(6 of 9)
> Southern California's Pete Beathard, 21, is having passing woes: nobody can hang onto his howitzer-like heaves, including All-America End Hal Bedsole, who dropped seven passes in the first four games. Big enough (6 ft. 2 in., 205 Ibs.) to play with the monsters on defense, fast enough (he has been clocked at 5.9 sec. for 50 yds. in football gear) to match strides with the halfbacks, Beathard is a master of the run-pass option, key play in Coach John McKay's "Shifty I" attack. He graduates this year, and pro scouts call him "a new Paul Hornung." Says one: "He may wind up a quarterback, a flankerback or a defensive halfback—I don't know which. But, believe me, this boy is a No. 1 draft."
> Northwestern's Tommy Myers, 20, has the face of an acolyte, the poise of a pit boss—and an arm like a crossbow. A rarity among college quarterbacks, Myers seldom runs a rollout; he is a drop-back "pocket" passer, throws what the pros call a "soft ball"—a pass that reaches the receiver slightly nose up, is therefore easier to catch. Says Northwestern Coach Ara Parseghian: "Tommy has the knack of throwing to the exact spot where his man is going to be—the way a hunter leads a duck before he pulls the trigger. That is a sixth sense that no coach can instill in a boy." At Ohio's Troy High School, Myers threw 73 touchdown passes, was already so accurate that he could fire a football into a 2-ft. bull's-eye from 30 yds. away. Last year, Sophomore Myers set a college record by completing 15 straight passes against South Carolina, sparked Northwestern to its best season in 15 years: seven victories, only two losses. This year, he has averaged 204 yds. a game on passes, and the Wildcats (season record: 3-1) hope to ride his golden right arm all the way to the Rose Bowl.
> Miami's George Mira, 21, may be the best pure passer in college football: last year, as a junior, he gained 2,059 yds., made four All-America teams. Against Nebraska in New York's Gotham Bowl, he completed 24 passes for 321 yds.—though Miami lost, 36-34. Coaches raved, and pro scouts drooled. "Willie Mays in a football uniform!" said Maryland's Tom Nugent. Perhaps all the praise was too much for "The Matador," or perhaps Miami is not as good this year as the experts figured. By last week, Mira had gained only 594 yds., seen five of his passes picked off by alert defenders, and was still looking for his first touchdown pass of the season (he had twelve last year). But the pros pay that no heed. Says one scouting report: "A good one. If a receiver can get just one step ahead of the defender, Mira will put the ball in his hands."