Bios of Seahawks' Day 2 selections

Red Bryant

DT 6-4 318 Texas A&M | Fourth rd. (No. 121)

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren spoke of the Seahawks needing a wide body in the middle of the defensive line after last season. The Seahawks got that in Bryant.

Bryant is mainly viewed as a run-stuffer who could provide some pass rush. In the eight games he started in 2006, the Aggies held opponents to 75.4 yards rushing per game. When Bryant didn't play because of a knee injury for five games, A&M allowed 229 yards rushing per game.

Bryant has overcome dyslexia and earned his degree. He also has shown a bit of a mean streak in competition, as seen in the scuffle he got into during Senior Bowl practices in January against offensive tackle Chris Williams, who was a first-round pick in this year's draft.

"I was trying to break his face," Bryant said with no hesitation. "I know he had headaches for about two days."

Bryant, from Jasper, Texas, is engaged to Janelle Green, the daughter of former Seahawk great Jacob Green. Green and Bryant, who just turned 24, are both A&M alums. His given name is Joseph, and he got the nickname "Red" from his mother, who said he was a red baby. He calls himself a "country boy at heart."

Owen Schmitt

FB 6-2 247 West Virginia | Fifth rd. (No. 163)

Schmitt is a character, for sure. He sports a Mohawk haircut that he has had touched up for a more "professional" look. In one game, after a direct snap pooch punt in which he got the ball only a few yards down the field, he walked back to the sideline and smashed his bare head against his own helmet a few times.

Check the YouTube video of the incident.

Schmitt is regarded as a punishing blocker who is a "throwback" style of fullback. He characterized his style as "willing to stick his face in the fan." But he had to find his own role in West Virginia's spread offense, and he did so as an effective runner who was used at H-back and tight end at times.

Schmitt moved a lot as a youngster, and he and his mother were once left with no other option but to sleep in their car. He grew up trying all kinds of physical stunts, from sticking his foot in a bike wheel while riding, to breaking his hip trying to grab a basketball rim by jumping from bleachers. He also ate a cardboard drink coaster in less than 10 seconds.

No joke, at least according to the West Virginia Web site.

Tyler Schmitt

LS 6-2, 231, San Diego State | Sixth rd. (No. 189)

Schmitt started snapping in fifth grade when he was in Pop Warner and he has been snapping the ball ever since. He was an all-state defensive end in high school as a senior, and had 20 sacks, but snapping is what got him a scholarship to San Diego State. He handled the Aztecs' long-snapping duties all four years there and said he never had a bad snap on punts or field goals in a game.

"He's the best I've ever seen at this level ... just as good as anyone at [the NFL] level, too," said Chuck Long, San Diego State's coach, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

Seattle used three different long snappers last season — Derek Rackley, Boone Stutz and Jeff Robinson — and this is thought to be the first time in franchise history the Seahawks used a draft pick on a long snapper.

Justin Forsett

RB 5-8, 194, California | Seventh rd. (No. 233)

Forsett was Marshawn Lynch's backup for two years at Cal and became the starter in 2007 when Lynch left for the NFL.

He gained 1,546 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 2007 as a senior starter and was named first-team all-Pac-10. Forsett spent only one season as Cal's full-time starter, but he gained 3,220 yards over his four years with the Bears, third-most in school history. Early in his career, Forsett played extensively on Cal's special teams.

Forsett was one of the strongest running backs available in the draft. He performed 26 repetitions in the 225-pound bench-press test at the NFL scouting combine. Only three running backs completed more repetitions at the combine.

Brandon Coutu

K 5-11, 188, Georgia | Seventh rd. (No. 235)

Coutu made 16 of his 21 field goals as a senior in the regular season and converted six of his nine opportunities between 40 and 49 yards. Coutu kicked a 52-yard field-goal and a 45-yarder in the Sugar Bowl against Hawaii.

He has a strong leg, but that doesn't always translate to his kickoffs. He is working with longtime NFL kicker Morten Andersen on his kickoff technique. Coutu suffered a torn hamstring in 2006 while attempting an onside kick.

Coutu was the second kicker chosen in the draft. The Saints chose Wisconsin kicker Taylor Mehlhaff in the sixth round.

José Miguel Romero and Danny O'Neil