1. Bubba Franks, Miami (Fla.), 6-5 5/8, 252 (4.93 time in the 40-yard dash): Prototype size, speed and power for the hybrid position, but underclassman has puzzled scouts since the end of season. Weighed 265 pounds at combine, where he did not participate in any on-field drills, and then was 252 pounds only a week later for his on-campus workout. Most scouts speculate he shed weight to get quicker, but he appeared weak in his workout and timed in the low 5.0s in the 40. In his subsequent audition, he got his 40 time down a bit, but only into the 4.9s. Huge target with large hands, sometimes catches the ball too close to his body, but can make the acrobatic grab as well. Powerful runner with some speed, tough to haul down when loose in secondary. Usually gets a smooth release off line, uses hands well to shake off linebackers playing over him. Good blocker but doesn't bury people. Too often tries to finesse defenders and, with his explosiveness, really doesn't need to. Could be best tight end prospect in several years but needs some motivation.

2. Anthony Becht, West Virginia, 6-5 5/8, 270 (4.76): Not heavily recruited out of high school, has made himself a top-shelf prospect with hard work and dedication. Not exceptional in any one area but might be more well-rounded than Franks. Good stopwatch speed but usually plays slower than his time. Better athletic ability than some people think. A solid target in the short area and guy who knows how to locate the seams in zone coverage. Inconsistent hands, will drop more balls than he should, but adjusts pretty well to the ball in the air. Long arms and knows how to make himself available to the quarterback. Has enough strength to break tackles but will never run away from anyone. Can be a vicious run blocker who uncoils into people and strikes a rising blow with good leverage. Can adjust to double moves by defenders. Sometimes fails to finish off strongly and will slide off some in-line blocks. Has improved as in-line blocker but must get better in that area and as a second-level blocker.

3. Erron Kinney, Florida, 6-5 5/8, 272 (4.83): Exceptional size and has frame that can get even bigger with some work in weight room. Has played some basketball in college and his athletic and movement skills are obvious. Good quickness out of break provides him early separation and he will snatch the ball away from his body. Has mental lapses in traffic and, despite looking fluid, doesn't run smooth routes. Rarely plays as quick as his 40 time indicates. Doesn't lack for effort but just isn't very tough or tenacious and can be downright passive at times as a blocker. Isn't explosive coming off ball but has some agility as second-level blocker and knows how to screen defenders off. Never really a full-time starter, will need some time to develop, and any team that takes him has to understand he's still a bit of a project. Also must check on shoulders, which have given him problems in the past.

4. Mondriel Fulcher, Miami (Fla.), 6-3 3/8, 253 (4.86): Lined up at tight end in '98 and fullback in '99 and probably is that kind of in-between role player at the next level. Such a good athlete, though, teams have to consider him and figure out a way to let him contribute. Former track star in high school and still flashes that kind of overall agility and quickness. Might fit in best in NFL has H-back or "move" player. Good speed and receiving ability but pretty raw running routes. Is not blessed with great burst to run past people and needs to improve recognition of coverages. An intriguing guy who never settled into a position in college. He wants to be a good player and will work hard. Some team will need to show plenty of patience, but the payoff could be substantial in the long run if he gets a bit more tenacious.

5. Aaron Shea, Michigan, 6-4 1/4, 253 (4.78): A lot like Mondriel Fulcher in that he is a solid prospect without a position. Most teams project him as fullback but we like him more as second tight end or H-back. Loves to play the game and enthusiasm really showed at Senior Bowl, where he helped himself immensely during week of practices. Good size and adequate hands, a willing blocker but probably has to be used on the move and not as an in-line guy. Needs work running more precise routes. Looked too stiff and upright much of senior season with Wolverines but didn't look that way in recent workouts. Simply a guy who should be able to play a lot of roles, including special teams, for some team.

6. Jay Tant, Northwestern, 6-3, 255 (4.71): Former high school swimming star not quite as big as scouts like and, as is the case with many of this year's tight end prospects, might have to play as an H-back in the NFL. Shows adequate strength at times but he never seems to drive the linebacker off the ball on tape. Doesn't seal well on the backside runs or clear out for the strongside sweep. Lacks bulk and doesn't know enough about leverage yet. Competitive and hard-working player with big motor. Catches ball adequately but hard to grade as receiver since Wildcats never really had competent passer during his career. Good body control, nice change of direction on spin and option routes. Definitely needs to toughen up.

Kentucky's James Whalen has great hands and concentration for a tight end, but is too slow to be a wideout.(Allsport)

7. James Whalen, Kentucky, 6-2 1/2, 228 (4.78): The kind of guy you root for because he fought to get into a program and then made a player of himself. Just walked into coaches' offices one day with a tape from his junior college career and sold staff on allowing him to walk on. Took only a year to earn a scholarship. Inarguably the best pure receiver of his bunch but is the classic "in between" receiver. Way too slow to play wideout and too small for full-time tight end duty. But someone will find a way to use him because the guy is uncanny at getting open and catching the ball in pressure situations. Terrific hands and concentration, great awareness for what the secondary is doing in its rotation. Even when bracketed by safety and linebacker, as he often was on third down, will find a way to separate. A true "go-to guy" for Wildcats passers. Tenacious and willing but will never be even adequate as an in-line blocker. Seems recovered from broken elbow sustained in bowl game.

8. Dave Stachelski, Boise State, 6-3 1/8, 250 (4.78): Played defensive end as recently as 1997, has not enjoyed much exposure to tight end because of injuries. Maybe the best pure athlete of the players in this group, but doesn't play on the field as well as he works out in a gym. Doesn't even play as strong as he looks. Impressive vertical jump and nice flexibility. Catches the ball well but is a novice running routes and rarely gets clean release off line of scrimmage.

9. Austin Wheatley, Iowa, 6-3 7/8, 254 (4.64): Looks the part but doesn't always play it. One of the combine reports termed him "242 pounds of twisted steel" even before he added 12 pounds. A rare physical specimen with tremendous speed for the position. Muscular all over. Agile and will get up the field and has enough speed to split the safeties deep. Can keep the defense honest with his speed and quickness. Unfortunately, his hands are only adequate and, even worse, he lacks true functional football strength. Doesn't play behind his pads and will get driven back as an in-line blocker. There are enough flashes to make him intriguing but he is hardly a finished product.

10. Jason Gavadza, Kent, 6-3 1/8, 249 (4.67): Came to United States from Toronto to play, much like former Kent standout tight end O.J. Santiago, now with the Atlanta Falcons. Above average athlete with fluid movement skills but a tentative playing style because of his inexperience. Good hands, will run better routes than some players ranked higher than him. Not very aggressive and tries to out-finesse defenders. More bulk, plenty of repetitions a must for him to have a chance.

Others: Joe Dean Davenport (Arkansas), Kyle Allamon (Texas Tech), Carlos Nuno (Brigham Young), John Waerig (Maryland), Ibn Green (Louisville), Kendrick Bates (Arizona State), Todd Yoder (Vanderbilt), Joe Kavanaugh (Villanova), Scot Osborne (William and Mary), Chris Eitzmann (Harvard), Dan O'Leary (Notre Dame), Kevin Houser (Ohio State).

Rising: Terrence McCaskey of Mississippi State caught only nine passes for 104 yards during his college career and was injured way too often. But he looks like a power forward and has long arms, along with a frame that can handle 10-12 more pounds. He's definitely a project but will be in some team's camp. Former defensive end Bryan Arndt of Boston College has played tight end for only two seasons. But he has improved dramatically in the past year, has some feel for the new position and could sneak into the late rounds.

Declining: Casey Crawford of Virginia has a long, lean frame some strength coach would love to get ahold of, but it seems he has been injured most of his career. He's better athletically than most of the guys in the tight end crop, but lack of durability is scaring teams away. John Jones, who left the University of Pittsburgh to transfer to Indiana (Pa.) University, has some tools but is nearly 26 years old and brings with him a troubled past.

Intriguing: Former Iowa standout Zeron Flemister and Terrence Dupree of Duke are solid receivers with decent size and speed. Flemister in particular runs very well up the seams. Neither is built for blocking but both could project to a No. 3 tight end or H-back spot. Flemister admits to being a recovering alcoholic, so that must be checked out.

Sleeper: In four years at the University of Pittsburgh, Kirk McMullen caught just 32 passes. But he can deep snap, play on other special teams units, and has a large body. Not the quickest guy but adequate running ability and a willing blocker. On a hunch, we'll bet he winds up on some team's roster as a No. 3 tight end and deep snapper in 2000.

Specialists: Mike Bennett of Syracuse and Minnesota's Derek Rackley might be better deep-snappers than Kirk McMullen but aren't as good tight end prospects. They handled the placement and deep-snapping chores for nearly four years and that will earn them a free-agent ticket into somebody's training camp.