Maximum Exposure

Monday, Jan. 16 MOBILE

Elkins arrives at the Senior Bowl from Palo Alto, Calif., where he played in the East-West Shrine Game the day before. In that game his second pass was intercepted, and he bobbled four snaps. He is greeted at the airport by the Azalea Trail Maids, the town's designated hostesses. The 20 perky teenagers are dressed in peach, turquoise and lime-green hoopskirts with matching parasols. They beg Elkins to pose for a photograph. "I'm allergic to taffeta." he cracks, and then obliges.

At the hotel, Elkins changes into a T-shirt and denim shorts. With his day-old beard and sunglasses, he's a dead ringer for Don Johnson. He heads downstairs for the Meat Market.

Later, about 5 p.m., playbooks are issued to the offense by Denver Bronco coach Dan Reeves, who, along with his Bronco staff, will coach Elkins and the North team. "You have a good opportunity to increase your chances of being drafted," says Reeves. "Remember, no player will be downgraded because of his performance this week."

Reeves moves to the blackboard and quickly discusses the 84 offensive plays in the three-ring notebooks: plays like Split Right Trap Left Weak, Brown Right Draw Left Fullback Slant, Fire Pass Trap Left 2 Route Halfback Shoot & Go Split Right. Elkins's brain is on overload. "The plays are named in an unsystematic way," he says. "You can't figure them out in a rational manner; you just have to memorize them. But this is the way Dan Reeves learned football, and he expects you to handle it."

Tuesday, Jan. 17

The North's morning practice begins at Davidson High shortly before 10 a.m. There are rickety bleachers on one side of the track. Rusty goalposts teeter in the end zones. Inside the equipment shed, the Lady Warriors Volleyball Booster Club hawks refreshments.

Familiar figures patrol the field—coaches Jim Mora of the New Orleans Saints, Gene Stallings of the Phoenix Cardinals. Ron Meyer of the Indianapolis Colts and Mike Shanahan of the Los Angeles Raiders. After each play Reeves tutors Elkins on his footwork and on taking the snap. Elkins appears tentative, a bit awed. Duke quarterback Anthony Dilweg looks much more aggressive.

Elkins rallies during the afternoon workout. This session is a full-fledged scrimmage, and for that reason, it is jammed with nearly 500 NFL representatives—twice as many as attended the morning practice—plus a dozen or so Canadian Football League scouts and even a couple of NBA bird dogs. The talent hunters at these shindigs abide by two steadfast rules: Never let the other guys know what you're thinking, and guard your notes with your life. Miami Dolphin coach Don Shula is asked his opinion of Elkins, who is working out right in front of him. "I haven't seen him," says Shula, turning to the fellow next to him. "Ask Bobby Beathard."

Beathard, the Washington Redskins general manager, begs off, too. "I haven't seen Elkins this year," he says, turning to the fellow next to him. "Ask Ron Wolf."