MANDARICH AS THE PROS SEE HIM

The NFL has never before had an offensive line prospect like Tony Mandarich.

"In the 20 years I've been in this business," says the Giants' player personnel director, Tom Boisture, "he's the best college football player I've ever seen."

Gee, Tom, can't you be more positive about the guy?

"Anthony Munoz is the measuring stick for all offensive linemen coming out," says Boisture of the Bengals' eight-time All-Pro, "and this kid is better."

Never has so much mass (6'6", 315 pounds) moved so fast (4.65 in the 40). "Maybe the fastest offensive tackle in history," says San Diego general manager Steve Ortmayer, "and just maybe the best."

"It's really fun to watch him in practice," says Dick Steinberg, New England's director of player development. "He's running all over the field, screaming at his teammates. And he's always working on his techniques, which are almost perfect anyway."

Can an NFL team build a game plan around an offensive tackle? Why not? Michigan State had great success running left, behind Mandarich's drive blocking. Sometimes the Spartans got cute and tried to spread the action around. Why not just hammer away. Woody Hayes style? An NFL team could do that.

Any knocks on Mandarich?

"Well, he didn't break the Cybex strength machine, like Munoz did," says the player personnel director of the Jets, Mike Hickey. "And he didn't pitch on the baseball team, like Munoz did."