As Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin have been absent for this offseason's camps, the Seahawks have had their younger running backs share the heavy workload that those two usually carry. With Christine Michael being slowed by hamstring issues, it was up to undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls to handle the duties as the feature tail back in camp. He did not dissapoint, Rawls received glowing reviews from head coach Pete Carroll, who was not shy about Rawls being a "bright spot" in last weeks mini-camp.
"I love his style of running," said Carroll. "He’s really a head-knocker. He really goes after guys and when you guys get to see him put the pads on you’ll see how physical of a runner he is. He had play after play in college of just smacking people and running and breaking tackles and all that. He showed very good feet, he caught the ball well, he’s going to be a very-willing blocker.
"He was a real bright spot," the Seahawks head coach added. "I thought he really jumped out at us and he was very consistent, worked throughout the whole thing knowing that his best, maybe most exciting dimension, hasn’t even been seen yet. He had a great camp for us. It’ll be really fun to see him when we start playing ball."
Rawls, who played at Michigan for 3 years before transferring to Central Michigan, is listed at 5'9", 215 pounds, and was near the top of the nation in rushing before struggling with injury, and what was described as "academic issues".
What are his chances of making the roster? Unless Seattle decides it'd be smart for them to carry 5 running backs, his chances of cracking this roster are slim. He would have to outpeform Christine Michael, a player Seattle is not ready to give up on just yet. Rawls would need keep being that "bright spot" he was in last week's camp through the whole offseason. The running back room is just too crowded for Rawls to make the roster this year, but he is a prime Practice Squad candidate if he doesn't get snatched up by another team. The future appears to be bright for Rawls, it just doesn't seem like there's room for him on the 2015 Seattle Seahawks.