Bengals initially will try him at outside linebacker but say he can also be deployed inside, to the tight-end side. He was one of the top pass rushers in the Big East, with 33 career sacks. Shows good burst off line of scrimmage but reportedly needs to find a wider array of pass-rush moves. ''His straight-ahead style will run right into a brick wall at the pro level,'' Kiper says.

Curtis is athletic enough to have been used as a fullback in goal-line situations at West Virginia. Analysts list him as a ''tweener,'' a pass-rush linebacker who may be limited in pass coverage and not big enough to be a down defensive end. Bengals linebacker coach Mark Duffner said Curtis' top attribute is his college productivity, with the high number of sacks against strong competition. But his stock dropped as his senior season went along, and his lack of speed (4.85) hurts. He also reportedly played in spurts in college, taking some downs off.

Name is pronounced ''Can-NOOT.'' Younger brother, Maurice, plays basketball at West Virginia.

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