Seventh-round pick Zac Brooks part of Seahawks’ stockpile at RB
Apr 30, 2016, 7:09 PM
RENTON – The Seahawks expect Thomas Rawls to return to form from the broken ankle that cut his rookie season short, and all indications are that he has a good chance to be ready to play by Week 1.
They nonetheless stocked up at running back in this year’s draft. After taking C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins, the Seahawks used their 10th and final pick on Clemson’s Zac Brooks, who began his career as a wide receiver and never started for the Tigers.
Brooks was chosen in the seventh round, No. 247.
He’s listed at 6 feet 1 and 200 pounds.
“Zac is right up our alley,” general manager John Schneider said.
Danny O’Neil: Seahawks’ draft heavy on offense while league focuses on defense
Brooks was a highly-recruited receiver coming out of high school. He said he wanted to be a hybrid who also played running back, but his career was slowed by injuries. He never carried more than 50 times in any of his three seasons with the Tigers and finished with 607 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
He declared for the draft after his junior season for a combination of personal and professional reasons. One is the health of his father, Malcolm, who developed a lung condition from years of crawling under houses while working in pest control.
“The mold from under some of the houses ate up his lungs, so he is not able to breathe regularly and he’s on oxygen right now,” Brooks said. “He’s looking toward a lung transplant.”
Brooks said he was in the seventh grade when his father’s health took a turn.
“I had to grow up a little bit. I had to take care of my little brother a little bit more and be more of a role model. I had to do more things around the house,” he said. “It forced me to mature a little faster. I took more pride in life. It gave me a different perspective that anything can be taken away from you at any time. That’s the reason why I never quit; my dad is in this situation, but he does his best to take care of the family. If he can do it, I know that I can do it.”
