn't know what the problem was because I never had the problem in college,' he adds.

'You can be running down the field and you can think you have it, it's an easy catch, that's when it goes through your hands. So you've got to watch it all the time.'

Walker feels improved concentration and being more familiar with the pro game this year will help erase the problem. He worked on it this off-season with another University of California product.

'During the off-season I got the opportunity to throw with Fred Besana (cut this year by Buffalo). He helped me a lot by being out there to throw. You need a quarterback in the off-season to throw with to get your timing and work on different things,' he says.

The NFL's new one-chuck rule was expected to help receivers like Walker, and many feel he benefited from it as much as anyone.

'I don't think it has made that much difference because it depends on the type of defense,' he explains. 'Most of the time people are running a zone so they are not using it (the bump). They are just dropping back.'

He said he also feels that officials aren't really calling it, although anyone who has witnessed all the illegal chuck calls in the Buffalo games might disagree.

Whether it's called or not, Walker is going to catch his share of bombs this year. He did it last year.

Michaels doesn't hedge on his praise for the young receiver. 'For a second-year player at his position, he's as good as anyone ever,' the coach says.

The California native's success is remarkable when you consider he is legally blind in his left eye because of a cataract he has had since birth. He said doctors were going to operate when he was 14, but didn't and the feeling is now it wouldn't have helped anyway.

'Everyone is like a blur when I close my right eye,' he says, adding that he could manage to walk around like that, but certainly wouldn't be able to drive a car or play football.

With both eyes open, it obviously isn't a major handicap on the field. 'I still have good peripheral vision,' he notes.

With that plus his speed, moves and determination to hold the ball, Jet opponents better have plenty of eyes on him this year."

-Mike Dodd, The Buffalo Evening News (Football Digest, December 1978)

R.I.P. Don Maynard

 The Greatest Wide Receiver of All Time

1978 Profile: Richard Todd

Quarterback

No. 14

Alabama

"'Just plain Richard.' Which is Todd's way of saying he isn't Joe Namath. Broadway Richard? No way. Todd doesn't even live in New York year-round, like Joe Willie. One thing they have in common, though, is the arm. The right arm. Namath had the power touch, and Todd has that same touch, although only time will prove whether it's comparable to Namath's.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he was another in the long line of Alabama quarterbacks who've paraded past the Bear.

Todd doesn't have a defense- the Jets were 26th in the NFL- that will get him the ball in good field position. But he does have great receivers, and so always is a threat."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Richard has great potential. He has a strong arm and adds another dimension to the Jets' offense with his ability to scramble. He can run out of trouble on the third and long situations and is doing a good job of learning the coverages. Richard has good poise and a great desire to succeed in pro football with added experience.

His biggest thrill was playing under Bear Bryant at Alabama."

-1978 Topps No. 267

RICHARD TODD: TRYING TO SHAKE HIS JOE NAMATH IMAGE

Both On And Off The Field, The Two Ex-Alabama QBs Have More Differences Than Similarities

"In many ways, Richard Todd is a lot like Joe Namath. In even more ways, Todd is not like Namath. The Jets are thankful for both.

Namath may never be replaced in the minds of many Jets fans, but Todd has made the transition in quarterbacks easier for the fans and the team's management.

On the field, Todd has provided enough glimpses of potential greatness to satisfy Jet fans who hunger for a winning season to build their dreams around.

Off the field, Todd is already in the gossip columns. Whenever he appears in public with a model or actress, the Namath image is revived. For many Jet fans it's an image they won't let die.

'I guess I will always be compared with Joe,' Todd says with a tone of resignation. 'I don't mind being compared with someone I respect so much like Joe. He is probably the purest passer ever to play the game.

'Joe caused the merger of the leagues and without that, a lot of us wouldn't be playing pro football today.

'Joe was my idol growing up, and I still respect him. But I don't have Joe's arm, and he didn't have my legs. I want to earn an identity for myself, and I think I've begun to do that.'

Unfortunately for Todd, after leading the Jets to a 2-1 start, he suffered a separated shoulder and was due to miss much of the season.

Todd was New York's first-round draft choice in 1976, and the newest quarterback from Alabama was told he was being groomed to replace the older quarterback from Alabama. Todd, at first, accepted his role.

But that was the year of chaos under Lou Holtz, who was proving that good college coaches don't necessarily make good pro coaches. Todd found himself running college-type veer offenses and wondering if he would be taught how to play quarterback in the National Football League.

'The year under Holtz was difficult,' says Todd. 'I don't think I ever lost my confidence, but I did get depressed a little. Everything was so disorganized. It knocked down my ideas of how a professional football team was supposed to operate.'

What made Todd's rookie season even more painful was watching the erosion of Namath on the field. Todd wanted to be the Jets' starting quarterback, but he wanted to earn it on his own merits, not on a collapse of Broadway Joe's abilities. He was granted his wish less than a year later.

Walt Michaels was named the coach- a move many observers though should have happed a lot earlier- and he promptly said Todd would be his quarterback.

Namath then moved on to Los Angeles, where after a year on the Rams' bench he decided it was time to go into movies and television on a full-time basis. Todd's reign as Jets quarterback had begun.

'What Walt did really helped me a lot,' says Todd. 'He said I was the quarterback, and he stuck with me. I started with bad games against Houston and Baltimore, but he stuck with me and the next week we buried New England. I got to play and I got to learn.

The learning process had its ups and downs, but when Todd threw for 396 yards in a near upset over Oakland in the first game in which he had all his receivers healthy, Jets fans had visions of another Namath.

By mid-season, Todd had moved up to fourth place statistically among American Football Conference quarterbacks. Then misfortune struck.

He sprained his right knee against Miami and sat out the next two games. Then he tried to come back. 'I think the injury was on his mind when he came back,' says Michaels. 'He tried to fight through it, but he was rusty.'

Statistics bore out Michaels. Todd completed only 33 of 84 passes after the injury. After completing 100 of 181 passes for 1,449 yards and eight touchdowns in the first half of the season, he had to settle for 414 yards and three touchdowns (plus nine interceptions) in the second half.

Now that the knee has healed again, Todd puts it behind him. 'I don't think about the knee injury anymore except when I'm asked about it,' he says. 'All I'm thinking about it is playing this season.'

Todd showed enough in the preseason to further convince Michaels and his teammates that when he's healthy, he's capable of leading them back to respectability, which began with a 33-20 rout of Miami, including three Todd touchdown strikes.

'Richard is much more relaxed,' says Michaels. 'All you have to do is hear him call plays in the huddle to know the difference. He's the boss out there now.'

Todd has become a rallying force for the young Jets. The offense talks about him, the defense talks about him, and both agree that Todd is going make them a better team than the last three Jet squads, all of which had 3-11 records.

The experience of starting has helped Richard,' says Wesley Walker, Todd's long-ball target. 'He's picking up defenses better, and he's more loose and relaxed. The offensive line is giving him more time to throw. We'll all get better when he gets better.'

Todd's three-touchdown performance against the Giants in this season's annual exhibition game impressed guard Randy Rasmussen, the Jets' elder statesman.

'He had a couple of beautiful checkoffs on the line,' says Rasmussen. 'One was for a touchdown and another for a first down. He calmly checked off and burned them. That's a big plus for a quarterback.

Jim Kensil, the Jets' president, is satisfied with Todd's progress, but he doesn't want the rest of the team to become too dependent on the quarterback, a trait that Jet teams showed when Namath starred.

'The key to Richard was that when he was healthy last season he did the job,' says Kensil. 'In some cases, a team plays well and it makes the quarterback play well. But with all his skills, a quarterback can't do it if the others on the team don't play well.'

'I feel that the team makes the quarterback, the quarterback doesn't make the team,' says Todd. 'Everybody, not just me, has to do his job to make us a winner. This is a team game.'

Todd's NFL education never ceases. He spends considerable time with offensive coordinator John Idzik. (They even play cards together on airplane flights).

'Everybody always asks me if I call my own plays,' says Todd. 'Sure I do. But when I get to the sidelines I go over different things with Idzik and other coaches. If a quarterback can't listen to advice, then he better get out of the game.'

Todd's development as quarterback is progressing the way he wants, but he is realistic enough to know that there's a long way to go.

'I have the same system and the same offensive coordinator for the second straight season, and that's a big help,' he says. 'I have much more confidence because I know what I'm doing now.

'You have to remember that I came from Alabama, where we had a running game, to a pro team that depended on a passing game. It was tough. A lot of people said I couldn't make it, but I wanted to prove I could. I've never been a quitter.

'I've learned to read defenses and keys a lot better. I never read keys at Alabama. Last year I had guys telling me my arm was stronger because my passes weren't wobbling like my first year. Heck, my arm wasn't any different. I just wasn't throwing off balance like I had been.'

Todd attracted some Namath-like attention last year after his knee injury. Dr. James Nicholas, the team physician, infuriated Michaels by putting Todd in a hospital overnight without telling the coach. Later, Todd was seen dancing in a Manhattan discotheque when Michaels thought he should have been resting.

'The whole incident was blown out of proportion by the papers,' says Todd. 'How serious could it have been? The team doctor was fined $10.'

But Michaels asserted his authority, something nobody ever did when Namath was with the Jets. He told Todd he wanted him away from the Manhattan scene and this year the quarterback lives on Long Island.

'But I think I'll get to the city a couple of times, you can bet on that,' Todd says."

-John Rowe, The Bergen County Record (Football Digest, December 1978)

R.I.P. Greg Robinson

1978 Profile: Walt Michaels

Head Coach

"The coal miner's son. Hard as ore on the outside, soft as a pillow down on the inside.

Michaels was passed over once for the Jets' head coaching job after 10 years as an assistant. He took his damaged pride to Philadelphia, where he was an assistant for three years. He returned to New York in 1976 under Lou Holtz, then received his first head coaching job when Holtz took his pipe rack and college ways to the University of Arkansas.

The last football star to come out of Washington & Lee, where he majored in psychology, Michaels was drafted seventh by the Browns in '51 and became a standout linebacker until his retirement after the '61 season. His brother Lou was an NFL kicker for years and was there when Joe Namath guaranteed that the Jets would beat Lou's Colts in the  Super Bowl.

Walt, 47, is building for the future- if Jets' management is patient."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Our improvement should come from plain experience. The hustle and energy were there last year, but this year we need to channel those things in the right direction. We are starting to develop players at key positions. Eventually, we'll get to the point where we can suddenly rise off the floor."

-Walt Michaels, from News, Quotes & Comments (Football Digest, October 1978)

1978 New York Jets Outlook

TEAM DIRECTORY

Chairman of the Board: Leon Hess

President: Jim Kensil

Pro Personnel Coordinator: Jim Royer

Business Manager/Traveling Secretary: John Free

Director Player Personnel: Mike Hickey

Director of Public Relations: Frank Ramos

Head Coach: Walt Michaels

Home Field: Shea Stadium (60,000)

-The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"The rebuilding process is even more painful in New York than in Buffalo. The Jets passed up Terry Miller in the draft to select their second blue-chip offensive lineman in two years.

Last year it was Marvin Powell, the Southern California tackle. This year it was Chris Ward, the huge Ohio State tackle.

Some day that's going to pay for coach Walt Michaels, but this year isn't it. The Jets are going to suffer for a while. They don't have the runners to take advantage of the blocking offered by Powell and Ward.

The Jets will throw again, with young Richard Todd, improving as a pro quarterback, dealing to wide receivers Wes Walker and Rich Caster and tight end Jerome Barkum.

Michaels has made a significant switch to the Oklahoma defense, playing young Joe Klecko at nose guard. He drafted a top linebacker, Minnesota's Mark Merrill, to go with the young group heaed by young star Greg Buttle.

Defensively, the greatest needs are corners to go with the skilled safeties, Burgess Owens and Shafer Suggs.

Predicition - Fifth"

-Larry Felser, Football Digest (September 1978)

CAPSULE ANALYSIS

Strength: Receiving, Offensive tackles

Greatest Need: Pass rush, outstanding runner.

Outlook: Also ran.

-Football Digest (September 1978)

OFFENSE

"The National Football League grew in popularity by putting the ball in the air. None of this three yards up the middle between Woody's wide-bottomed tackles. The NFL's plan worked. Fan support swung to pro football, which immediately started running through its own wide-bottomed tackles. Well, most of the NFL anyway.

The New York Jets still pass the football as the NFL advertised years ago. But not for publicity reasons. The Jets throw in order to survive. They have to with a group of running backs who, statistically, are the third worst in the league. And until coach Walt Michaels can find some backs who are decent, his quarterback, Richard Todd, will be throwing forever. Clark Gaines rushed for 595 yards (3.8), and may do better this year now that Marvin Powell is back at tackle.

Not that the Jets are lacking in this department. Far from it. Todd has a dynamite arm, strong and accurate. And his receivers are something else. Few teams in football have three men like Richard Caster, Jerome Barkum and Wesley Walker. The latter, a rookie a year ago, is legally blind in one eye. But he still led the NFL in average yards per catch (21.1)."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

DEFENSE

"OK, let's cut out the joking. You did say defense, right? Well, what makes you think the New York Jets know how to play defense? Yeh, they did at one time, but Verlon Biggs, Gerry Philbin, Larry Grantham and Johnny Sample no longer wear Jet uniforms. It has nothing to do with the uniforms being the ugliest in football, which they are. The Jets grew old sometime after stunning Baltimore in Super Bowl III. That's all.

What's left are some guys who are younger, but play like senior citizens. I mean, when your pass defense is the worst in pro football and your pass rush the fifth worst, what can you expect? Joe Namath guaranteed a Super Bowl. Richard Todd wouldn't dare guarantee three wins- including the pre-season.

Carl Barzilauskas, big man, long name, but what has he done? Shafer Suggs? Ed Taylor? Phil Wise? Burgess Owens? A secondary or an invitation to score touchdowns through the air? Youth apparently will be served in New York as the Jets begin playing the likes of Tank Marshall and John Hennessey on defense, and hope that they can grow up before Todd grows too old."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

KICKING GAME

"Pat Leahy survived the howling winds of Shea Stadium- Candlestick Park East- to connect on 15 of 25 field goals. Punter Chuck Ramsey was more affected, averaging 37.1 with only eight punts inside the opponents' 20. Bruce Harper is a good return man on kickoffs and punts."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

THE ROOKIES

"For the second straight year, the Jets made an offensive lineman, Chris Ward of Ohio State, their first choice. Mark Merrill of Minnesota and running back Dodie Donnell of Nebraska also have a chance of helping the club right away."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

OUTLOOK

"Might be able to get some tickets to 'Annie' by fall. If you can crowd into P.J. Clarke's, you just might see a celebrity or two. Jogging in Central Park is safest on the weekends. Football? Pro football? The Giants are in Joisey. The Jets? Don't make fun of the handicapped children."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Despite assurances that the club's potential is developing slowly but surely, the fact remains the Jets still have a long way to go. It requires only a quick glance at American Conference team statistics for the past two years to reach certain conclusions about the Jets and how they stack up, comparatively speaking, with the other 13 AFC clubs.

The close of 1976 found the Jets ranking 13th in AFC team total offense and 12th in total defense. A year later, at season's end, they had dropped one notch to rank 14th in total offense and, again, 12th in total defense. The 1977 rankings also show them last in AFC team rushing offense (115.6 average yards per game) and passing defense (allowing 171.6 yards a contest).

If these unimpressive figures seem repetitive, consider still another treadmill-like statistic: By some strange quirk of the law of averages, the Jets have finished with 3-11 won-lost records for the past three seasons in a row! Obviously, there is a struggle in progress to get off the launching pad.

On the other hand, head coach Walt Michaels definitely believes his club is on the way, no matter what these figures seem to indicate, and that the Jets are much more competitive than they were a few years ago. 'Realistically,' he concedes, 'you don't cover up a 3-11 record, but in their hearts, the players feel they're better than that and I agree. I believe we came a lot farther than our record indicates. Biggest thing was the hitting- we had a lot of solid, hard hitting. And we didn't have any quitters out there.'

As erstwhile New Orleans coach Hank Stram had said, 'close only counts in horseshoes.' Still, the Jets did lose some heart-breaking close ones last season such as- to the Raiders 28-27; to Pittsburgh 23-20, and to Miami twice, 21-17 and 14-10. Too, it must be remembered that a youth movement is in full swing with Walt Michaels' squad. During the season just past, the Jets were the youngest team in the AFC. Their average player is 24 1/2 years of age with about three years of NFL experience. Only Tampa Bay's players were younger and more inexperienced in the entire NFL.

As they go into the new season, the basic building block for a true return to winning ways is the quarterback and much depends upon how well Richard Todd measures up to the task. As Todd goes, the Jets will go- there's little doubt about that, unless backup Matt Robinson or rookies Steve Mathieson and Pat Ryan suddenly become the answer to a coach's dreams. If Todd is sufficiently recovered from a knee injury that slowed him considerably last season after a fast start, then he'll have a chance to silence his critics. He has the targets- Caster, Walker, Barkum, Gaines, et al- and only needs an offensive line that will keep him on his feet. Also, a little more selectivity in directing passes into proper hands, thereby cutting down on those numerous interceptions (17) that kept Michaels on an edge last season. A great deal of hope for improvement in the offensive line hinges on the play of Chris Ward, Ohio State's All-America tackle and the Jets' first choice in the '78 college draft. He was the only offensive lineman picked by the Jets so he will have to be sufficient for any rebuilding task that may lie ahead.

Perhaps the Jets displayed their best progress in special teams play. Rookie Bruce Harper finished third in the NFL in all-purpose yardage, right behind Walter Payton and Terry Metcalf. Placekicker Pat Leahy slumped in mid-season, then connected on seven of his last eight field goals. His strong kickoffs enabled the Jets to finish sixth in AFC kickoff coverage, a little noticed but important aspect of the defense.

Even if the future stretched out ahead is full of great expectations for a vastly improved club, there's the matter of the 1978 schedule. It's rated the toughest any one club will have to contend with during the upcoming campaign. It provides the Jets with such opposition as Miami (twice), Washington, Pittsburgh, Baltimore (twice), New England (twice), Denver and finally, the Dallas Cowboys who come to New York's Shea Stadium for the season's finale on December 17.

Merry Christmas! New York Jets ... "

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978

OFFENSE

"Quarterbacks: Richard Todd had an up-and-down season, and this may be the year of decision for him. He was definitely moving up in know-how and form until knee troubles began, after which he never really picked up again. Interceptions, 17 of them, helped keep his game bogged down, even though he achieved the obligatory 50.2 completion average.

Matt Robinson played, too, and showed a good arm, but only a 37% completion on 54 throws, eight of which landed in the wrong arms. Steve Mathieson will be joined by another rookie quarterback, Pat Ryan of Tennessee, drafted in round 11.

Running Backs: Clark Gaines does a good job of carrying the Jet rushing offense but he can't do it all. Scott Dierking played in all 14 games last season and clocked a 4.0-yard average on 79 carries (was he trying to give the coaches a hint?).

Kick-returner Bruce Harper showed ability, too, the former Kutztown State flash averaging 4.5  yards on 44 carries while catching 21 passes. Louie Giamonna was on the injury list all season.

The Jets have plenty of young running backs ready to show their talents, if any. And two more running backs were chosen in the recent draft- Dodie Donnell (Nebraska) in round 4 and James Early (Michigan State) in round 7.

Receivers: Plenty of speed here, with always the threat of a deep pass. Wesley Walker had 35 for 740 yards in '77 (Gaines had 55 for 469), and he might have had more if he'd remembered to catch the ball, then run with it. When he's not running pass patterns, Walker blocks with the best. Mickey Shuler, picked in the 3rd round, has good blocking and deep reception speed credentials.

Interior Linemen: This unit's performance is spotty at best. Randy Rasmussen is the shining light. Marvin Powell lived up to his pre-draft ratings until knee problems set in. Gary Puetz, Joe Fields and Darrell Austin gave a good account of themselves, but they had to- most of the reserves were injured.

First-round draftee Chris Ward, considered by the Jets as the best college offensive lineman available, is expected to give the offense that needed extra punch. He'll pair with Powell on the other side- assuming Powell's knee is O.K. A lot of shuffling due here.

Kickers: Pat Leahy did a good job, if not perfect. Three PATs were missed but he connected on 13 of 16 field goal attempts from the 20-40 range (two field goals beyond the 40) to show consistency. Chuck Ramsey's stop-gap punting was just that.

Punter Alan Williams was drafted in the 12th round. Will he prove a better bargain than that?"

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978

DEFENSE

"Front Linemen: The front three starters (Joe Klecko, Lawrence Pillers, Abdul Salaam) have been in pro football only one or two years, but they are impressive. Salaam shows he knows how to slam 'em, too. Klecko is the prototype of the big, tough, don't-mess-with-me type of kid who makes ball-carrying a hazard. 

The depth here is adequate, even though it's inexperienced.

Linebackers: Little to complain about here. Greg Buttle, in his second year, made life miserable for both runners and pass receivers, living up to his Penn State linebacking heritage. Larry Keller and John Ebersole are always in there, too, rolling with the play. Bob Martin started five games, then was out with injury. His return should bolster an already fine unit.

Randy Sidler is another Penn State linebacking graduate, drafted in the 5th round. Mark Merrill, out of Minnesota, was chosen in the 2nd round.

Cornerbacks: This unit needs shoring up. The opposition completed 57% of its passes in 1977. Ed Taylor is perhaps the best qualifier here. 

Michaels picked up five defensive backs in the recent draft. Anthony Terry was picked up on waivers from San Francisco.

Safeties: Like the cornerbacks, the safeties need looking into. Burgess Owens is probably the best of these, Ken Schroy can play corner if need be, Shafer Suggs is injury prone, Willie Jenkins is yet to be heard from and Artimus Parker is a fair reserve."

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978

"The extremely young and inexperienced Jets have posted three consecutive 3-11 records but continue to impress rival coaches with their spirited play under head coach Walt Michaels, a tough and demanding whip-cracker who's entering into his second year at the helm. Another back-breaking schedule is expected to block any jump in the AFC East standings, but the high level of competition should accelerate the development of this aggressive ballclub.

OFFENSE: Richard Todd, one of the better young quarterbacks in the NFL, is a dual threat due to his fine running ability. In his first season of regular play, Todd completed 50.2% of his passes for 11 touchdowns and 1,863 yards. Soph Matt Robinson has shown potential in spot relief. The Jets don't have to take a back seat to any team when it comes to quality receivers. Soph Wes Walker ranks with the fastest men in the NFL and led all receivers with his 21.1 yards per catch (35 catches) average while fellow flanker Rich Caster is a standout blocker and proven touchdown threat. Shelton Diggs and rookie Derrick Gafney of Florida will be key outside reserves. Surehanded Jerome Barkum led the team with six touchdowns on 26 receptions from his tight end position where strong Mickey Shuler of Penn State figures to see plenty of action.

Dependable Clark Gaines pounded out 595 yards rushing and ranked No. 3 in the AFC with 55 receptions to lead the attack. If key draft picks Dodie Donnell of Nebraska or James Earley of Michigan State can cut it at fullback, Gaines will shift to halfback. If not, the nod will likely go to soph Scott Dierking, with Charlie White, Kevin Long, and Louie Giammona his alternates.

Powerful All-American Chris Ward (6-4, 280) of Ohio State joins standout soph Marvin Powell (6-5, 270) to give the Jets a formidable pair of young tackles. Veteran Randy Rasmussen figures to pair with Garry Puetz at the guards while Joe Fields again handles the center slot. Soph Dan Alexander, Darrell Austin, and Gary Gregory are capable reserves.

Explosive broken-field runner Bruce Harper is a premier kick return specialist who led the NFL with 1,035 yards on 42 kickoff runbacks as well as setting a club record with 425 yards returning punts. Pat Leahy will again do the placekicking despite a somewhat erratic 15 for 25 field goal conversion showing last year. Rookies Mike Mock of Texas Tech and Alan Williams of Florida will try to beat incumbent punter Chuck Ramsey (37.1).

DEFENSE: Michaels is likely to switch to a 3-4 defense, placing aggressive Joe Klecko at middle guard and flanking him with Lawrence Pillers and Abdul Salaam, two quick-moving rushers.

John Hennessey, Tank Marshall, Grey Murphy and super-quick Gregg Robinson (6-6, 260) of Dartmouth try to push into the picture.

The 3-4 move depends on the development of interior linebackers Mark Merrill (6-3, 235) of Minnesota and Randy Sidler (6-3, 230) of Penn State who will compete with holdovers John Ebersole and Mike Hennigan. Clever Bob Martin plays the weakside slot, backed by Larry Kellar, while the leader of the young defense and top tackler Greg Buttle plays vicious football on the strong side.

Michaels drafted a host of potential cornerbacks in an effort to shore up the most glaring weakness in his defensive platoon. Bobby Jackson, the 4.5 speedster from Florida State, and Levi Armstrong, a 4.6 mover from UCLA, head the group.  They'll be competing with Ed Taylor, Maurice Tyler, and Bill Hardee. Last year's team  MVP Burgess Owens and punishing hitter Shafer Suggs provide solid safety play and are backed by Ken Schroy and Artimus Parker.

PFI OUTLOOK: The Jets will try to play the role of giant-killers this season as they take on one NFL powerhouse after another. They are the least experienced team in the league and therefore mistake-prone but they deliver an exciting brand of football and should spring some eyebrow-raising upsets during the 1978 campaign."

-Pro Football Illustrated 1978, published by Complete Sports, Inc.

"Richard Todd was impressive as a passer before his knee injury. The backfield has good depth but lacks a breakaway runner. No. 1 pick Chris Ward should start at guard or tackle. The Jets have a fine receiving corps.

Their defense is coming together. They are shakiest at cornerback."

-Jimmy the Greek, Jimmy the Greek's 1978 Football Handbook

1978 Fleer Action: Jets Take-Off

"'I'm coming through,' yells the New York Jets' running back as his line opens, the big hole every back dreams of. From there, instinct guides the good NFL running back in his search for the goal line. The Jets hope to take off in the AFC next season."

-1978 Fleer No. 37

1978 Fleer Action: Jets Ambush!

"The Jets' defense surrounds a Redskin, who has nowhere to go in a field colored by green jerseys. 'Get the man with the ball' is the name of the game in the NFL, and the New York Jets provide a lesson in the basics of desire, determination, and defense."

-1978 Fleer No. 38

1978 NEW YORK JETS ROSTERS

1978 Jets Preseason Roster

Head Coach - Walt Michaels

Assistant Coaches: John Idzik, John Mazur, Bob Ledbetter, Dan Sekanovich, Bob Fry, Dan Henning, Joe Gardi

60 Dan Alexander (G) LSU

67 Darrell Austin (G-C) South Carolina

83 Jerome Barkum (TE) Jackson State

77 Carl Barzilauskas (DT) Indiana

71 Jeff Bleamer (T) Penn State

72 Al Burton (DE-DT) Bethune-Cookman

Gerald Butler (WR) Nicholls State

51 Greg Buttle (LB) Penn State

88 Rich Caster (WR) Jackson State

Don Coleman (LB) Michigan

25 Scott Dierking (RB) Purdue

80 Shelton Diggs (WR) USC

10 Marty Domres (QB) Columbia

55 John Ebersole (LB) Penn State

65 Joe Fields (C-G) Widener

21 Clark Gaines (RB) Wake Forest

45 Louie Giammona (RB-KR) Utah State

37 Billy Hardee (CB) Virginia Tech

42 Bruce Harper (RB-KR) Kutztown State

63 John Hennessey (DE) Michigan

52 Mike Hennigan (LB) Tennessee Tech

56 Larry Keller (LB) Houston

73 Joe Klecko (DT) Temple

82 David Knight (WR) William & Mary

  5 Pat Leahy (K) St. Louis

33 Kevin Long (RB) South Carolina

27 Ron Mabra (CB) Howard

68 Tank Marshall (DT) Texas A&M

59 Bob Martin (LB) Nebraska

44 Tom Newton (RB) California

22 Burgess Owens (S) Miami

53 Al Palewicz (LB) Miami

24 Artimus Parker (S) USC

76 Lawrence Pillers (DE) Alcorn State

Darnell Powell (RB) Tennessee-Chattanooga

79 Marvin Powell (T) USC

78 Garry Puetz (T) Valparaiso

86 Bob Raba (TE) Maryland

15 Chuck Ramsey (P) Wake Forest

66 Randy Rasmussen (G) Kearney State

17 Matt Robinson (QB) Georgia

61 John Roman (T-G) Idaho State

74 Abdul Salaam (DT) Kent State

48 Ken Schroy (S-CB) Maryland

23 Shafer Suggs (S) Ball State

38 Ed Taylor (CB) Memphis State

14 Richard Todd (QB) Alabama

39 Maurice Tyler (CB) Morgan State

85 Wesley Walker (WR) California

30 Charlie White (RB) Bethune-Cookman

Top Five Draft Choices

 1 Chris Ward (T) Ohio State

 2 Mark Merrill (LB) Minnesota

 3 Mickey Shuler (TE) Penn State

 4 Dodie Donnell (RB) Nebraska

 5 Randy Sidler (LB) Penn State

-1978 Complete Handbook of Pro Football

1978 New York Jets Preseason Roster, By Position

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks 

Steve Mathieson (Florida State)

Matt Robinson (Georgia)

Richard Todd (Alabama) 

Running Backs 

Scott Dierking (Purdue)

Dodie Donnell (Nebraska)

Clark Gaines (Wake Forest)

Louie Giammona (Utah State)

Bruce Harper (Kutztown State)

Kevin Long (South Carolina)

Robert Morgan (Florida)

Tom Newton (California)

Darnell Powell (Chattanooga) 

Charlie White (Bethune-Cookman)

Receivers 

Jerome Barkum (W) (Jackson State)

Gerald Butler (W) (Nicholls State)

Rich Caster (W) (Jackson State)

Shelton Diggs (W) (USC)

Brian Nemeth (T) (South Carolina)

Bob Raba (T) (Maryland)

Mickey Shuler (T) (Penn State)

Wesley Walker (W) (California)

(W)-Wide Receiver  (T)-Tight End

Interior Linemen 

Dan Alexander (G) (LSU)

Darrell Austin (G-C) (South Carolina)

Jeff Bleamer (T) (Penn State)

Joe Fields (C-G) (Widener)

Gary Gregory (C-G) (Baylor)

Ken Helms (C-T) (Georgia)

Mike Hughes (T) (Baylor)

Ron Kecman (C) (Maryland)

Marvin Powell (T) (USC)

Garry Puetz (T) (Valparaiso)

Randy Rasmussen (G) (Kearney State)

John Roman (G-T) (Idaho State)

John Rosette (T) (Oregon)

Chris Ward (T) (Ohio State)

(T)-Tackle  (G)-Guard  (C)- Center

Kickers

Pat Leahy (PK) (St. Louis)

Chuck Ramsey (P) (Wake Forest)

(PK)-Place Kicker  (P)-Punter

DEFENSE

Front Linemen

Al Burton (E) (Bethune-Cookman)

John Hennessey (E) (Michigan)

Roosevelt Kelly (E) (Eastern Kentucky)

Joe Klecko (T) (Temple)

Tank Marshall (T) (Texas A&M)

Greg Murphy (E-T) (Penn State)

Lawrence Pillers (E) (Alcorn State)

Abdul Salaam (T)  (Kent State)

(E)-End  (T)-Tackle

Linebackers 

Greg Buttle (O) (Penn State)

Don Coleman (O) (Michigan)

John Ebersole (M) (Penn State)

Mike Hennigan (M) (Tennessee Tech)

Larry Keller (O) (Houston)

Bob Martin (O) (Nebraska)

Mark Merrill (M) (Minnesota)

Al Palewicz (O) (Miami, Fla.)

Randy Sidler (O) (Penn State)

(O)-Outside Linebacker  (M)-Middle Linebacker)

Cornerbacks 

Billy Hardee (Virginia Tech)

Mike Harris (Grambling)

Ron Mabra (Howard)

Ed Taylor (Memphis State)

Anthony Terry (California-Davis)

Maurice Tyler (Morgan State)

Safeties 

Willie Jenkins (Miami, Fla.)

Burgess Owens (Miami, Fla.)

Artimus Parker (USC)

Ken Schroy (Maryland)

Shafer Suggs (Ball State)

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978, published by Pocket Books, to complete

1978 New York Jets Basic Roster

OFFENSE

WR   Rich Caster

WR   David Knight

WR   Wesley Walker

TE    Jerome Barkum

TE    Bob Raba

T       Jeff Bleamer

T       Marvin Powell

T       Garry Puetz

G       Dan Alexander

G       Randy Rasmussen

C       Joe Fields

QB    Matt Robinson

QB    Richard Todd

RB    Scott Dierking

RB    Clark Gaines

RB    Kevin Long

K       Pat Leahy

DEFENSE

E       John Hennessey

E       Lawrence Pillers

T       Carl Barzilauskas

T       Joe Klecko

T       Abdul Salaam

LB    Greg Buttle

LB    John Ebersole

LB    Mike Hennigan

LB    Larry Keller

CB    Billy Hardee

CB    Ed Taylor

S       Burgess Owens

S       Ken Schroy

S       Shafer Suggs

P       Chuck Ramsey

-Jimmy the Greek's 1978 Football Handbook

1978 Jets Veteran Roster

Head Coach - Walt Michaels

60 Dan Alexander (G) LSU

67 Darrell Austin (G-C) South Carolina

83 Jerome Barkum (TE) Jackson State

77 Carl Barzilauskas (DT) Indiana

71 Jeff Bleamer (T) Penn State

72 Al Burton (DE-DT) Bethune-Cookman

Gerald Butler (WR) Nicholls State

51 Greg Buttle (LB) Penn State

88 Rich Caster (WR) Jackson State

Don Coleman (LB) Michigan

25 Scott Dierking (RB) Purdue

80 Shelton Diggs (WR) USC

10 Marty Domres (qB) Columbia

55 John Ebersole (LB) Penn State

65 Joe Fields (C-G) Widener

21 Clark Gaines (RB) Wake Forest

45 Louie Giammona (RB-KR) Utah State

37 Billy Hardee (CB) Virginia Tech

42 Bruce Harper (RB-KR) Kutztown State

63 John Hennessey (DE) Michigan

52 Mike Hennigan (LB) Tennessee Tech

56 Larry Keller (LB) Houston

73 Joe Klecko (DT) Temple

82 David Knight (WR) William & Mary

5 Pat Leahy (K) St. Louis

33 Kevin Long (RB) South Carolina

27 Ron Mabra (CB) Howard

68 Tank Marshall (DT) Texas A&M

59 Bob Martin (LB) Nebraska

44 Tom Newton (RB) California

22 Burgess Owens (S) Miami

53 Al Palewicz (LB) Miami

24 Artimus Parker (S) USC

76 Lawrence Pillers (DE) Alcorn State

Darnell Powell (RB) Tennessee-Chattanooga

79 Marvin Powell (T) USC

78 Garry Puetz (T) Valparaiso

86 Bob Raba (TE) Maryland

15 Chuck Ramsey (P) Wake Forest

66 Randy Rasmussen (G) Kearney State

17 Matt Robinson (QB) Georgia

61 John Roman (T-G) Idaho State

74 Abdul Salaam (DT) Kent State

48 Ken Schroy (S-CB) Maryland

23 Shafer Suggs (S) Ball State

38 Ed Taylor (CB) Memphis State

14 Richard Todd (QB) Alabama

39 Maurice Tyler (CB) Morgan State

85 Wesley Walker (WR) California

30 Charlie White (RB) Bethune-Cookman

-Football Digest (September 1978)

1978 Jets Draft Choices

1 Chris Ward (T) Ohio State

2 Mark Merrill (LB) Minnesota

3 Mickey Shuler (TE) Penn State

4 Dodie Donnell (RB) Nebraska

5 Randy Sidler (LB) Penn State

6  Bobby Jackson (DB) Florida State (from Buffalo)

6 Gregg Robinson (DT) Dartmouth

7 Levi Armstrong (DB) UCLA (from New Orleans)

7 James Earley (RB) Michigan State

8 Derrick Gaffney (WR) Florida

8 Mike Mock (P-LB) Texas Tech (from Philadelphia)

8 Roy Eppes (DB) Clemson (from Minnesota)

9 Reggie Grant (DB) Oregon (from Buffalo)

9 Neil Hutton (DB) Penn State

10 Louis Richardson (DE) Penn State

11 Pat Ryan (QB) Tennessee

12 Alan Williams (P) Florida

-Football Digest (September 1978)

1978 New York Jets Revised Team Roster 

4   Pat Ryan (QB) Tennessee

5   Pat Leahy (K) St. Louis

14 Richard Todd (QB) Alabama

15 Chuck Ramsey (P) Wake Forest

17 Matt Robinson (QB) Georgia

20 Darnell Powell (RB) Georgia

21 Clark Gaines (RB) Wake Forest

22 Burgess Owens (FS) Miami

23 Shafer Suggs (SS) Ball State

25 Scott Dierking (RB) Purdue

33 Kevin Long (RB) South Carolina

34 Larry Riley (CB-S) Salem (WV)

37 Tim Moresco (S) Syracuse

38 Ed Taylor (CB) Memphis State

40  Bobby Jackson (DB) Florida State

42 Bruce Harper (RB-KR) Kutztown State

44 Tom Newton (FB) California

48 Ken Schroy (S) Maryland

49 Reggie Grant (CB) Oregon

50 Mike Mock (LB-P) Texas Tech

51 Greg Buttle (LB) Penn State

52 Mike Hennigan (LB) Tennessee Tech

56 Larry Keller (LB) Houston

58 Mark Merrill (LB) Minnesota

59 Bob Martin (LB) Nebraska

60 Dan Alexander (G) LSU

61 John Roman (T) Idaho State

63 John Hennessey (LB-DE) Michigan

64 Gregg Robinson (DE-DT) Dartmouth

65 Joe Fields (C-G) Widener

66 Randy Rasmussen (G) Kearney State

67 Darrell Austin (G-C) South Carolina

70 Stan Waldemore (G-T) Nebraska

72 Chris Ward (T) Ohio State

73 Joe Klecko (DE) Temple

74 Abdul Salaam (DT) Kent State

76 Lawrence Pillers (DE) Alcorn State

77 Joe Pellegrini (DT) Idaho

79 Marvin Powell (T) USC

81 Derrick Gaffney (WR) Florida

82 Mickey Shuler (TE) Penn State

83 Jerome Barkum (TE) Jackson State

85 Wesley Walker (WR) California

87 Bruce Stephens (WR-K) Columbia

89 Bobby Jones (WR) Youngstown State

-Football Digest (January 1979)

1978 NEW YORK JETS DEPTH CHARTS

1978 New York Jets Preseason Depth Chart

OFFENSE

QB Richard Todd, Matt Robinson, Steve Mathieson

RB Clark Gaines, Tom Newton, Louie Giamonna, Robert Morgan, Charlie White

RB Scott Dierking, Kevin Long, Darnell Powell, Bruce Harper, Dodie Donnell*

WR Wesley Walker, Bruce Harper   

LT Chris Ward*, Gary Puetz, John Roman, John Rosette, Jeff Bleamer

LG Randy Rasmussen, John Roman, Gary Gregory 

C Joe Fields, Darrell Austin, Ken Helms, Ron Kecman

RG Darrell Austin, Dan Alexander, Gary Gregory

RT Marvin Powell, Gary Puetz, Mike Hughes, Jeff Bleamer

TE Jerome Barkum, Bob Raba, Brian Nemeth, Mickey Shuler*

WR Rich Caster, Gerald Butler, Shelton Diggs

DEFENSE

LDE Lawrence Pillers, Al Burton, John Hennessey, Greg Murphy

LDT Joe Klecko, Tank Marshall 

RDT Abdul Salaam, Joe Klecko, Tank Marshall    

RDE John Hennessey, Roosevelt Kelly, Al Burton, Greg Murphy 

LLB Greg Buttle, Mike Hennigan, Al Palewicz, Randy Sidler*

MLB John Ebersole, Mike Hennigan, Mark Merrill*

RLB Larry Keller, Bob Martin, Mike Hennigan, Al Palewicz, Don Coleman 

LCB Billy Hardee, Maurice Tyler, Mike Harris, Ron Mabra

SS Shafer Suggs, Artimus Parker, Ken Schroy 

FS Burgess Owens, Artimus Parker, Ken Schroy   

RCB Ed Taylor, Billy Hardee, Anthony Terry, Maurice Tyler

*rookie

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978, published by Pocket Books

OFFENSE

QB Richard Todd (Alabama) 14, Matt Robinson (Georgia) 17, Pat Ryan (Tennessee) 4

RB Scott Dierking (Purdue) 25, Bruce Harper (Kutztown State) 42, Darnell Powell (Georgia) 20

FB Kevin Long (South Carolina) 33, Clark Gaines (Wake Forest) 21, Tom Newton (California) 44

WR Derrick Gaffney (Florida)*, Bobby Jones (Youngstown State)*

T Chris Ward (Ohio State)*, Stan Waldemore (Nebraska)*

G Randy Rasmussen (Kearney State) 66, Darrell Austin (South Carolina) 67

C Joe Fields (Widener) 65

G Dan Alexander (LSU) 60

T Marvin Powell (USC) 79, John Roman (Idaho State) 61

TE Jerome Barkum (Jackson State) 83, Mickey Shuler (Penn State)*

WR Wesley Walker (California) 85, Bruce Stephens (Columbia)*

DEFENSE

DE Lawrence Pillers (Alcorn State) 76, Gregg Robinson (Dartmouth)*

NT Abdul Salaam (Kent State) 74, Joe Pelligrini (Idaho)*

DE Joe Klecko (Temple) 73

OLB Greg Buttle (Penn State) 51, Larry Keller (Houston) 56

ILB John Hennessey (Michigan) 63

ILB Mike Hennigan (Tennessee Tech) 52, Mike Mock (Texas Tech)*

OLB Bob Martin (Nebraska) 59, Mark Merrill (Minnesota)*

CB Bobby Jackson (Florida State) 40, Larry Riley (Salem (WV) ) 34

SS Shafer Suggs (Ball State) 23, Ken Schroy (Maryland) 48

FS Burgess Owens (Miami) 22, Tim Moresco (Syracuse) 37

CB Ed Taylor (Memphis State) 38, Reggie Grant (Oregon)*

K Pat Leahy (St. Louis) 5, Bruce Stephens (Columbia)*

P Chuck Ramsey (Wake Forest) 15, Mike Mock (Texas Tech)*

KR Bruce Harper (Kutztown State) 42, Bruce Stephens (Columbia)*

PR Bruce Harper (Kutztown State) 42, Bruce Stephens (Columbia)*

*rookie

1978 NEW YORK JETS TOPPS CARDS

Darrell Austin

Jerome Barkum

Greg Buttle

Rich Caster

Scott Dierking

John Ebersole

Joe Fields

Clark Gaines (1977 Jets Rushing Leader,  595 yards)

Bruce Harper

Larry Keller

Joe Klecko (1977 Jets Quarterback Sacks Leader, 8)

Pat Leahy

Burgess Owens (1977 Jets Interceptions Leader, 3)

Artimus Parker

Lawrence Pillers

Marvin Powell

Garry Puetz

Chuck Ramsey

Randy Rasmussen

Abdul Salaam

Ed Taylor

Richard Todd

Wesley Walker (1977 Jets Receiving Leader,  740 yards)

-1978 Topps No. 519

1978 New York Jets Profile Summary

Head Coach - Walt Michaels

QB Richard Todd (Alabama) 14

RB Clark Gaines (Wake Forest) 21

RB Scott Dierking (Purdue) 25

RB Bruce Harper (Kutztown State) 42

RB Darnell Powell (Chattanooga) 20

WR Wesley Walker (California) 85

WR Rich Caster (Jackson State) 88

TE Jerome Barkum (Jackson State) 83

C Joe Fields (Widener) 65

G Randy Rasmussen (Kearney State) 66

G Darrell Austin (South Carolina) 67

T Marvin Powell (USC) 79

T Chris Ward (Ohio State) 72

OL Garry Puetz (Valparaiso) 78

DT Abdul Salaam (Kent State) 74

DT Carl Barzilauskas (Indiana) 77

DE Joe Klecko (Temple) 73

DE Lawrence Pillers (Alcorn State) 76

MLB John Ebersole (Penn State) 55 

LB Greg Buttle (Penn State) 51

LB Larry Keller (Houston) 56

LB Mark Merrill (Minnesota) 58

CB Ed Taylor (Memphis) 38

CB Bobby Jackson (Florida State) 40

SS Shafer Suggs (Ball State) 23

SS Artimus Parker (USC) 24

FS Burgess Owens (Miami) 22

K Pat Leahy (St. Louis) 5

P Chuck Ramsey (Wake Forest) 15

KR Bruce Harper (Kutztown State) 42

KR Bobby Jackson (Florida State) 40

PR Bruce Harper (Kutztown State) 42

PR Bobby Jackson (Florida State) 40