2015 NFL DRAFT

Seahawks’ Marsh has versatility, football pedrigree

May 10, 2014, 10:08 AM | Updated: Apr 8, 2016, 10:51 am

By Danny O’Neil

RENTON – After choosing two players over the first two days of the draft, Seattle will have three picks in the fourth round alone, a blitz that began with the selection of Cassius Marsh, a defensive end from UCLA.

The rationale: Pass rush is paramount to the Seahawks. They demonstrated that last year with the offseason signings of Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, and the selection of Marsh shows Seattle will always be looking for that push off the edge.



Cassius Marsh | DE | UCLA


Height/Weight: 6-4, 252
Drafted: Round 4, No. 108 overall
Hometown: Simi Valley, Calif.
Notable: Marsh’s father Curtis was a wide receiver who played three seasons in the NFL and his older brother, who is also named Curtis, is a defensive back with the Eagles.

He was productive in the Pac-12 with seven sacks as a junior and five as a senior. He’s also a fiery player, someone who was ejected from UCLA’s game against Cal for throwing a punch mid-play.

The risk: He weighed 300 pounds when he was a freshman, which he characterized as “sloppy”. He trimmed down significantly, first to 285 at tackle and then down to 265 once coach Jim Mora arrived and Marsh moved to defensive end.

At this point, he could be considered undersized as a defensive end. However, the Seahawks’ specs at that position are changing as evidenced by Seattle’s decision to cut Red Bryant, the biggest of the Seahawks’ defensive linemen.

Two personal notes: First, his father Curtis Marsh played wide receiver in the NFL. Cassius’ older brother Curtis, who is named after their father, is a defensive back with the Eagles. Second, Cassius said he was watching “The Last Samurai” with his dog, a pit bull named “Boss” whom Marsh called the cutest dog in the world. Informed that Marshawn Lynch would love his dog, Marsh asked, “Why? Does he love pit bulls?” Nope. He loves calling people boss.

2015 NFL Draft

...

Brady Henderson

Report: Tye Smith signs rookie deal with Seahawks

Not long after offensive lineman Kristjan Sokoli's agent Tweeted that his client was the Seahawks' first draft pick to sign his rookie deal, a report stated that cornerback Tye Smith has become the second.

9 years ago

Brady Henderson

Agent: Kristjan Sokoli signs rookie deal with Seahawks

Offensive lineman Kristjan Sokoli has become the first of the Seahawks' eight draft picks to sign his rookie deal, his agent Tweeting Thursday that the sixth-round pick is now under contract.

9 years ago

Seahawks draft pick Frank Clark was arrested and jailed in November on a domestic-violence charge t...

Brady Henderson

Report: Seahawks didn’t interview witnesses to alleged Clark incident

Two women who were in an adjacent hotel room during the alleged domestic-violence incident involving Seahawks draft pick Frank Clark have shared additional details with The Seattle Times and told the paper that the team never spoke with them as part of its investigation.

9 years ago

A relief trip to Darfur convinced Seahawks signing Nate Boyer to pursue his dream of playing footba...

Brent Stecker

34-year-old rookie and ex-Green Beret Nate Boyer details his journey from military to the Seahawks

There's only one 34-year-old former Green Beret rookie trying to catch on with an NFL team for the 2015 season, and Seahawks hopeful Nate Boyer's story is every bit as inspiring as it sounds.

9 years ago

John Schneider says Seattle wouldn’t have drafted Frank Clark if they believed he struck his ...

Brady Henderson

Schneider: Seahawks ‘absolutely’ believe Clark didn’t hit girlfriend

Seahawks general manager John Schneider joined 710 ESPN Seattle's "Brock and Salk" Monday morning and talked further about the team's controversial decision to draft defensive end Frank Clark despite past allegations of domestic violence.

9 years ago

Connor Halliday will attempt follow in the footsteps of WSU great Mark Rypien as a Washington QB. (...

Brent Stecker

WSU’s Connor Halliday, UW’s Andrew Hudson agree to UDFA deals

After a prolific career at Washington State, Connor Halliday will get a shot to bring the air raid to the NFL, signing a deal as an undrafted free agent with Washington.

9 years ago

Seahawks’ Marsh has versatility, football pedrigree