Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-29
NIL Appears
Ready toCut
|3O-PIayer Draft
Redskins Select
Defensive Stcrs
In Eurly Rounds
ny LEWIS r. ATCHIsON
star star Writer

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. o.
Its almost certain that Ma
tional Football League club
owners win shorten their an
nual players draft after stag
gering through yesterdays
nine-hour continuation Of the
selecting that began with four
preliminary rounds December 2.
A suggestion that It be cur
tailed from 80 TO IS players
next year. and possibly 20. Is In
the works. The IL club owners
won't get around 10 Il until
after taking up such matters
as preseason schedules. in
surance and a retirement fund
for the players. which are on
today's agenda. But they may
reach II tomorrow when bylaws
and league rules will be dis
cussed. A smaller limit seems
sure 70 DC ADOPTED.
AS a whole. the Redskins are
pleased with their draft list.
Their first two picks yesterday.
actually their fifth and sixth
choices. were q pair Of poten-
tial defensive halfbacks -
Quarterback Jim Van Pelt Of
Michigan and Halfback Dick
Lynch OF Notre Dame.
Concentrate ON Llnemen
Then they concentrated on
linemen. first going for a "fu-
ture" in Leon Bennett. Boston
College tackle. and then adding
End Buddy Payne Of North
Carolina. Center Frank Kuchta
of Notre Dame. Tackle Ben
Preston of Auburn and Tackle
Darrell Dess Of North Carolina
State
Kuchta and Dess particularly
are tabled as outstanding de-
fensive linemen. Kuchta was
voted Associated Press line
man Of the week for his work
| in helping the Irish end Okla
homa's 47-game winning streak.
The selection Of Bennett
came as something Of q sur
prise. as the Redskins seldom
dabble in future choices. But
the Washington club was hot
after the big tackle who has
another year with Boston Col
lege although his original class
graduates in June. !
I'VE didn't want TO take any
chance OF losing him." Line
Coach Dick Evans said. Hes
6-foot-4. weighs 245 and can
move It. I'd love to have him
this year. but In his case I'm
willing to wait"
Father Son Combination
The Redskins. who last year
drafted End Joe Walton Of
Pittsburgh. son Of q former
Washington player. Tiger Wal
ton. did II again. This time
they grabbed I'd Miehaels. g.
foot-2. 2i5-pound villanova
guard. on the 18th round. The
VillanoVan Is the son OF Ed
Michaels. also a former Villa
nova guard who started out as
a pro with the Chicago Bears.
was traded 10 the Boston Red
skins for Pete Bausch and went
to Washington with the cham
pionship team Of 1887. The
elder Michaels now coaches the
Villanova freshmen.
Jim Bakhtiar. Oull-necked
Virginia fullback and former
Western High School star.
again was passed over. In the
preliminary four-round draft
last month Bakhtiar was
skipped because Of reports that
he would play only for the
Redskins. This time he was
passed up again because OF re-
ports he was considering play
ing for the Calgary Stam-
peders.
Coach Joe Kuharich said he
was still interested in Bakh-
thar. although he hasn't talked
to the boy. and might talk to
HIM about playing for the
Redskins in 1889.
On the other hand. Kuharich
took Ken Ford, Hardin-Sim-
mons quarterback. on the. 18th
round. even though he also was
signed by Toronto.
I'VE did that on Sammy
Baugh's recommendation"
Backfield Coach Mike Nixon
said. Hes one Of the greatest
passers I've ever seen--he can
throw the ball a mile and he's
accurate-and Baugh advised
him to sign for only one year
in Canada with no renewal OPP
ton. We hope to get him In
/ 1859. after he's had q years
experience"
The Redskins drafted only
two area players. End Fred
Polzer Of Virginia as their 10th
choice and Tackle Fred Wilt Of
Richmond as their nth. They
planned to take Wilbur Main,
Maryland center. rs their 28th
pick. but the Chicago Bears
beat them TO him on the round.
Harold Outten. Virginia guard
Noutsn.,aA M, nana ~ rnl