The Seattle Seahawks may have selected one of the potential fan favorites of their 2023 draft class in the seventh round by picking running back Kenny McIntosh.
Coming from a championship-winning program at Georgia, McIntosh still couldn't believe he had been drafted on Day 3 and had an emotional reaction. When first speaking to reporters after being drafted, McIntosh was heard being overcome with sobs of joy as he answered questions.
But apart from the touching pull his story will continue to have on fans, it's what Seahawks senior director of player personnel Matt Berry calls a "unique skillset" on the field that, over time, could help McIntosh potentially stand out and become loved by the 12s even more. Berry detailed what he likes about McIntosh in an exclusive interview with Locked On Seahawks.
"There's a belief and a chip on his shoulder and I think he's ready to come in and contribute right away," Berry said. "He's gonna find a way to impact our team and we were excited to get him when we did."
It's not uncommon to see a late draft pick having an immediate impact, especially in Seattle. McIntosh could prove to be the latest example.
"You're sitting there looking at your board late in the draft and you're looking for guys that can capture the most talent," Berry said. "I think he's got a unique skillset that's a little bit different from both Ken (Walker) and Zach (Charbonnet). He's really good on third down, he's really good in the passing game, he's good in pass pro, he can play on special teams."
The Seahawks drafted Charbonnet in the second round as well, giving Seattle a running back aside from Walker that could provide a multi-faceted impact on the ground and through the air. But McIntosh might be the most versatile of the three. And based on his collegiate production, it's hard to argue with this.
Last season, McIntosh led the Bulldogs in rushing yards (829) and rushing touchdowns (10) while also finishing as the team's third-leading receiver (504 yards). On a Bulldogs team with tons of NFL talent, McIntosh finishing with these kind of numbers in a championship-winning season is certainly impressive.
He came off the board to Seattle at pick No. 237, nearly falling out of the draft completely. This might've been because his combine numbers left more to be desired. As The News Tribune points out, his 4.62 40-yard dash was the third-slowest among running backs.
Berry recognized his subpar performance this spring, but noted that McIntosh's speed truly popped out in his game tape.
"He's a guy that hit 21.4 miles per hour on tape in the fall and then did not work out well," Berry said. "For whatever reason, his spring from a combine-testing standpoint didn't go well and I think that's what hit him."
But none of those combine numbers matter now. McIntosh has his entire rookie season ahead of him and will be looking to prove the believers like Berry right.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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