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Monday, April 28, 2003

Seahawks picks at a glance

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF

CB Marcus Trufant, WSU

Trufant 
Trufant 

  • PICK: First round, 11th overall

  • HT/WT: 5-foot-11, 199 pounds

  • AGE: 22 (born Dec. 25, 1980)

  • HOW HE FITS: Brings immediate depth at a position where it is difficult to obtain, especially a player with Trufant's combination of speed, size and quickness. Also provides insurance against Shawn Springs leaving after the 2003 season, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Improved his draft status with an outstanding workout at the NFL scouting combine in February, running 40 yards in 4.38 and 4.42 seconds, popping a 39-inch vertical leap and doing 11 reps with 225 pounds.

  • BACKGROUND: Four-year starter at Washington State, where he compiled 201 tackles and 11 interceptions. ... Best cornerback on the field during the Senior Bowl practices and all-star game in January. ... Capped his career with a 74-tackle, three-interception effort during the Cougars' Rose Bowl season last year. ... Also lettered in basketball and track at Tacoma's Lincoln High School, where he was an all-state selection and 4A player of the year in football as a senior. ... Communications major.

  • THE WORD: "I was told that I was being watched, and that if I was available then I would be picked. A lot of teams said that, but things just happened that way. I'm here, and I'm just excited." -- Trufant, on his contact with the Seahawks prior to the draft.

    FS Ken Hamlin, Arkansas

    Hamlin 
    Hamlin 

  • PICK: Second round, 42nd overall

  • HT/WT: 6-2, 209

  • AGE: 22 (born Jan. 20, 1981)

  • HOW HE FITS: Like Trufant, provides depth at a position where it was needed and also can contribute on special teams. Hamlin is the best young big hitter the Seahawks have had at safety since Robert Blackmon, a second-round draft choice in 1990. He also possesses the range, instincts and quickness to challenge Damien Robinson, who was signed in free agency to replace Marcus Robertson.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds, had a 33-inch vertical leap and did 16 reps with 225 pounds at the scouting combine. Has bench-pressed 345 pounds.

    BACKGROUND: Passed up his senior season after being nominated for the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's top defensive player and the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back last year, when he had 159 tackles and four interceptions. ... Three-year starter at Arkansas, where he compiled a school-record 381 career tackles and became the first player to have 100-plus tackles for three consecutive seasons. ... Spent 10 days in jail in 2001 after his second drunk driving arrest in 14 months, but passed the Seahawks' stringent character test. ... Also played baseball and ran track at Fraysar High School in Memphis, Tenn., where he was 3A player of the year as a senior after accounting for 2,327 all-purpose yards, making 96 tackles and intercepting eight passes. ... Member of the National Honor Society. ... Business education major.

    THE WORD: "You have two really good special teams guys in Marcus and Kenny. That's one thing they will be part of. They will dress on Sundays, and they're going to contribute that way at first. Then we'll see where it goes from there." -- General manager Bob Ferguson.

    OT Wayne Hunter, Hawaii

    Hunter 
    Hunter 

  • PICK: Third round, 73rd overall

  • HT/WT: 6-5, 303

  • AGE: 21 (born July 2, 1981)

  • HOW HE FITS: Definitely not a "need" pick, especially on the first day of the draft. But the Seahawks couldn't help themselves when Hunter was still there with the 73rd pick -- he had been projected to be a late-first or early-second round choice. Hunter switched to offense only last year, and played in a run-and-shoot. So he will have to work on his run blocking. But his potential was too intriguing and he adds even more depth to a tackle group that already includes starters Walter Jones and Chris Terry and backups Michael Thompson and Matt Hill.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Jumped out at the combine, when he did 37 reps with 225 pounds, had a 31-inch vertical leap and ran 40 yards in 5.10 seconds.

  • BACKGROUND: Began his college career at another position (defensive tackle) and school (Cal). ... Transferred to Hawaii in 2000 and red-shirted before playing the 2001 season on defense and moving to offense last season. ... Despite his inexperience, he registered 69 knockdowns for an offense that averaged 386.1 yards. ... Also lettered in basketball and track at Radford High School in Honolulu. ... Physical education major.

  • THE WORD: "I'm not looking to backup anybody. Although I was a third-round pick, I'm going to come in like a first-rounder. I'm going to fight for a spot, I'll tell you that." -- Hunter, who is slated to be the backup to Jones, a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

    QB Seneca Wallace, Iowa State

    Wallace 
    Wallace 

  • PICK: Fourth round, 110th overall

  • HT/WT: 5-11, 196

  • AGE: 22 (born Aug. 6, 1980)

  • HOW HE FITS: Good question. Wallace is an outstanding athlete and considered the most dangerous runner in this year's QB class. But he slipped to the fourth round because he's 5-11, has what even he labels "a decent arm" and some teams considered him a better prospect at wide receiver.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Displayed his athleticism at the scouting combine by running a 4.53 40 and popping a 38-inch vertical leap.

    BACKGROUND: A junior college transfer who started his career at Oregon State before ending up at Iowa State the past two seasons. ... Was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, given to the nation's top senior QB, last year after setting a school record with 3,682 yards in total offense. He completed 55 percent of his passes (244 of 443) for 3,245 yards and 15 touchdowns, and ran for 437 yards and eight TDs. ... All-American at Sacramento City Junior College after passing for 3,675 yards and 22 TDs and rushing for 550 yards and nine scores as a sophomore. x... Attended Oregon State in 1998 and redshirted as a cornerback. ... Also played basketball at Rancho Cordova High School in Sacramento. ... Sociology major.

    THE WORD: "Oh man, you know you get tired of it. But that's kind of part of what I've been going through all my life playing quarterback and not being as tall as people would prefer. I'm just happy that God gave me this opportunity to be mentioned and be seen as a quarterback." -- Wallace on the persistent questions about what position he should be playing.

    MLB Solomon Bates, Ariz. St.

    Bates 
    Bates 

  • PICK: Fourth round, 135th overall

  • HT/WT: 6-1, 243

  • AGE: 21 (born April 18, 1982)

  • HOW HE FITS: Another unproven player to throw into a mix that already includes Orlando Huff and Isaiah Kacyvenski, who split time in the middle of the Seahawks defense last season. Considered a late bloomer who has yet to play his best football, Bates' immediate role will be on special teams. But his strong efforts against the run could increase Bates' role if Huff struggles.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Ran 40 yards in 4.89 seconds, did 19 reps with 225 pounds and had a 30-inch vertical leap at the scouting combine.

    Background: Moved into the starting lineup as a freshman and finished four-year career with 248 tackles. ... Played inside linebacker in a 3-4 front and weakside linebacker in a 4-3, as well as middle linebacker, during his stay in Tempe. ... Had a career-best 99 tackles in 2000. ... Turned in a 120-tackle, five-sack season as a junior at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, Calif. ... Sociology major.

    THE WORD: "He was inconsistent on a game to game basis during his career, but a lot of that can be blamed on poor play by the defensive tackles in front of him who struggled to hold the blocks and free up Bates to make plays." -- a sound-familiar capsule of Bates from Mel Kiper's draft report.

    FB Chris Davis, Syracuse

    Davis 
    Davis 

  • PICK: Fifth round, 165th overall

  • HT/WT: 5-11 1/2, 235

  • AGE: 23 (born Nov. 8, 1979)

  • HOW HE FITS: Versatility will be the key for Davis, who also can deep snap and has played tailback. To make the 53-man roster, he will have to unseat either starting fullback Mack Strong or backup Heath Evans, who doubles as the No. 3 running back.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Perceived as a better athlete than his on-field numbers at Syracuse would indicate, Davis played into that at the scouting combine by running the 40 in 4.51 seconds -- the top time among fullbacks -- doing 21 reps with 225 pounds and popping a 38 1/2-inch vertical leap.

    BACKGROUND: Carried the ball just 73 times in four years at Syracuse, averaging only 2.8 yards, and caught nine passes. ... Moved to fullback after his freshman season. ... Recruited to Syracuse by Teryl Austin, the Seahawks new secondary coach. ... Scored 14 touchdowns as a senior at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Fla. ... Sociology major.

    THE WORD: "The first year as a fullback it was real hard because I was only about 214 and I took a beating over the course of the season. So I had to gain some weight so I'd be able to move some guys whenever I had to." -- Davis on making to move from tailback.

    DT Rashad Moore, Tennessee

    Moore 
    Moore 

  • PICK: Sixth round, 183rd overall

  • HT/WT: 6-3, 324

  • AGE: 24 (born March 16, 1979)

  • HOW HE FITS: It took five-plus rounds and 183 picks, but the Seahawks finally got a wide body for the middle of their defensive line. Was it too much, too late? Maybe not. Moore's forte is using his natural strength, explosiveness, quickness and size to stop the run.

    His arrival gave the Seahawks only their second D-tackle who weighs more than 305 -- until they traded a later sixth-round pick (203rd overall) to the Saints for Norman Hand. But Moore must show he can do it at this level, and stay healthy.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Ran the 40 in 4.98 seconds at his Pro Day workout after passing at the combine.

    Background: Did not become a fulltime starter until last season because he had been playing behind John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth, who were first-round picks in the NFL draft last year. ... Had 41 tackles as a senior. ... Played only two years of football at Johnson High School in Huntsville, Ala., but turned in 65 tackles and 10 1/2 sacks as a senior. ... Also played basketball in high school. ... Given first name is Glenn, but goes by his middle name. ... Psychology major.

    THE WORD: "It was very difficult playing this past year without those guys, due to the fact that I was the only returning lineman that had played the previous season." -- Moore on losing Henderson and Haynesworth.

    K Josh Brown, Nebraska

    Brown 
    Brown 

  • PICK: Seventh round, 222nd overall

  • HT/WT: 6 foot, 202

  • AGE: 23 (born April 29, 1979)

  • HOW HE FITS: Right now, he's the best kicker on the team, because he's the only kicker on the team. That could change, since the Seahawks are expected to sign a veteran kicker before they go to training camp to challenge Brown for the job that opened when the club decided not to match the offer sheet Rian Lindell signed with the Buffalo Bills.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Not that it matters all that much, but he has run 40 yards in 4.81 seconds and has a 32 1/2-inch vertical jump. More importantly, he consistently drove the ball 5 or 6 yards into the end zone on kickoffs during his workout for Seahawks special teams coach Pete Rodriguez.

    BACKGROUND: Took over the kicking duties in 1999 after red shirting for a season. ... Hit 43 of 62 field-goal attempts for his career, but was only a 53-percent kicker from 40-plus yards (10 of 19). ... Had his best season last year, hitting 14 of 18 -- including 7 of 9 from 40-plus. ... Finished third in school history with 315 points, ranking behind quarterback Eric Crouch (368 points) and kicker Kris Brown (388). ... Kicked a 61-yard field goal in the Oklahoma state playoffs as a junior at Foyil (Okla.) High School, where he also played running back and safety, punted and returned punts and kickoffs in the eight-man league. ... Also was a two-time state high jump champion, clearing a career-best 6-8 in the state meets in 1997 and 1998. ... Communication studies major.

    THE WORD: "Actually, I had three teams that were really looking to draft me hard. I had heard late third (round), early fourth. It was looking pretty gruesome there at the end." -- Brown on waiting until the seventh round to be drafted.

    WR Taco Wallace, Kansas State

    Wallace 
    Wallace 

  • PICK: Seventh round, 224th overall

  • HT/WT: 5-11, 193

  • AGE: 22 (born April 14, 1981)

  • HOW HE FITS: James Williams, a sixth-round pick in 2000, and Alex Bannister, a fifth-round pick on 2001, have done little in limited opportunities to lock up the fourth receiver spot since being drafted, so Wallace has a chance.

  • BY THE NUMBERS: Was not invited to the scouting combine.

    Background: Played two seasons at Kansas State after transferring from Mount San Antonio (Calif.) Junior College. ... Caught 39 passes for an 18.1-yard average and five touchdowns last season. ... Had a 49-catch, 1,072-yard, nine-TD season at Mount San Antonio in 2000. ... Team MVP at Taft High School as a senior, when he caught 80 passes in 10 games. ... Also lettered in track in high school. ... Architecture major. ... Real name is Lawrence, and declined to elaborate on how he got his nickname in elementary school.

    THE WORD: "My uncle is a Seahawks fan, so I was always going against the Seahawks. But now I'm a Seahawk." -- Wallace when asked if he followed the team growing up in Southern California.

    -- Clare Farnsworth

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