Seahawks stock up on Schmitt
Published 4:09 pm Sunday, April 27, 2008
KIRKLAND _ The Seattle Seahawks added another defensive lineman with their first pick on Day 2 of the NFL draft.
Seattle, which had no third-round pick, selected Texas A&M defensive tackle Joseph “Red” Bryant in the fourth round. Bryant joins USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson and Notre Dame tight end John Carlson in Seattle’s 2008 draft class.
The 6-foot-4, 318-pound Bryant had 46 tackles last season after missing part of the 2006 season with a torn ACL.
Bryant is engaged to be married to Janelle Green, the daughter of former Seahawk Jacob Green.
Bryant was given the nickname “Red” by his mother, who thought he was a red baby.
In Round 5, the Seahawks took West Virginia fullback Owen Schmitt. The 6-2, 247-pounder is an apt blocker and receiver out of the backfield.
Schmitt broke an unofficial school record by breaking 11 facemasks at West Virginia.
Another Schmitt, San Diego State long snapper Tyler Schmitt, went in Round 6. He is expected to help remedy Seattle’s special teams, which struggled to find a consistent snapper last season.
As a senior at Cactus High School in Peoria, Ariz., Schmitt led the state with 20 sacks.
In the seventh round, the Seahawks added Cal running back Justin Forsett and kicker Brandon Coutu of Georgia.
Forsett led the Pac-10 with 15 rushing touchdowns last year
Coutu’s 58-yard field goal in 2006 was the longest in SEC history without a tee.
