The Basics: 5′8″, 194, 4.55 40. Picked in 7th round, 233rd overall.

First Impression: Great change of pace guy, and he can catch!

College: Forsett [ESPN] sat behind Marshawn Lynch for three years, but made the most of his year at feature back, running for 1546 yards–15th-best in the nation. And he didn’t just roll up big numbers against inferior teams Ian Johnson style; Forsett had a career high 164 yards against USC. Even though he played behind Lynch, he ended his career as Cal’s third-all-time leading rusher.

Back Draft: The Seahawks have done a pretty damn good job of drafting running backs. The franchise’s very first RB pick (and third overall) was Sherman Smith (1976, 2/58) out of Miami (OH), who led the team in rushing its first four seasons. (Note–with the very next pick after Smith, the Hawks took a slender receiver out of Georgia Tech named Steve Raible). In ‘83, the Hawks took Curt Warner with the 3rd overall pick, he was headed to the Hall of Fame but for the awful Kingdome turf. In Warner’s last year, 1990, the Hawks drafted Chris Warren (4/89). Warren was the best thing about some awful Hawks teams, and provided pretty much the highlight of the 1990s when he ran for 3 TDs in a 44-10 blowout win over the Raiders on (I believe) Sunday Night Football. They picked Ahman Green in ‘98, and even though they let him go because he fumbled too much, he had a great career for a third-round pick (76th overall). And, of course, drafting Shaun Alexander in 2000 with the 19th overall pick. I know we all have issues with Shaun, but the back picked ahead of him was Ron Dayne (1/11), and the back picked behind him was Trung Canidate (1/31). So, yeah, that was a good choice.

Random Shit I Thought Of: The Seahawks often get a hard time for not drafting Tony Dorsett with their 2nd overall pick in the ‘77 draft (they instead traded down for a first-rounder and three second-rounders, which is exactly what a building or rebuilding franchise should do…are you listening, Al Davis? Apparently not.) Anyway, Forsett? Dorsett? Shut up, I know.

YouTube Delights: Many! Here’s two minutes of Forsett highlights set to the Cal fight song. Here’s a pretty cool highlight where he disappears in the Oregon State defense and explodes out of the pile for a nice gain. And a 60-yard screen pass catch and run against Tennessee.

The Analysts Said: Scouts, Inc. had him as a fifth-round pick, touting his potential as a kick/punt returner and as a gunner on special teams.

He’ll Be Measured Against: Mike Hart of Michigan, another diminutive back from a major conference who ended up going late in the draft (6th round to Indy). Hart is a power runner, while Forsett relies on speed, but both were clearly dinged by NFL scouts for their size. Can one of them make it? Either? Both?

Best Scenario: Forsett beats out Mo Morris for the backup running back job. He’ll have to to make the team, as the Hawks usually carry just five running backs. Forsett isn’t as big as Morris but he supposedly has more explosiveness at the line of scrimmage. He also may function better as a returner.

Bust Scenario: As a seventh-rounder, Forsett can’t really be a bust, but if he doesn’t show a better burst than Mo Morris, and bobbles punts and kickoff returns, the Hawks won’t have gotten what they expected.