Seahawks take DT Jaye Howard with second pick in fourth round
Apr 28, 2012, 11:12 AM | Updated: 1:40 pm
By Liz Mathews
The Seahawks selected University of Florida defensive tackle Jaye Howard with their second pick in the fourth round, 114th overall.
Howard said he recognized the area code when the team called him this morning. Gators’ defensive coordinator/line coach Dan Quinn was formerly with the Seahawks.
“Coach Quinn called me when he first came to the University of Florida, and I knew right then where I was going,” Howard told the Seattle media.
Howard received the call this morning in the Apple Store where he had stopped to re-charge his phone.
The 6-feet-3, 301 pound defensive lineman started all 13 games last season, with a total of 25 starts in 45 games played for the Gators.
Throughout his career, Howard logged 131 tackles (80 solo, 25.5 for a loss), 11 sacks, two pass break-ups, and three fumble recoveries – one of which was returned for a touchdown.
“With experience lining up at several different defensive line spots during his career, Howard offers the versatile skill set teams look for,” notes STATS LLC. “But despite his solid numbers at Florida, Howard was inconsistent and didn’t play his best against elite teams like Alabama and LSU. He also took too many face-mask and offside penalties, too often jumping on hard counts.”
Howard does offer flexibility though, having played all over the defensive line in college: nose, tackle and end.
“I can get to the quarterback,” Howard said. “So I feel like I’ll be better playing the 3-technique.”
You can find the full scouting report here.
The Seahawks have only one pick in the fifth round, but two in each of the sixth and seventh rounds.
