TODD HEAP
By: Dave-Te' Thomas

#80-TODD HEAP Arizona State University Sun Devils 6:04.5-248

ANALYSIS
Positives... Well-built athlete with long arms and legs...Has the frame to add needed bulk without any drop-off in quickness...Has a sharp change of direction and shows excellent hip swerve while combating for the ball over the middle...Gets a good push off the defender to escape the jam...Stays low, extends his arms and keeps his feet shuffling when providing pass protection...Very effective in finding the soft spot in the zone, but also uses his body properly to shield the ball from the defender in man coverage...Has natural hands, keeping then properly extended away from the body going up for the ball...Has the quickness to outrun a linebacker after the catch...Very good at adjusting to the low passes and is not afraid to sacrifice his body to get to those balls... Shows good weave in his run and the leg drive to drag a defensive back after the catch... Fluid route runner who maintains balance near the sidelines...Searches out defenders to deliver a crunching block for the ground game upfield.

Negatives... Little bit on the lean side and needs more upper body development...Effective pass blocker, but does not hit on the rise or roll his hips properly for in-line blocking situations... Shows more finesse than power as a blocker and when engaging defenders coming off the snap.

CAREER NOTES
Even though the three-year letterman starting only two seasons at Arizona State, he went on to establish a school career-record for tight ends with 115 receptions, topping the previous mark of 88 catches by Ken Dyer (1965-67)...His 1685 yards broke Dyer's old all-time record (for tight ends) of 1365 yards.

REMIND ME OF... ex-Dallas Cowboy Jay Novacek.

GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL... Everyone is looking for a tight end that can catch and offer effective blocking skills. Heap will be the only tight end to get serious first round consideration. Look for Heap to get thrown to the wolves as a starter in his first year.

WANT DAVE-TE'S COMPLETE SCOUTING REPORT?
Now, get Dave-Te's indepth scouting report, available for the first time on a CD diskette (Microsoft WORD format). Yes, you can receive Dave-Te's two-to-six page scouting reports on over 500 players eligible for the draft, his indepth position analysis, and ratings for the low price of $25. Interested? Now taking orders for both the pre-draft guide and the post-draft reports. E-mail the "Madman from Brooklyn" at nflscouting@aol.com for more details, but hurry! The draft is just a few short weeks away!