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Draft day brings hope, anxiety to Cal seniors

By Ralph Gaston Daily Planet Correspondent
Saturday April 21, 2001

The long winter of weights, sprints, and tests is over. After months of being paraded around like show ponies, the National Football League is ready to select a group of fortunate football players into their select club. Among the hundreds of college hopefuls stand a handful of players from Cal, hoping to continue their careers on the pro gridiron.  

 

Andre Carter- 6’4”, 260 lbs., Defensive End (San Jose) 

“With most guys, when they first come to play (college) ball, they look about the same,” said punter Nick Harris. “With Andre, he looked different. You knew immediately that he was going to be a real player.”  

Carter did not disappoint in his stellar career at Cal. Though the team struggled, Carter excelled, finishing his career with 59 tackles, 13 sacks, his second All Pac-10 selection, and a spot on the first-team All-America squad.  

Despite solid performances in college, Carter was scrutinized by pro scouts because of his size; he played the 2000 season at 260 pounds, and dropped to 249 in late February.  

“I was working out to gain speed, and that’s why the weight dropped,” Carter explained.  

Nevertheless, teams at the combine in Indianapolis were disappointed, and Carter’s stock dropped. Still, scouts are a bit leery about his weight. In the April 15 edition of The New York Times, Carter is listed as a “mistake” pick for the Cincinnati Bengals, who have the fourth selection.  

“He’s not as big as other defensive ends might be, but he’s got the passion, amazing strength, and speed,” says Cal head coach Tom Holmoe. “We’re talking about a consensus first-team All-American, and a Nagurski Award finalist, all Pac-10…the guy is just a player.” 

Now a sculpted 255 pounds, Carter is intent on finishing his American Studies degree requirements and graduating. As for the draft? “I’ve done everything I can do,” said Carter.  

Actually, Carter has done more than enough. 

 

Reed Diehl- 6’4”, 300 lbs., Center (Irvine) 

Reed Diehl reads the stock market like a seven-man defensive front. Bull or bear market? Gap-control or blitz package? Bail out or go long? Run block or cut block? Reed Diehl has the talents to read both. As a child playing football, Diehl knew that he wanted to play in college. As the son of an investment banker, Diehl began reading the Wall Street Journal at the age of 12, and is prepared for a career in finance. The only thing between Reed Diehl and that career is an oblong leather sphere that he just can’t stop trying to protect.  

“I love everything about football,” explained Diehl. “Even if my body’s completely sore, from head to toe, I love to come to practice.”  

Diehl’s love for the game had him scuttling along to every position on the offensive line; he played all six (including tight end) in his career at Cal.  

Because of Diehl’s constant movement, and the occasional untimely injury, he is not as well known as other centers in the draft. However, he turned some eyes in a March workout, when he ran a 4.85 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest of any center in the draft. 

 

Nick Harris- 6’3”, 225 lbs., punter (Avondale, Ariz.) 

“Apparently, NFL teams don’t draft kickers early, so I know better than to expect a call on Saturday,” said Harris. A Ray Guy award finalist, Harris’ 41.5 yard per punt average led the Pac-10, but it was his performance against Illinois on September 16th that had scouts drooling: nine of 12 punts resting inside of the Illini 20-yard line, five of them inside the Illinois’ five-yard line.  

“If I had a Heisman vote, I’d vote for Nick Harris,” said Illinois head coach Ron Turner at the time. “I’ve never seen anyone kick like that.”  

Soon, fans of the NFL will see Harris kick like that on Sundays.  

 

Keala Keanaaina-6’3”, 255 lbs., H-Back, San Mateo CC (San Mateo) 

It was frustrating for Keala Keanaaina. He transferred to Cal from junior college in San Mateo, and lost time to a knee injury. Keanaaina then got healthy, but had to watch as the ’99 Bears struggled on offense with freshman quarterback Kyle Boller. He was an afterthought until Marcus Fields went down for the 2000 season with an injury. Suddenly, Keanaaina was counted on big-time, and the H-back delivered with 15 catches. Now, Keanaaina has only a long-shot dream to catch on in the NFL- a hope that seemed non-existent not too long ago.  

“I’m just happy to be living out a dream, to try to play professional football,” said Keanaaina.  

Though physically gifted, Keanaaina lacks the game experience NFL scouts covet, so his road to the NFL will be as an undrafted free agent. 

 

Chidi Iwuoma- 5’9”, 185 lbs., cornerback (Pasadena) 

Iwuoma, while lacking the flash of contemporaries like Deltha O’Neal or young Jemeel Powell, was Cal’s most effective cover corner. “Really, Chidi was more consistent than Deltha when they played together,” said Coach Holmoe. Though Iwuoma may not be drafted, his consistency and athleticism should earn him a free agent tryout with an NFL team. 

 

Jacob Waasdorp- 6’2”, 280 lbs., defensive tackle (Lancaster) 

Undersized for his position, Waasdorp relies on a active motor for success in the trenches. He has been recognized by his peers as a two-time all Pac-10 selection, and his grit in the trenches has been key to the recent success of the Cal defense. He is also a long-snapper, a skill that will help him to possibly stick on an NFL roster.