07:26 PM CDT on Thursday, April 13, 2006

By KEITH WHITMIRE / The Dallas Morning News

This is the first in a series profiling the top NFL draft prospects from Southwest schools.

Wednesday: Texas Tech, Baylor | Thursday: Texas A&M | Friday: Texas
Saturday: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State | Sunday: SMU, TCU, North Texas

Slay made big plays in his only season as a starter. Several of them, in fact.

He earned a well-deserved reputation as a big hitter whose collisions could alter the course of a game. He forced eight fumbles last season, a Big 12 record.

At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Slay has good size for defensive back and can definitely deliver the kind of blow needed to take down bigger tight ends and receivers. He's a good blitzer and run-stuffer without having to line up close to the line of scrimmage.

He doesn't have exceptional speed, which is his biggest drawback. As a junior college player, he also has just the one season starting at the Division I level.

Because he isn't known for his coverage skills, he may project to be more of a situational defensive back. However, with his nose for the ball (he made 18 tackles last season against Baylor) and ability to land knockout blows, he should be a standout on special teams.

2005: Khari Long, DE, sixth round, Kansas City. 2003: Ethan Kelley, DT, seventh round, New England. 2001: Gary Baxter, DB, second round, Baltimore.

2005: Dylan Gandy, C, fourth round, Indianapolis; Daniel Loper, OT, fifth round, Tennessee; Mike Smith, LB, seventh round, Baltimore. 2004: Carlos Francis, WR, fourth round, Oakland; B.J. Symons, QB, seventh round, Houston. 2003: Aaron Hunt, DE, sixth round, Denver; Kliff Kingsbury, QB, sixth round, San Francisco.

Defensive back: Since 1977, Baylor has had five DBs taken in the first and second round: Gary Green (1st , Kansas City, 1977), Gary Baxter (2nd, Baltimore, 2001), Robert Blackmon (2nd, Seattle, 1990), Ron Francis (2nd , Dallas, 1987) and Cedrick Mack (2nd, St. Louis, 1983).

Running back: Since 1987, Tech has had six running backs selected: Timmy Smith (5th, Washington, 1987), James Gray (5th, New England, 1990), Anthony McDowell (8th, Tampa Bay, 1992), Bam Morris (3rd, Pittsburgh, 1994), Byron Hanspard (2nd , Atlanta, 1997) and Sammy Morris (5th, Buffalo, 2000).

Mike Singletary, a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1981, had a Hall of Fame career. In 12 NFL seasons, Singletary was All-Pro eight times, went to 10 straight Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl.

In 1961, E.J. Holub was drafted by both the Cowboys (second round) and Dallas Texans (first round). He was a five-time AFL All-Star and started two Super Bowls for the Chiefs, one at linebacker and the other at center.

Offensive tackle Fred Miller was a fifth-round pick of the Rams in 1996. He’s started 133 games with the Rams, Titans and Bears and won a Super Bowl ring with St. Louis.

Linebacker Zach Thomas, another fifth-round pick in 1996, has played in five Pro Bowls with the Miami Dolphins.