by Bruce Feldman, ESPN "The Magazine"
NFL scouts know LaMont Jordan. The book on Maryland's Heisman hopeful (1,632 rushing yards in '99): tough inside, good burst, soft hands. Unlikely to reverse field.
Jordan wishes his teammates knew him as well. Despite reports to the contrary, Jordan swears he'll be back at College Park in the fall. "I'm not having any more second thoughts," says Jordan, a 5'11", 219-pounder who is [sat] out spring ball to get his grades up. "I'm not physically or mentally ready for the NFL. All that matters are my grades."
Jordan says comments made to The Sun (Baltimore) about using the supplemental draft as a security blanket were taken out of context. That still didn't ease concerns of teammates who were already questioning Jordan's
commitment.
Some Terps are miffed that Jordan, featured on the cover of Maryland's spring guide, doesn't even watch practices or train with the team. Coach Ron Vanderlinden takes blame for his team's unrest. "I did a bad job of preparing our players," he says. "The first they heard [of LaMont's absence] was at the press conference. They're young men and they reacted."
Jordan says he is isolating himself because he doesn't want to be a distraction. "They're working hard, busting their butts, and don't want to see some guy lying around taking it easy," says Jordan, adding that he lifts four times a week on a program prescribed by the strength coaches.
Of course, all will be forgiven this fall-if Jordan remains eligible, returns in shape and leads the Terps to their first bowl in a decade. -B.F.
