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Friday, April 25, 2003

By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Lance Nimmo, who finished his playing career at West Virginia in December, might have a chance to be a lead blocker again this weekend.

An offensive tackle from New Castle, Nimmo could be the first of four Mountaineers taken in the NFL draft.

Not that he'll know from watching the draft on television.

"I'm not going to watch a minute and listen to Mel Kiper babble," Nimmo said.

Instead, he will attend the Mountaineers' spring game tomorrow, then "maybe go to the mall and keep my mind off [the draft]."

But if Nimmo is drafted by the third round tomorrow, he will tune in Sunday "to see if my teammates get drafted," he said.

Nimmo's agent, Joe Lenta, said his client could be drafted anywhere from the end of the third round to the middle of the fifth.

"If I were a betting man, I'd say the fourth round," Lenta said. "It might be a reach in the third round."

If Nimmo goes in the fourth round, he would probably precede running back Avon Cobourne, linebacker James Davis and defensive lineman David Upchurch.

Cobourne, listed at 5 feet 9, 190 pounds, isn't rated nearly as high as former Mountaineers running back Amos Zereoue, whose school rushing records Cobourne broke and who went on to play for the Steelers.

Cobourne, seventh in the country last season with an average of 131.5 rushing yards a game, is the all-time Big East rushing leader with 5,039 yards. But his size and speed -- a 4.42 seconds in the 40 -- might drop him into the second day of the draft.

"He could be a day-one guy if the NFL rewards production," said Everett Scott, Cobourne's agent. "He sure was extremely productive at the collegiate level."

In addition to his rushing totals, which included 42 touchdowns and 28 100-yard games, Cobourne had 59 career receptions for 459 yards. And West Virginia coaches raved about his blocking.

"Some [NFL] teams absolutely love him," Scott said. "And I really do think the fact that Avon does all those 'little' things helps him. He's a throwback. He can catch. He can block. He can run. Whether it happens this weekend of next year on the field, he's going to prove himself."

Pro Football Weekly has Cobourne rated No. 19 among running backs eligible for the draft. Kiper ranks him 14th.

"Not to get philosophical," Scott said, "but Avon is a special guy who deserves a chance to play at the next level. He's the kind of kid you want to see succeed at the next level. The thing is, Avon does not presume he's going to be drafted. Amazing."

"I don't want to get my hopes up and then get let down," Cobourne said. "I don't want to get all hyped up and then be sitting there like, 'Aw.' I'm expecting not to get drafted. Then if I do, it will be even better."

Cobourne plans to go home to New Jersey this weekend, take family members shopping tomorrow and then drive back to West Virginia Sunday.

"I'm not going to watch [the draft] at all," he said.

Davis, 6-2, 233 pounds, had a school-record 40 tackles for loss in his career at West Virginia and was second on the team in tackles last season with 120. His agent, Ajali Hodari, expects him to be drafted in one of the final four rounds.

"Teams like his size and speed," Hodari said, noting Davis ran a 4.5 40. "He's an athletic kind of guy who runs well and has a bigger look than 6-2. He covers a lot of ground and makes plays all over the field.

"Some guys cover a space, and they don't ever leave that space. James goes all over the field, and the pros are definitely looking for guys who can run and run all over the field. He was very productive on the field. And he knows defenses."

Davis recently had a meeting with the Detroit Lions' defensive coaches. "He's a draftable second-day guy," Hodari said. "He's not a free agent second-day guy."

Upchurch, 6-3, 285 pounds, was a three-year starter for the Mountaineers who had 14 1/2 tackles for loss last season.

He's projected as a late-round pick or possibly a priority free-agent signee.

"You really don't know around this time," Upchurch said. "You can't get a feel for it. But I'm confident I'll [get to] sign."

"That's for sure," Nimmo said. "At first, all this is sort of flattering. You're thought of as the best of the best. But it's time to get back to the football part."

That Nimmo has a chance to be drafted this weekend is something of a coup. Entering his senior season, he was projected by scouting services as a free-agent prospect.

"He moved up because of the way he played against big-time competition," Lenta said. "He sort of dominated."

And now Nimmo, a 6-6, 330-pounder, has a really good chance to be drafted. "It's pretty crazy," he said. "One way or the other, I'll have a lot of emotion -- good or bad."

Paul Meyer can be reached at 412-263-1144.