Underclassmen Headed for NFL Draft

Sunday, January 14th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Arizona State tight end Todd Heap joined a glittering list of college players leaving early, making his decision Friday on the final day for underclassmen to declare their NFL draft intentions.

Quarterbacks Michael Vick of Virginia Tech, Josh Booty of LSU and Quincy Carter of Georgia, All-American cornerback Jamar Fletcher and running backs Rudi Johnson and Heath Evans already had said they would turn pro.

All-American running back Damien Anderson of Northwestern and quarterback Antwaan Randle El of Indiana, however, said they would stay in school.

Anderson was the nation's No. 2 rusher, running for a school-record 1,914 yards and 22 touchdowns. Only TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for more yardage (2,158 yards).

Anderson finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a junior.

``My heart is here at Northwestern,'' Anderson said, coach Randy Walker sitting by his side.

``The family relationship we have, that definitely played a role. I wanted to be a part of that for one more year. I love college football, I love my team and I love playing for coach Walker.''

Randle El had started filling out paperwork for the draft when he changed his mind.

``I got midway and stopped and really thought about some stuff,'' he said. ``I think Wednesday night, I really didn't know where I wanted to go, and Thursday morning, I got up and still didn't know. Then it really hit me.''

The Indiana junior holds the school record for total offense with 8,716 yards. He needs 681 yards rushing to set a Division I-A career record for quarterbacks.

Heap, nicknamed ``The Golden Retriever'' by coach Bruce Snyder, was Arizona State's career leader for receptions by a tight end. The 6-foot-5 junior caught 115 passes for 1,685 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons.

``I've thought long and hard about it,'' he said in the press box at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. ``I've taken every minute that I can. That's why it came down to this last day. It was a very difficult decision. A lot of long hours and effort went into making this decision.''

``There were so many things that went into it. I went through a long list of pros and cons,'' he said. ``I can't even begin to discuss how many different things I talked about with my family and with other people that are important to me.''

Heap said he was told by the NFL advisory council that he was projected to go in the first or second round.

``It's more important to hear it from them than anybody else,'' Heap said. ``It was just reassuring and made everybody feel better.''

He could be the first tight end selected.

``It would be nice,'' Heap said. ``That's what I'm going to work for.''

Among the other players leaving early for the NFL are Wisconsin tailback Michael Bennett, Texas A&M receiver Robert Ferguson, Auburn receiver Ronney Daniels and North Carolina State receiver Koren Robinson.

San Diego owns the NFL's first pick after finishing 1-15 this season. The draft will be held April 21-22.