Though it seems hard to imagine now, there was a time when John Tait was picked on by other kids. And he didn't like football.
He remembers being dragged to Pop Warner practices by his father, Alan. Because he was so big for his size at age 9, Tait was forced to play with 12-year-olds. He was teased and manhandled by the older boys."It was pretty traumatic. I was shell-shocked for a while," Tait said. "I got beat up in practice, and I never played. Guys made fun of me. It was hard. I wanted to quit, but my dad wouldn't let me."
Of course, that was before he started playing with youngsters his own age and before he started to develop into a dominating offensive lineman. Now that millions of dollars and the fulfillment of a dream he's had since high school are within his grasp, Tait is especially glad Dad didn't allow him to give up football.
The massive 6-foot-7, 315-pound BYU tackle is expected to be an early first-round draft pick today in the National Football League 1999 draft.
Aside from Tait, a host of local players also have a decent shot at receiving a phone call from an NFL team today or Sunday, including offensive lineman Joe Wong and defensive linemen Daren Yancey and Ed Kehl of BYU; receiver Daniel Jones, linebacker Phil Glover and defensive lineman Pene Talamaivao of Utah; safety Scott Shields and defensive back Anthony Parker of Weber State; and safety Johndale Carty and linebacker Tony D'Amato of Utah State.
Because he is projected to be a high pick, Tait, a two-time, first-team All-WAC performer, had the chance to go to New York City's Madison Square Garden for the draft hoopla (though he wasn't officially invited), but he decided against it. "You can take only so many people with you to New York," explained Tait, the third of Alan and Ruth Tait's seven children.
Instead, he'll be at his parents' Tempe, Ariz., home, surrounded by family and friends and watching the draft proceedings on television. Former Cougar teammate Rob Morris, who nearly made himself eligible for the draft before choosing to remain at BYU for his senior season, will be there. So will Tait's agent.
"We'll have a bunch of food and a bunch of people here," Tait said. "It's more like me to stay around rather than go to New York. That's more my style. Most people want to see the running backs and quarterbacks on TV, not the offensive linemen. You can only do this once, and I want to do it right."
The NFL's interest in Tait has his neighborhood buzzing, according to Alan Tait. "Everybody's excited about what's going to happen on Saturday," he said.
The question is, how long will he have to wait? Though several other highly regarded tackles are available in this year's draft, including Eastern Michigan's L.J. Shelton, Wisconsin's Aaron Gibson and Georgia's Matt Stinchcomb, Tait, described by scouts as "a pure left tackle," is reportedly rated as the best on almost every team's War Room board.
"It becomes a beauty contest. Some teams like blondes, others like brunettes," Tait said. "Not much separates us. If I'm the first tackle taken, great. But I want to be the best tackle."
Many draft prognosticators, from the Sporting News to CBS Sportsline to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., have Tait going in the top 10. Sports Illustrated, on the other hand, predicts Tait will slide to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 14. Another mock draft penciled him in at No. 19 to the New York Giants.
If fate smiles on Tait today, he'll be taken by his hometown team, the Arizona Cardinals, who desperately need a left tackle and could select him at No. 8. The Cards have been said to covet North Carolina State receiver Torry Holt, too. But when St. Louis traded for running back Marshall Faulk on Thursday, the Rams might grab Holt with the sixth pick.
The Cardinals apparently also like Florida linebacker/defensive lineman Jevon Kearse since they lost Jamir Miller to free agency. With the ninth pick, Detroit might snatch up Tait (or Kearse) if Arizona does not.
Tait, who has been compared to Jacksonville's Tony Boselli, an All-Pro who is considered the best tackle in the NFL, says the franchises that have shown the most interest in him to this point have been the Cardinals, the Lions, the Chiefs and the Washington Redskins, who have the fifth pick.
Depending on where he lands, Tait could start next season as a rookie as teams like the Cardinals are looking for a left tackle to play right away.
Since leaving BYU after the Cougars' loss to Tulane in the Liberty Bowl, Tait has spent much of his time in Arizona bulking up. He's added about 25 pounds of muscle to his frame. He performed well during the combines and workouts in front of scouts and coaches. Needless to say, he does not regret departing BYU as a junior to pursue his goals.
"I've had no second-guesses about my decision. I received good information," Tait said. "I was ready to leave and take a chance at the NFL. Things are working out great. I'm ready for the challenge. It's something I've dreamed about for a long time."
Other local college draft hopefuls:
UTAH
PHIL GLOVER, LB, 5-11, 235 -- The most likely Ute to hear the draft's call, though major magazines and rating services list him as no better than the 10th-best outside linebacker available. One has him 17th. CBS lists him as the 145th-best player available, all positions included.
All note his great speed, 4.58 in the 40, and 36-38-inch vertical leap, although his height works against him. Some think he doesn't use leverage and instincts well and is too small to go inside. Still, Glover had repeat phone calls from the Jets, Tampa, Arizona and New Orleans.
Glover helped his stock at the combine, alleviating any doubts teams might have had about the sprained ankle that kept him out of five games last season. "The injury probably did drop me down, but working my butt off brought me back. I answered that, and then some," he said. "It's 150 percent better than the other one now."
Glover will wait out the draft at home in Las Vegas and hold a "little party" for those close to him Sunday night.
Projection: Likely mid- to late-rounder.
PENE TALAMAIVAO, DT, 6-4, 313 -- Best assets, according to the rating services, are hands and overall size and quickness plus wingspan. They also like his ability to play with leverage and balance and to occupy more than one blocker. But most services also note a history of injuries, though there were none in his senior year, and some say he doesn't seem to go hard every play.
CNN-SI lists him as the 16th-best defensive tackle available. Had 109 career tackles, 15 for loss, and 11 passes broken up at Utah.
Projection: Physical tools may get him a late-round phone call.
DANIEL JONES, WR, 5-11, 185 -- Services note that he was the playing partner of 1998 No. 16 pick overall Kevin Dyson, now with Tennessee, but when they compare him to the taller, faster Dyson, Jones loses points.
His 4.68 40 speed is considered less than acceptable. They like his hands and toughness and willingness to catch over the middle and in traffic. He runs decent routes, blocks and has courage, they say. They are aware he makes yards after tackles and on kick returns. But they say he can't separate himself from good defensive backs and doesn't have speed or a burst at the line. CNN-SI puts him at No. 32 among all wide receivers.
Projection: Late-rounder good enough to compete for a pro position.
BYU
ED KEHL, DL, 6-4, 300 -- After an LDS Church mission, Kehl helped anchor BYU's defensive line as a starter for four seasons. While he has size and the ability to play either end or tackle, many teams may not be willing to take a chance on him because of his age (27).
Last season, Kehl posted career highs with nine tackles-for-loss for minus-49 yards and 22 unassisted tackles. However, scouts say, he had a habit of disappearing for stretches and failed to establish himself as a consistent performer.
Projection: Better late than never.
DAREN YANCEY, DL, 6-6, 300 -- Yancey is strong, fiercely competitive and is effective at stuffing rushing attempts up the middle. But he lacks speed, rendering him one-dimensional.
Scouts agree Yancey has a strong upside while adding he needs to be able to consistently put pressure on the quarterback in order to succeed on the next level. Last season at BYU, he recorded 11 tackles-for-loss for minus-58 yards and six sacks. Like Kehl, Yancey is a returned missionary and his age, 26, may be a liability.
Projection: Late-round pick based on several mock drafts.
JOE WONG, OL, 6-5, 315 -- Wong was a tackle on the right side of BYU's offensive line and is a solid pass-protector. If Wong makes it to NFL, chances are he will be utilized as a guard rather than a tackle.
Scouts like his size, but are concerned with his athletic ability and quickness. He was slow at the combines with a time of 5.7 in the 40. He is listed among the top 15 guards available in the draft.
Projection: Another late rounder who could stick if he hooks up with the right team.
UTAH STATE
JOHNDALE CARTY, SS, 6-2, 196 -- A three-year starter at free safety for the Aggies, Carty is ranked fifth at his position by one scouting service.
He was called "rangy with outstanding speed" but "not overly physical" by another service. He missed several games last year with a shoulder separation, but still ended up fourth in tackles on the all-time Aggie list. As a junior he intercepted six passes.
Projection: Likely to go in the late rounds perhaps as high as the fifth.
TONY D'AMATO, LB, 6-0, 246 -- Utah State's most valuable player last year, D'Amato was the anchor of a strong Aggie defense and was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year. In just two years after coming from Rancho Santiago JC, he set the USU record for most tackles. His lack of height may hurt in in the NFL, but his toughness and ability to make plays is a plus. His name isn't on most draft lists, but he could be a steal for some team that wants to take a chance.
Projection: Not likely to get a call unless it's late.
WEBER STATE
SCOTT SHIELDS, SS-PK-P 6-5, 225 -- The versatile Shields was a I-AA all-American, who excelled in the defensive backfield as well as a kicker. He's been called a "safety in a linebacker's body" who could be "a terror on special teams" by scouting services. Besides his size, his 4.54 speed has been impressive to scouts. He's being looked at as a safety, but his punting and placekicking skills 'makes him a valuable player" according to the CNN-SI Website.
Projection: Probably a middle-round pick that could go as early as the third round.
ANTHONY PARKER, CB, 6-0, 200 -- He's listed two inches shorter than he was at Weber, but he still has good size for a cornerback. Coupled with his 4.45 speed, he has attracted more attention than his collegiate record might warrant. He helped his visibility by playing in the Blue-Gray game
Projection: Will go late if drafted at all.