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Halfback: Dick Bass, 21, College of the Pacific; 5 ft. 10 in., 189 lbs. Junior. Major: speech. Arguably football's best back, led major college teams in rushing (1,361 yds.), total offense (1,440 yds.), scoring (116 points) for first "triple" since Colorado's "Whizzer" White in 19.37.
Fullback: Bob White, 20, Ohio State; 6 ft. 2 in., 215 lbs. Junior. Major: industrial arts. Converted center; so strong that in 218 carries this year he was not thrown for a loss once; would probably be shifted to linebacker by pros, who rate his defensive ruggedness even more highly than his offensive drive.
Several players from the service academies are eyed hungrily by the pros but usually omitted from their calculations, since a military career precludes any flirtation with pro football. Under any other circumstances, Air Force's Brock Strom, a quick, sure offensive tackle who can also be depended on to pile up interference on defense, would be near the top of pro lists. So would Army's rugged guard, Bob Novogratz (says a pro scout: "The very best"). The scouts speak of Army's two star halfbacks, Bob Anderson and Pete Dawkins, with regret but more equanimity.
In this week's preliminary pro-football draft, coaches will be guided more by their specific team needs than by sheer talent. Moreover, in some cases the pros have mapped different roles for their young stars than they performed in college. California's Kapp is an example. He can both pass and run. But pro teams have little use for a running quarterback (says Veteran Pro Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin of the Philadelphia Eagles: "A quarterback should run only from sheer fright"). As an option man, Kapp can be of more pro value as a halfback. Of the passing quarterbacks eligible for draft this year, most scouts prefer Utah's Lee Grosscup and his lobbed, easily caught passes to Iowa's Randy Duncan, who throws hard and straight.
But scouts are already drooling over Notre Dame's George Izo, who as a junior will not be eligible for the draft until next year. Says Earle ("Greasy") Neale, former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles: "Izo is best by far. He floats the ball like Sid Luckman used to, end up. He lays the ball out there so you can go get it. What I like best is the way he can throw accurately with men hanging all over him. I saw Sammy Baugh when he came up, and this kid can match him."