As NFL teams prepare for the April draft, talent evaluators like myself continue to ask the age-old question in regards to small-school talent.

When are general managers going to get over that "level of competition" stigma and start drafting who they perceived to be the best players available to fit their respective needs?

It appears that the Cincinnati Bengals are one of many teams ready to buck the trend as they continue to express their interest in Hampton University stud LB Justin Durant, who is catching fire around the league.

The Bengals sent linebacker coach Ricky Hunley to the school's campus last Thursday to work out Durant, and the way I hear it Hunley came away thoroughly impressed.

Although the Bengals may not be targeting the linebacker with their first-round pick, there is no question that he is on their list.

Durant met with head coach Marvin Lewis and company at the combine in February, and the team apparently was impressed enough to want to get a closer look at the linebacker.

Performance impressive

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound wrecking ball is quickly changing team's perception about the level of competition in which he played after watching him workout live and on film. Durant shined at the school's pro day during linebacker drills, and the numbers he posted at the combine were comparable to any linebacker entering the draft.

Durant ran a 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash and banged out 25 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

He registered a 36½ vertical jump and a 10-foot-1 broad jump. He has intrigued a number of teams that include the Bengals, Bears, Bills, Saints, Rams and Dolphins since his performance.

Durant is a fast riser and was once thought to be a Day Two guy, but now you may see him go as early as round two. Reason being, teams are realizing that he's a playa!

'Special' player

One of Durant's representatives, Robert London II, believes that he is something special.

"Pound for pound, Justin is one of the best linebackers transitioning into the NFL," London said. "His style of play and his aggressiveness I believe are head and shoulders above all the larger prospects from some of the more prominent schools.

"He is intelligent and has great football knowledge. Justin is special."

Don't think for a moment that this is just an agent trying to sell or hype his client.

The man who coached Durant for the past two seasons, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jerry Holmes, who spent five years coaching defensive backs for the San Diego Chargers (2002-03), Washington Redskins (2001) and Cleveland Browns (1999-00), more than backed up London's sentiments.

"Justin is very competitive," Holmes said. "He wants to win every 40-yard dash at the end of practice. He wants to be No. 1 in the weight room. Even if we're doing drills, linebacker vs. linebacker, he wants to win that."

Defensive leader

When it comes to learning Durant is more than a student of the game. He's like a professor.

"He's a minimal rep kind of guy," Holmes said. "Some guys require some reps to learn a defense. With Justin, we put a new defense in one time on the board and it's done. I can go and coach the other guys. He's a leader on defense, makes good calls from the huddle and makes good adjustments on the field. Justin is one of those guys. You know, like this time of year when spring practice is over and all the coaches are gone, he's in the film room watching tape. He's a real dedicated player."

The coach added that Durant likes to lead by example and doesn't like to show teammates up on the field. He said Durant is an all-around good character guy.

When asked where he thought Durant should go in the draft, coach Holmes spoke straight from the heart.

"Based on the information that I've received from guys I know in the NFL. I would be disappointed if he doesn't go on the first day," he said.

Plenty of confidence

Durant doesn't quite understand why he's viewed differently just because the level of talent on the field. He believes that he can play at any level and had a message to deliver to the league.

"I can't help where I attended school. The only thing I can do is put it on film and play hard every week. I work the hardest out of everyone and the level of competition thing is something I don't understand. We work just as hard has anyone else," Durant said.

Durant said he doesn't listen to all negative things being said about playing against a lower level talent because he knows those things doesn't apply to him.

What he accomplished at Hampton, three-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, should be a plus and not a negative. That said, not everyone looks at it as being a negative.

According to sources, there were a ton of teams throughout the season who made the trip to the university to watch Durant perform. Some teams twice.

The slant on Durant

Durant is very athletic and has the ability to make plays. He's very physical and his instincts are unbelievable. He shows good hands when catching the ball and is very versatile.

He covers well and makes plays downfield. Durant could probably play strong safety if he had to at the next level.

He's a high-motor guy who attacks the ball with a reckless abandon.

The one thing the dynamite linebacker will have to work on making the transition to the pros is shedding his blocks. Durant played the inside linebacker position in a 3-4 defense that ran a lot of stunts, which allowed him to run free and use his athletic ability, so he wouldn't have to take on guards and tackles. In the pros, he will have to learn to secure one gap and still be in position to take on a guard or a led with the fullback.

He needs to show a team that he can fill a hole and explode.

I believe Durant would be a product backer in any defensive scheme, but would probably be best served at this point playing the SAM position where he could utilize his God gifted ability more often.

Who will take chance?

Durant would be a more than adequate replacement for LB David Pollack if he were unable to return to the team because of his neck injury.

There is no doubt in my mind that if Durant were being judged solely on his ability to play football he would be a first-round lock, but he's not.

Instead, he is judged more on the level of competition that he's played, which is unfair. However, not every team is buying into the low level of competition thing, and the Bengals are one of them.

I'm told that at least six teams have Durant rated as one of the top three linebackers in the draft.

The question is who will be the team to pull the trigger on the hard-nosed linebacker who deserves to go on Day One of the draft.