3 Seahawks who could become superstars in 2016
By Dan Viens
Who will the next superstar, household names be in Seattle? We take a look at three who could break big this season.
The journey each superstar takes to being a household name is unique and varied.
For some it happens overnight, usually these guys are the high draft picks.
For Richard Sherman it took about a year, despite only being a 5th round draft pick.
For Michael Bennett, it took five years and two address changes.
Now, Sherman and Bennett are both legitimate stars. The media consistently shine their spotlight on them, and opposing fans wish they played in their city.
But it’s been a couple years since the Seahawks had a big, breakout star. The 2012 and 2013 drafts just haven’t produced one. But that appears to be changing. The buzz over the most recent draft class is nearly deafening, and there are a couple players from 2015 who appear on the verge.
In fact, I believe there are 3 Seahawks who could become superstars in 2016.
And they are……..
#3 Thomas Rawls, RB
An ankle injury ended his season early, or Rawls may not have qualified for this list because he’d be thought of as a star already. Now, consider the fact that the Hawks went out and drafted three more rushers this year to help fill the post-BeastMode void and you may think it’s possible Rawls will get lost in the shuffle of a RB-by-committee approach in 2016.
But just go back and watch his highlights, and remind yourself how dynamic he was once he got a chance to tote the rock. That 5.6 yards per rush average looks even more impressive in light of the issues Seattle had on the offensive line last year.
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What makes Rawls special is his ability to see a crease, plant his foot, and make a sudden and decisively powerful cut. Then once he gets to the second level he has both the speed to break a long run and a physical mentality that helps him break tackles and run over defenders.
The extent to which he’s able to make an impact this year may actually hinge on whether he can learn to absorb a little less punishment. The unknown here is how much his touches will be impacted by talented rookies Alex Collins and C.J. Prosise. But if he gets a chance to be the featured back, Rawls could blow up this year.
Next: Frank the Tank