Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 29

Chicago Tribune, Monday, April 24, 1989 Section 3 7 PHO FOOTDALL ears No. 1. draft, choic Donnell Woolford Trace Armstrong Tribuna photo by John Irvtn ee Tom Doloughty. The Florida defensive end is tabbed to replace Al Harris, now with the Eagles. Bars first-round choice Trace Armstrong is greeted at Q'Hare Airport Sunday by club employs' Bears Dears' picks By Ed Sherman Mike Ditka gave Trace Armstrong what the Florida defensive end probably considers the ultimate compliment.

"He's a young Dan Hampton," the Bears' coach said. 'He's our kind of player." The Bears are Armstrong's kind of team. He was overjoyed when they drafted him with the 12th pick in the first round Sunday. "I'm ecstatic," Armstrong said. "I don't think things could have worked out better for me.

The Bears have a great tradition for defense. They are a team suited to my abilities. I really admire Dan Hampton. He's one of the best. I feel fortunate to be able to work with him." It would seem to be a perfect marriage, Armstrong and the Bears.

He plays on the left side, and with Al Harris having gone to Philadelphia, that fills one of the Bears' biggest needs. Armstrong, a native of Birmingham, comes to Chicago with all the credentials. The 6-foot-4-inch, 268-pounder was named to most of the collegiate All-America teams. His strength is quickness off the ball. The only apparent rap against him is size.

"He's very good on the pass-rush," said Bears defensive coordinator, Vince Tobin, who personally worked out Armstrong. "He doesn't have overpowering size, but he's big enough." Armstrong also says he's healthy. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last October, then played five days later against Auburn. He had a second operation in December, forcing him to miss the All-American Bowl against Illinois. ''The fact that I was on the field five days after the first one probably caused me to have the second one.

I worked out with every team in the league. It's not a factor," Armstrong said of his knee. What was a factor for the Bears is Armstrong's intelligence. He's expected to graduate with a degree in psychology in May. Coming out of high school, he recorded a 27 on his ACT.

Armstrong started his college career at Arizona State. A complicated transcript and tuition problem forced the NCAA to rule in December, 1987, that he would not be eligible for his senior season if he stayed at Arizona State. However, the NCAA did allow him to transfer to another school without sitting out a season. "It was tough," he said. "I didn't want come in my last year and be a wallflower.

I wanted to establish myself as a leader." Armstrong did. "He's got a high level of intelligence," said Florida defensive line coach Rex Norris. "I've bad 27 guys play in the NFL. If I had to compare them, I'd say LeRoy Selmon is on top, and Trace is on the next level. Trace has all the right tools." Armstrong is looking forward to taking the next step in his career.

Ditka didn't give him the starting job Sunday, but Armstrong plans to have it on opening day. "I've never not been a starter," he said. "I'm not used to sitting around. I want to be a great player in the National Football League, and I want to do it right away." By Fred Mitchell Deion Sanders notwithstanding, all that glitters is not gold. While Clemson All-America cornerback Donnell Woolford doesn't adorn his neck with jewelry the way "Neon Deion" does, the Bears expect him to sparkle in their secondary.

"I'm a quiet guy; I just do a lot of my talking on the football field. I don't have to wear jewelry and all that stuff," Woolford said. The 5-foot-9Vi-inch, 188-pounder was regarded as one of the top punt refvrners in the country last season in addition to being a punishing tack' ler in the secondary and a good coverage man. "Donnell Woolford covers very well one on one," defensive coordinator Vince Tobin said of the Bears' first pick. "He can bump and run well.

He doesn't look like he's afraid when he's tackling. He looks like a good, solid football player." Woolford became the first Clemson player ever to deflect at least 10 passes in a game three times. "I feel very excited about going up there and playing for the Bears. They are a great football team, said Woolford, who is scheduled to meet the Chicago press Monday. "I played left corner-back, and I played a lot of man.

I also played a lot of zone and did a lot of run-supporting." Woolford also averaged IS yards a punt return with two touchdowns in his junior year to finish third in the nation. "Anytime you can go in and help somebody out on the kicking game, that is a big plus. I'm looking forward to that," said Woolford, who recently was timed in 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. What can Bear fans expect from Woolford? "They will see a guy who will give 100 percent each and every he said. Woolford could step in and win a starting job at left cornerback, vacated when veteran Mike Richardson signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Raiders.

He would have to beat out Lemuel Stinson and Lorenzo Lynch, both rookies last season. "I feel that I can come in and make an impact. They need a player there, and I think I'm capable of doing the job," Woolford said. "I think he has a good chance to compete hard next season," said Vince Tobin. "We addressed all of our needs defensive end, cornerback and linebacker.

Those, probably in that order, were the three spots we felt we needed. "We've lost some quality players off our defense in the last three years, starting with Leslie Frazier in the Super Bowl. We've lost one or two defensive players each year, and I think now is a good time to start replacing them." Bears personnel director Bill Tobin stressed that it's important for Woolford to join his new club as soon as possible. "We encourage everybody to finish classes in their semester and get their name on a contract and get up here for July camp," he said. "We don't necessarily care for guys coming in after four preseason games and signing and showing up at Soldier Field while we're having dress rehearsal for our opening game against Cincinnati.

So I think that's the key for him or Trace Armstrong. "They've still got to earn a spot on the Bears; they aren't going to be given anything. We feel like they've got a good chance to compete." Donnell Woolford, DB, Clemaon, 5-10, 195: Sat Clemson career records for passes broken up In a season, 15 in 1988, and a career, 44. Had 61 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 blocked field goal In 1988. Also returned punts, averaging 6.6 yards.

Trace Armstrong, DE, Florida, 6-3, 268: Had 56 tackles, 7 sacks and 1 fumble recovery in his senior year after transferrring from Arizona State. Considered smallish for a defensive end, but extremely quick. A first team All-America pick by The Sporting News. John Roper, OLB, Texas 6-1, 228: An excellent all-around athlete with great speed. Recorded 15 sacks last year.

An outstanding special teams player, who is known for his kick-blocking ability. Played below expections In 198a Dave Zawatson, OT, CaHfomla, MVk, 265: A physical player with outstanding power. A tenacious blocker who wi not let up against an opponent. Bench presses close to 500 pounds. Doesn't have great size, but makes up for It with attitude.

Jerry Fontenot, OQ, Texas 6-3, 259: A scrappy player who relies more on smarts than size. Considered more of a finesse player, although he can bench press 425 pounds. Markus Paul, Syracuse, FS, 6-0, 203: Has good size, but there are some questions about his speed. Earned All-America recognition during his senior Had 19 career interceptions. An aggressive tackier.

Mark Green, Notre Dame, TB, 6-0, 184: A team player with good speed. Considered a good receiver out of the backfleld. Some questions about his size and strength, but no questions about his attitude. Qreg Gilbert Alabama, IB, 6-2, 217: Played In the shadow of Derrick Thomas at Alabama. A free-spirited player, he'll hurl himself over blockers.

Some questions about his size. A smart player. hit Roper Fontenot think they are a team that is suited to my abilities. They have players I really admire, like Dan Hampton." Armstrong's versatility on defense also attracted the Bears, who had defensive coordinator -Vince Tobin personally check out the mobility of his previous-; ly injured knee. "It's not only working him out, it's looking p.t him on said Tobin.

"He is very good on the pass-rush. He doesn't have overpowering size, but I think Continued from page 1 were considering dealing their No. 8 pick to the Bears for McMahjon, wound up taking Pittsburgh defensive end Burt Grossman. The Bears traded the 25th pick on the first round to Miami for the Dolphins' second- and third-round choices. Texas linebacker John Roper was the Bears' choice from Miami on the second round, along with California offensive tackle David Zawatson on their own pick.

tOn the third round, the Bears opted for Texas offensive hneman Jerry' Fontenot. They traded with the Raiders Qrt the fourth round to move up and select Syracuse free safety Markus Paul. l'Jn the fifth round, the Bears selected Notre Dame running back Mark Green (with a pick obtained from Philadelphia) and Alabama linebacker Greg Gilbert. Xjhe Bears acknowledged talks with San Diego involving McMahon but emphasized that the Chargers initiated the conversation. "You ought to call McMahon's agent Steve Zuck-erl, and you ought to call San Diego about that," Ditka said.

the Bears didn't initiate it, never started it, never said it was going to happen. We had nothing to do with the rumor. The rumor came from Others in this city." McMahon still be traded? "Anything can happen in life," Jitka said. "That's why it's merica. What a great country." Regarding McMahon's status, Ditka later told ESPN: whole ambition is to Keep this football team as positive mentally and physically as we can and keep the right people in the program.

People who don't want to be part of our program will be part of another program. It's that simple. And it doesn't matter who it is anymore. People think that's cold and calculating, but it's a fact of life. love the people who play for us and the people who want to play for us.

It we make a trade, or we make a change in our football team, the whole 45 or 47 players are what's concerned not just the one Bears personnel director Bill Tobin admitted: "Yes, I talked to San Diego. Name 20 clubs and I've talked to them today." McMahon, slated to battle Mike Tomczak for the starting job this summer, sounds as if he has resigned himself to being traded. As rumors circulated before the draft that he might go to San Diego, McMahon told WBBM-TV: "I've only got one more year on my contract, anyway, so it would be nice to stick around and play that year out. I'll hopefully go to the best bidder, but I think going to San Diego would be a nice change. I know the people there, and I'm looking forward to it." The 5-fo6t-9'i, 188-pound Woolford is a pure cornerback renowned for his splendid man-to-man coverage.

"I think I can pretty much start as a rookie' he said. "I love to work, and I love challenges." The 6-4, 268-pound Armstrong aims to fill the void created by the departure of Harris. "I can't imagine anybody not planning to start," said Armstrong. "That has always been my goal. I want to be a great player in the National Football League.

I want to be one right away. "I think my strengths are my 1 intensity and my ability to get to the quarterback. I need to work on my size and my overall body strength. "The Bears have a great tradi-- tion for defensive linemen. I he big enough.

"You've got a guy who made a lot of plays. That's the first thing you look at when you're evaluating a player. He looks like he has good quickness, good movement and good speed." Armstrong, who transferred to Florida after three years at Arizona State, has bench-pressed 375 pounds and been timed at 4.77 in the 40-yard dash. "As a defensive tackle, I played inside, outside, in different situations," said Armstrong, who flew from his home in Birmingham, to meet the local press at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. "Physically, I think I'm best suited to the four-man line like the Bears deploy.

"When you think defense in the NFL, Chicago is probably the first name that comes to everybody's mind. Things couldn't have worked out better for me. I'm going to be coached by a great staff and surrounded by great players in a great sports town. This is the ideal mm WtiSE Introducing Sports Squeeze-a colorful one-liter plastic squeeze bottle filled with your favorite Coke fountain drink. Pick up your Sports Squeeze only at White Hen Pantry.

This summer, there's nothing cooler! Irish's Green gets surprise call A til I 1 0jj 3 VIM to Green Bay on the fifth round. Among those not selected was Northwestern running back Byron Sanders, brother of Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders who had another year of eligibity remaining but elected to turn pro. Southern Cal quarterback Rodney Peete, the Heisman runner-up, also didn't go in the first five rounds. Heck saw his stock rise considerably in recent weeks. The pro scouts became excited over the converted tight end, who moved to offensive tackle for his senior year.

At 6-7, Heck now weighs 285 pounds. "He'll play at 295 in the NFL," said Mike Allman, Seattle's director of player personnel. "He'll still be quick enough to handle small defensive linemen." Obviously, the switch to offen By Ed Sherman Mark Green thought the National Football League draft had ended after four rounds. Little did he know that his lucky number would be five Sunday. The Bears selected the Notre Dame tailback in the fifth round of the draft.

When Mike Ditka phoned him with the news, he couldn't have been more excited if the team had made him a No. 1. "I can't believe what just happened to me," Green screamed. "I was kind of down. I was sitting up here and the phone rang.

I didn think anything of it, but it was the Bears. This is great. I couldn't be Green, a 6-foot, 184-pounder, played a key role on Notre Dame's national championship team, rushing for 646 yards on 13S carries. He would have been used more on most teams, but at Notre Dame Green shared back-field duties with Tony Brooks. Green rushed for a team-leading 861 yards in 1987.

"He comes from a national championship program, and he made great contributions there," said Bears director of player personnel Bill Tobin. "He has potential as a return guy and a tailback. He'll be excellent competition for Thomas Sanders. He'll contribute immensely to a quality camp." Green is considered a good team player, although there's some questions about his size and strength. He hopes to answer them in Platteville, Wis.

"Mike Ditka said they needed a running back and that they were excited to have me," Green said. "I'm going to give it my best shot" Green was one of three Notre Dame players picked Sunday. Seattle used the 15th pick in the first round to select offensive tackle Andy Heck. Linebacker Frank Stams went to the Los Angeles Rams on the second round. Illinois running back Keith Jones was picked ty Atlanta on the third round.

Jeff Query, a receiver from Mil-likin University in Decatur, went Coke fountain refills OffKxlthni624H9atallpnrticipalinfiWhitclcnlntrylacatians. When You Run Out, Run Out lb. m. I sive tackle was the best move of (0 WHI' 1H A Different Kind Of Convenience Store Heck's life. "I wasn't catching many balls at tight end," Heck said.

"Irs nice to go somewhere you're going to be a success." 1.