Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Redskins Confident
They Exceeded Top
Hopes in NIL Draft
Continued From Page CT.

appointing for the coaches.
Maryland's starting backfield
was drafted in the first four
rounds. A total of seven men
from the Terps' Nationally
ranked No. team were chosen.
Notre Dame, Maryland's great
rival. contributed 10, three of
them first-round choices.
Such big names as Paul Giel
of Minnesota, Paul Cameron of
UCLA, j. D. Roberts of Okla
homa and Crawford Minis of
Mississippi were passed up by
the coaches in their rush for
potentially better or more serv-
iceable talent.
Almost as surprising was San
FranciSco'S selection of Center
Steve Korcheck of George Wash
ington University on the third
round.
Glad to Get Wells.
The Redskins got their GEN.
ter and linebacker in Notre
Danes Jim Schrader, and a
good running back in Mary
lands Ralph FELTON,. But one
Of the Washington clubs biggest
plums was Halfback Billy Wells,
hero of Michigan States Rose
Bowl triumph, whom the Red
skins landed in the fifth round.
The Redskins counted them
selves lucky to get the fleet.
hard hitting Wells, who figured
to be gone before their turn
came on the fifth round. He
could be a big box office attrac-
ton, as well as a key offensive
figure for the club. Some
coaches believe he'll be fully as
good as Dick Todd in his hey
day, and others likened him to
Steve Bagarus. one of the best
of all crowd-pleasers among the
ex-Redskins,
But there were unknowns as
well as well-publicized stars
scattered throughout the Red
skins list. They took Jerry
Coody. a good Baylor Back. as
their 18th choice, even though
he is said to be opposed to play
ing Sunday football and has
been thinking about going to
Canada for that reason Cana
dian teams play on Saturday
and Monday.
Marshall Jubilant.
George Marshall, president of
the Redskins, was jubilant when
the club drafted Meilinger. But
when Schrader, FELTON, and
Wells also came to Washington,
Marshall was ready to call it
day. He didn't wait around to
see who else the coaches got,
but took of to discuss other
business.
The Redskins, who had to give
their third-round selection to
the Los Angeles Rams in last
seasons deal for halfback Paul
Barry. rounded out their first 10
with the following men:
Bill McHenry, Washington and
Lee linebacker; Harry Jagielski.
Indiana tackle; Bill Marker,
West Virginia end; Jerry Min
nick, Nebraska guard-tackle; and
Merrill Green, Oklahoma back.
Lambeau, who thinks he picked
several promising futures" be-
lieves he got O dark horse in
Green. The Oklahoman's record
in college ranks is a good one.
Well-ROunded Group.
Broken down by position, the
Redskins took IL backs, six ends,
seven tackles, one guard. three
centers and a quarterback. The
latter. Don Dondou of North
western, is an old friend of Lam
beau's whom the coach has
known since Don was knee high
to the proverbial duck in Green
Bay. Rondou was selected for
his kicking potential, rather than
Quarterbacking.
The Browns winning of the
bonus choice. plus a surprise
f1rst-round selection of Fullback
Stan Wallace by the Chicago
Bears, permitted the Redskins
to get Meilinger.
After the Cardinals. desperate
for a paSser. took Lamar McHan
Of Arkansas and the Colts
chose Cotton Davidson of Baylor,
both Meilinger and Johnny Latt-
ner of Notre Dame still were
available when the Steelers drew
Just ahead of Lambeau. Coach
Joe Bach picked Lattner and that
left the big Kentuckian for the
Redskins.