A Look at the Charger Draft Picks

WHERE PICKED NAME SCHOOL POS HGT WGT Round 1 (23 overall) Chris Mims Tennessee DE 6-5 270

Started eight games senior season, had 49 tackles and six sacks. “Any stats our defensive ends might have would be misleading,” said Larry Lacewell, Tennessee’s defensive coordinator. “We alternated four defensive ends and he probably didn’t play 35 snaps a game.” Started at center for the Los Angeles Community College basketball team after playing football for Pierce Junior College and Southwest Junior College. “He’s the best tall player I’ve ever coached,” Lacewell said. “Don’t think trying to throw over the Empire State Building doesn’t bother a quarterback.”

WHERE PICKED NAME SCHOOL POS HGT WGT Round 2 (33) Marquez Pope Fresno State DB 5-10 188

Played free safety and led team in tackles, but Chargers will switch him to corner. First player in school history to earn all-Big West Conference recognition four consecutive years. Has 4.4 speed. “He’s a reckless, aggressive kind of kid with great speed,” General Manager Bobby Beathard said. “We worked him as a corner and I think he’s more suited for corner than safety. He’s got man-to-man coverage quickness. He’s a cocky kid and has the kind of temperament to line up and challenge a receiver.” Ninth defensive back selected in draft. “We had him ranked higher than Ashley Ambrose and Steve Israel who were picked just in front of him,” Beathard said.

WHERE PICKED NAME SCHOOL POS HGT WGT Round 3 (63) Ray Ethridge Pasadena CC WR 5-10 180

Played with the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football League last season and caught 18 passes for 200 yards with a touchdown. Upstaged Rocket Ismail in game with Toronto with six receptions for 102 yards and 149 yards on a pair of kickoffs, including a 94-yard return for a touchdown. Eleven of his 31 receptions in 1990 for Pasadena City went for touchdowns. “He’s a real exciting player,” Beathard said. “His kickoff returns from what we’ve seen are really spectacular.” Competed in track professionally in South Africa in 1988.

WHERE PICKED NAME SCHOOL POS HGT WGT Round 5 (117) Curtis Whitley Clemson C 6-1 288

Sat out 1987 as a redshirt, worked as a backup in 1988 and then left Clemson due to disciplinary action and played at Chowan Junior College in 1989. Started the final nine games for Clemson upon his return in 1990, and then faced another suspension as a senior. “He’s a character,” Beathard said. “We looked into him and didn’t find anything of a serious nature. It wasn’t drugs or anything. He’s just a goof-off. He’s been just hard for some people to handle, but we’re looking forward to him.” Will also draw a look as a deep-snapper.

WHERE PICKED NAME SCHOOL POS HGT WGT Round 5 (131) Kevin Little N.Carolina A&T; LB 6-2 251

Finished senior season with 79 tackles and 16 sacks. Played as freelance defensive lineman/linebacker, but will get look as linebacker in Chargers’ defense. “He’s an interesting kid,” Beathard said. “He’s got terrific speed and has been a very productive player. He should be a good special teams guy.”

WHERE PICKED NAME SCHOOL POS HGT WGT Round 5 (140) Eric Jonassen Bloomsburg T 6-5 310

Like Whitley, he’s had his troubles. Redshirted as freshman at Penn State, played six games in 1987 and started eight in 1988 before flunking out. Started at Bloomsburg in 1990 and 1991. “He’s a sharp kid,” Beathard said. “He didn’t really like school; he’s not a goof-off. He already dropped out of Bloomsburg because he doesn’t like school.” Beathard said he was impressive at Bloomsburg, but was matched against sub-standard talent.