Dillard Still Dreams Of Playing Pro Football -- Ex-Lindbergh, WSU Tight End Is Determined

FEDERAL WAY

First, he was disappointed. Now, he is determined.

A nibble from the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football last March whetted Mitch Dillard's appetite to play professional football.

"I got a taste of it, and it really fired me up," he said.

At 27, Dillard's talk of trying to break into professional football as a tight end might come off as a lot of smoke. But Ken Austin, coach of the Federal Way Jets minor-league football team, sees the flicker of hope. Dillard, a 1982 graduate of Lindbergh High School in Renton, always has been a late bloomer.

"He can play," Austin said.

Austin, who aspires to becoming a sports agent, said he contacted the New York Giants about giving Dillard a tryout. He was told if one of their tight ends went down, they'd give Dillard a look. Dillard, who spent 2 1/2 seasons as a backup center at Washington State University before finally getting a chance at tight end, also has had contact with the Seahawks. He said he was told someone would be in touch if a need at tight end develops.

"It's not impossible," Dillard said of his pro aspirations. "People have been real encouraging. I don't know if they're the right people, but I'll keep playing, and if the opportunity comes along, I'll take it."

Currently, Dillard is playing for the Jets, who opened their Northwest Football League schedule last Saturday with a 17-9 loss to the Eugene Blast. Their home opener is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Federal Way Stadium against the Snohomish-King County Blue Knights.

This is Dillard's third season in the NWFL. He started with the Seattle Express in 1989 and played with the Tacoma Express last summer. In December, he decided to attend a WLAF tryout camp in California. He was drafted by the Sacramento Surge in February and drove down for their training camp. After three weeks, he was cut. Dillard said he didn't fit into the team's run-and-shoot offense.

"I was disappointed," he said. "It was a long drive back. I had a good 12 hours to think about it . . . I didn't know if I'd get another opportunity to play pro football, but at the same time I was confident I had the talent to do it. It was just a matter of figuring out how to get somebody to give me a chance."

He had met Tom Flores, Seahawks general manager, while playing for the Express. Dillard, a marketing major at WSU, decided to market himself. He sent Flores a videotape, along with a resume.

"They sent me a letter and said that as of now they have four tight ends under contract," said Dillard, a muscular 6-foot-4, 245 pounds. "They said if they're in the market for one, they'll consider me and they'll keep my resume on file. I don't know where that's going. Probably nowhere."

In high school, Dillard appeared to be going nowhere as far as football was concerned. His father, Clyde, a former All-American at West Virginia State, wouldn't even let him play until his freshman year. Mitch now admits he was gangly and a bit uncoordinated.

"I was lucky to keep from falling down, let alone make an all-star play," he said.

By his senior year, Dillard had developed into a part-time starter at outside linebacker. He yearned to play tight end, but was needed at offensive tackle.

"At that time, football wasn't that great," he said. "I could take or leave it. I was disappointed that I wasn't as strong or as fast as the other guys. I've always been a late bloomer."

Dillard credits his high school coach, Bill Diambri, for keeping him interested.

"I was going to give it up, but he told me if I did, I'd never forgive myself, and he's probably right," he said.

Dillard had a friend playing at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, so he decided to try out for the team, and wound up starting at outside linebacker. After visiting one of his sisters at WSU, he decided to transfer and try out for the Cougars as a walk-on. He was converted to center and was a backup for two years, mostly playing on special teams.

Again, Dillard longed to play tight end, but was not given the opportunity until his senior year in 1986 on a run-dominated team led by Rueben Mayes and Kerry Porter.

"Steve Morton, my line coach, finally talked the tight-end coach into giving me a chance," he said. "They had a couple of injuries, and I finally got the opportunity to play. Within the first week, I was there, and I spent the rest of the season as the starting tight end."

A professional football career didn't seem in the offing, so Dillard returned home, began working as an insurance claims agent, and played flag football to stay in shape. He later hooked up with the Express, enhancing his worth by learning to become a long-snapper for punts and field goals. He does both for the Jets. Dillard is a well-rounded tight end, adept at both blocking and receiving, and has 4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash.

"He's got the whole package," said Mick McGrath, the Jets' offensive coordinator. "We're very fortunate to have him."

Austin said he remembered Dillard from the Express, and located him this summer playing flag football.

"I went to evaluate him to see if he meets the Ken Austin criteria of football, and that's to be mobile, agile and hostile, and he's all three of the above," Austin said.