TWO ROOKIES: One is following in the footsteps of a famous father, the other is putting his academic aspirations on hold. Free agent rookies RODDRICK NEWHOUSE, a running back from Rice, and ADAM HERNANDEZ, an offensive lineman from Yale, crossed paths recently at the Baltimore Ravens' first 1998 minicamp.

Newhouse, son of former Dallas Cowboys running back and present Cowboys Director of Player Assistance and Development ROBERT NEWHOUSE, has been reacquainted with Ravens running backs coach AL LAVAN, who coached his father in Dallas. "I was a little kid running around Texas Stadium all the time," said the younger Newhouse. "Now, I’m working under the same guy who coached my dad."

Hernandez, who earned a 3.54 grade-point average as a biology major at Yale, is putting his plans for medical school – he was admitted to Cornell, Maryland, NYU and Penn – on hold in hopes of becoming the 23rd Eli to make the NFL. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Hernandez. "There’s no way I could pass this up. You see that you’re going to be playing with guys like JONATHAN OGDEN and PETER BOULWARE. EARNEST BYNER is out there coaching. It sort of blows your mind."

NFL’S HIGH SCHOOL HELPERS: High school football is getting a boost this offseason, thanks to many NFL teams.

For example, in Pennsylvania, the Foothills Football Classic in North Huntingdon on June 13 -- an all-star game featuring college-bound players from 42 schools in Western Pennsylvania -- will get a taste of the NFL when the Pittsburgh Steelers’ "NFL Experience on Tour" comes to Norwin High School, site of the game. The Steelers Experience is a scaled-down version of the NFL Experience, the interactive football theme park that has been a fan favorite at the past seven Super Bowls.

"It’s a great thing for our game to be associated with the NFL," said LARRY ANLAUF, chairman of the game. "If your son is going to play in the classic, it’s going to catch his eye that it has support from the NFL. That’s special."

In Florida, the Miami Dolphins will donate proceeds from two training camp scrimmages to high school athletics in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. "We realize the importance that athletics has in shaping the future of high school student-athletes," says Dolphins president EDDIE JONES. "We feel that the program we are initiating this year will help to ensure that high school athletics in both counties continue to play an important part in the growth of these students."

And in Nashville, Tennessee, head coach JEFF FISHER and his Tennessee Oilers assistants conducted a two-day clinic for high school coaches in late April that was a resounding hit for all 210 coaches in attendance.

"It’s amazing that the Oilers are this accessible," said Mount Vernon (Ind.) High School head coach GREG MYERS, who drove more than two hours to attend the clinic. "I’m impressed with this whole organization."

"We learn, too, even though we’re putting on the clinic," said Fisher. "You’re exchanging ideas."

ON A ROLL: Kansas City Chiefs running back DONNELL BENNETT is following a new diet which has helped him lose 16 pounds and cut his body fat from 14 to nine percent. Bennett changed his eating patterns, with five small meals a day rather than two or three big ones, and does not eat after 7:00 PM. "I feel a lot quicker, a lot more confident," he says. His teammates are confident in Bennett as well. Wide receiver ANDRE RISON has nicknamed Bennett "Bread and Butter."

"I call him that because of the diet," Rison says, "and because he better be our bread and butter when the season rolls around."

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: The Chiefs take on the Green Bay Packers in the Tokyo American Bowl on August 2, but Chiefs receiver REGGIE JONES has already performed well overseas this year. Jones (England Monarchs) ranks second in the NFL Europe League in receiving yards (458), is tied for second with four scoring catches and tied for fifth with 25 receptions. Also among league leaders is Jacksonville Jaguars running back MALCOLM THOMAS (Amsterdam Admirals), who has rushed for a league-high 567 yards and 4.7 yards per carry. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback MIKE QUINN has led the Rhein Fire to a first place 6-1 record and has a league-best 92.3 passer rating with nine TD passes.

NO LONGER A SECRET: Conventional wisdom holds that it would not be easy to miss a 6-foot-5, 305-pound man.

Meet Cincinnati Bengals rookie tackle DERRICK LEVAKE, who served as an Army Ranger before attending Wisconsin-Whitewater. "His specialty was covert operations, which could mean assassinations for all I know," said Bengals offensive line coach PAUL ALEXANDER. "I asked him if he had ever killed a coach and he said no, so that was good."

Former Bengals tackle ANTHONY MUNOZ, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, is one observer who didn’t miss Levake. Munoz recommended him to the club after watching him play at an offensive line camp. Said Munoz: "Just from his intensity and his attitude, I would think he would rise to the challenge."

BOOK SMART: Last November 16, Kansas City linebacker DERRICK THOMAS entered the record books when he brought down Denver Broncos quarterback JOHN ELWAY to become the 15th player in NFL history with 100 sacks. More recently, Thomas has been focusing on children’s books. In April, he donated $61,000 to the Kansas Public Library to cover the overdue fines of children in the city. In addition, Thomas will purchase children’s books for the library with proceeds from the sale of 58 (his uniform number) limited-edition footballs – at $1,000 each – autographed by himself and Elway to commemorate the 100th sack.