Seahawks Player Profile: C.J. Prosise

C.J. Prosise was drafted 90th overall in the NFL Draft by the Seahawks. He joins a running back corps that will be an interesting position battle until Week 1.

C.J. Prosise played wide receiver and safety for Notre Dame before he was pressed into running back service going into the 2015 season. The move was a fortuitous one for all involved. Prosise ran for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns on 157 carries.

He showed excellent elusiveness and excelled at missing tackles. And he was a useful contributor in the passing game for the Fighting Irish.

Pete Carroll sees him as a dynamic weapon, and according to Doug Farrar at SI.com, Prosise is a “do-it-all guy for Seattle who will attack defenses as a receiver just as much as he will as a back.” He’s reportedly rooming with fellow rookie running back Alex Collins at Seahawks camp, entering a most intriguing position battle.

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C.J. Prosise played safety and receiver in high school, too, earning a three-star rating from Rivals.com before choosing Norte Dame over such schools as Penn State and Virginia Tech. Before his breakout 2015 season, Prosise started six games as a wide receiver and led the team in special teams tackles.

Then, after running for 155 yards and a touchdown in his debut as the starting running back against Virginia, C.J. Prosise ran for the longest rushing touchdown in Notre Dame Stadium History, a 91-yard gallop against Georgia Tech. Injuries sidelined him for most of the Irish’s final five games.

Teams left C.J. Prosise until the third round probably because of his lack of experience as a starting running back and because of fumbling issues. He fumbled five times during his last season at Notre Dame, losing two. His inexperience has left him hesitant on some game film, and he could understandably struggle in blitz pickup in the NFL.

However, C.J. Prosise possesses, like Liam Neeson, a unique set of skills. Pete Carroll and John Schneider were happy to welcome him and his Swiss army knife-like utility to the running back rotation. The fun part for him will be his competition with Collins, Zac Brooks–another rookie–and Christine Michael for backup/co-starter duties behind Thomas Rawls.

Perhaps more importantly than what his role on the team will be, C.J. Prosise has already dived into the charity scene for Seattle athletes:

Helping out charities for education isn’t a bad way to spend your time.

C.J. Prosise figures to be a useful, youthful Fred Jackson out of the backfield for the Seahawks at best. If he can impress in camp, and Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell can work him in as a wrinkle to the Seahawks’ offense, Prosise could grow into the third down or passing down running back role. Looking at the roster, I hope he earns it. Collins seems like a backup back, at least in his first year while he gets up to NFL speed in reading blocks. And hopefully we won’t see too many Michael carries in real games.

The wild card could be Zac Brooks. Brooks was a benchwarmer for the Clemson Tigers last season, but his hands and speed could be exactly what the Seahawks need in their all-of-a-sudden deep running back stable. The grainy highlight film I could find for him showed a dangerous runner in space and a sure-handed receiver–almost the same skillset Prosise is said to possess.

Next: Mariners: Just How Good is the Pitching?

I’m anxious to see both Zac Brooks and C.J. Prosise at game speed in the NFL. This might be the best year to watch preseason Seahawks games that I can remember.