BYU running back Harvey Unga reportedly worked out for 20 teams today in Provo, Utah. Unga is one of four players expected to be available in this year’s supplemental NFL draft, which takes place next Thursday, July 15.
At 6-1, 244 pounds, Unga could be the short-yardage back the Seattle Seahawks are looking for to complete their running back rotation. Unga rushed for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons for BYU, and averaged 5 yards per carry during his college career.
Unga was expected to return to BYU for his senior season, but announced he was leaving BYU in April. Unga apparently violated the school’s honor code for having premarital relations with fiancée, former BYU women’s basketball player Keilani Moeaki. The couple had their first child, Jackson, on July 4th.
According to this report from the Salt Lake Tribune, the Seahawks were in attendance and were one of the more interested teams.
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com reports that only four players will be in this year’s supplemental draft – Unga, running backs Quentin Castille (Northwestern State, Nebraska transfer) and Vanness Emokpae (Truman State) and defensive tackle Joshua Brent-Price (Illinois).
Rang said Unga has a similar skill set to former Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver.
“Unga’s powerful downhill running and surprising lateral agility make him an ideal candidate for any offense in need of a big back,” Rang said. “Unga’s soft hands and willingness to block means that he can contribute on all three downs – a relative rarity for rookie backs.”
Unga’s 40-yard-time was in the mid-4.6s. His standing high jump was 35 inches and his long jump was 9 feet, 6 inches. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 19 times and was clocked at 1.65 seconds in first 10 yards, 2.75 seconds in the first 20 yards.
Unga’s agent Eric Metz noted that Unga had a sprained ankle, which could have affected his numbers. He expected Unga to run in the 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash.
Unga is projected to be a mid-round pick (5-7th round) in this year’s supplemental draft. If the Seahawks use a pick in the supplemental draft, they must forfeit their choice in the corresponding round of the next year regular draft. Seattle already has lost next year’s third round pick in the Charlie Whitehurst deal, so they may be unwilling to give up another pick in next year’s draft.
However, Unga could be a solid player who helps fill a need for Seattle this season, and is a natural fit in the West Coast offense with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Quinton Ganther’s recent DUI arrest also could weigh into Seattle’s decision to pursue another running back.
Would rather have Lynch than Unga for a 4th round pick. They’re both the same age but Lynch is proven at the NFL level. Lynch and Forsett are good buddies too. JForce and Beast Mode, wouldn’t mind that 1-2 combo.
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I am so okay with giving up a 4th or a 5th for him. He is a guy who could contribute RIGHT AWAY. Any time you can get a guy for that late of a pick who can help right now is a good deal.
Yes, there are guys I might want more – but he is available now and there is no bidding war.
Offer a 5th rounder since we were so high and hope for the best!!
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This guy has serious character issues. He violated the BYU honor code.
/s
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I would be happy with a 5th rounder but if they want him, they should offer the 4th. (I actually think that’s too high, unless Schneider feels like they can shop Hill, Branch, whomever, for picks.)
I want to say something about missing Leonard Weaver here, but spilt milk…
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I think a 4TH Round Pick Is right!
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If they were to get him hopefully it will light a fight under Schmitt. either play well or get out of the way. I have not been overly impressed so far but who knows what he can do.
I think just for the sake of competition it is worth it. and the way I see it we get a years worth of service BEFORE the draft pick actually happens!!
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No big deal. Most American teenagers break the BYU Honor Code before they even get to college.
Radem
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i much prefer lynch–a proven commodity and a good complement to the other people we have
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You are still under the assumption that buffalo wants to trade Lynch. which so far they by most reports haven’t even seriously talked about.
There are lots of guys I would rather have – but this is the one that is actually available.
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This guy will be good for us. A guy who has something to prove. A guy that could put up with the bullshit BYU Honor code for three years has strength of spirit. Use the pick. We needed a RB in April we still do
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For this season, Hawks biggest questions are pass rush, short yardage back, and maybe WR, DB & OL.
Harvey Unga’s pro-day: 6-1/244, 4.76-40 & 4.65-40 (hampered by an ankle injury), 7.41 3-cone, 4.51 SS, 9’6″ broad, 35″ vert.
Unga was BYU’s leading rusher, 3,455 yds & 36 TDs. Knee and shoulder injuries, production has been declining.
’09: 208 carries, 1087 yds (5.2 avg), 52 lng, 11 TDs, 16 rec for 121 yds (7.6 avg), 28 lng, 1 rec TD
’08: 240 carries, 1132 yds (4.7 avg), 40 lng, 11 TDs, 42 rec for 309 yds (7.4 avg), 19 lng, 4 rec TDs
’07: 244 carries, 1227 yds (5.0 avg), 44 lng, 13 TDs, 44 rec for 655 yds (14.9 avg), 53 lng, 4 rec TDs
’06: 4 carries, 9 yds (2.3 avg), 6 lng, 1 TD, red shirted.
Five of the 20 other teams that attended his pro day: Steelers, Packers, Dolphins, Giants, & Saints.
Closest ’11 draft competition:
Allen Bradford, USC Sr 5-11/235, 4.6-40 (projected)
Projected Round 3rd or 4th
’09: 115 carries, 668 yds (5.8 avg), 43 lng, 8 TDs, 1 rec, 2 yds (2 avg)
’08: 14 carries, 57 yds (4.1 avg), 15 lng, 1 TD, 4 rec for 44 yds (11.0 avg), 17 lng
’07: 15 carries, 26 yds (1.7 avg), 6 lng, 1 TD, 3 rec for 23 yds (7.7 avg), 11 lng, 2 rec TDs
’06: 13 carries, 42 yds (3.2 avg), 11 lng, 1 TD, 3 rec for 33 yds (11.0 avg), 17 lng, 1 rec TD
BUF’s Marshawn Lynch is 5-11/215, 24 yo.
Career: 650 carries, 2601 yds (4.0 avg), 56 lng, 17 TDs, 93 rec for 663 yds, 7.1 avg, 42 lng, 1 TD, 7 fumbles w/ 3 lost.
BUF rejected a 4th rndr for Lynch, they’ll take nothing less than a 2nd rndr for him, so he’s not going anywhere, even though he’ll be their 3rd back behind Spiller and Jackson.
Hawks will get some comp picks, so a 4th and a 7th for Unga, and hope he gets and stays healthy – he’s already missed the offseason.
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Sooo Unga has a 1 ypc average better than Lynch… playing against teams like Eastern Washington, UNLV, TCU. I agree if the chances are really slim on getting Lynch for a 4th (& a player), then pull the trigger on Unga – I mean, he does have 2″ and 30 lbs. on Lynch. (if that means anything)
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lynch is a proven effective nfl running back. unga is a prospect. just because buffalo turned down a 4th round pick earlier is no reason to think that they wouldn’t accept one now, especially as it becomes clearer what they have in spiller. and i think they’d be pretty receptive to a 3rd round pick seeing that there were no bites for a 2nd rounder . the whole issue of lynch is ambiguous, whether he wants to leave (i think so unless he is promised significant sharesees with spiller) and whether and for what they would trade him (I think they would like to but it is still a bargainers game). i am not saying they will trade him, only that if they will, he would be my choice.
i was impressed with the video clips on unga but do not know how to interpret them. how good was the opposition? and how would he do in the pros as opposed to college?
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I don’t think this guy is “the answer” but he could definitely help us with some needs.
We could use a pounder for short yardage
He can catch the ball and get upfield which gives us more options
I like the idea of using Forsett alot
Jones (if he is going to be on the roster) a little
and Unga for short yardage or a fullback in passing situations.
Can you imagine Forsett and Unga both splitting out of the backfield. the defense wouldn’t know who to cover. could be fun!!
I still say put in a 5th and if we get him great – if we don’t no worries.
If they really like him they could do a 4th but I think the 5th is where its at.
But, with our luck, the Rams will also put in a 5th and get him and then he will haunt us
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How will Jackson, Spiller and Lynch split carries?
on lynch, this is what one observer, sal capaccio of the Buffalo Sorts Daily, had to say
Sal: Assuming Marshawn Lynch is still on the opening week roster (which isn’t a safe assumption right now), I see it playing out with Jackson lining up as the starter in week one, Lynch backing him up on most running downs, but with Spiller getting plenty of time on the field, being moved around, and Gailey playing with trying to find favorable matchups with him in both running and passing situations. As the season moves on, I expect Spiller to become the primary ball carrier, but with Jackson not far behind (maybe even splitting carries), and Lynch to be phased out, if not completely out … of Buffalo.
on unga: if he is as good as his many boosters on this site claim, he will not be an easy acquisition. and i still think it is a leap to project him as the great runner to complement forsett . in fact we have a lot more concrete info on lynch being able to perform at that level.
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For what it’s worth, I’d much prefer Lynch. We know he’d be a good fit and he’s still only 24. Although for a 5th, I’d like to bring him aboard, Unga doesn’t strike me as much more than a versatile fullback however. I’m not going to get too caught up in this tough, because I don’t see any way Seattle gets him. I’m sure he’ll go for a 4th and the ‘Hawks can’t afford to lose both their 3rd and 4th in next years draft. I’d be surprised if they didn’t at least submit the 5th, but that’s not enough.
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Take it from somebody who has watched Harvey since he was in junior high…. this kid is an absolute beast, and would bring a dimension to the Seattle backfield that they haven’t had since the days of John L. Williams. He has that kind of talent. He can run, he can catch, he works hard, and he is an incredible athlete.
I would be absolutely ecstatic if the Hawks did whatever it takes to get him.
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M.Lynch’s pre-draft positives: “Marshawn Lynch has excellent size and speed for his position, and uses all of his skill all the time. He hits the hole fast and like a hammer, and is very hard to bring down when he hits his stride. Lynch has a quick and hard burst, and seems to be easily able to see cutback lanes as they form. He shows soft hands out of the backfield, and having him as an outlet option will endear him to his quarterback.”
Negatives: “Lynch tries to create a big play too often, cutting to the outside when the better and smarter run is between the tackles. He doesn’t stay with lead or pull blockers very well at all, and needs to show a higher degree of patience on many plays. His blocking leaves quite a bit to be desired, as he seems to display very little effort in that phase of his game. He’s also had some lingering and recurring hand and arm injuries, which could lead to ball-handling problems if they keep up.”
M.Lynch was another elite-level prospect who came into the NFL and wanted the ball on every play (like SA). Now, as BUF’s 3rd RB he’s gotta want to go to a team where he’ll get more carries. BUF refused a 4th and demanded a 2nd. No takers. If they’ll take a 3rd, SEA could give them 2012′s, but they’d have to sweeten that. Chan Gailey may not be there in ’12. 3rd in ’12 + 5th in ’11, or a ’12 3rd + trade JJ?
M.Lynch seems like Clinton Portis used to. Portis got really good numbers when he went to DEN with their zone-blocking. Lynch still has straight line speed, not as elusive as JF, but elusive enough. He breaks some tackles and avoids others. He seems like a perfect candidate for inside zone-runs, plus has the speed to make it to the outside. It may take a while for him to change to zone running, but seems like a natural fit.
Is my hang-up on wanting a bigger Unga-type ‘short yardage back’ just a hold-over from thinking about Hawks running in a man-blocking scheme for short-yardage situations? In ’08 Hawks ranked 4th in ‘Power Success’, in ’09 they ranked 29th. SEA’s ‘Stuffed’ ranking stayed about the same. I just thought it was losing Duckett, but maybe it also has to do with the change to the zone blocking scheme? Kinda hard to tell.
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Screw running backs for a moment! None will be any good if the Hawks can’t get their Offensive Line issues figured out!
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He’s one of the few running backs around that can run without a great offensive line. He isn’t a “system” running back. He is just a hard runner that is extremely strong with super soft hands.
I think Carroll is interested in him because he is very comparable to Stanley Havili, only much better at all parts of the game. Havili is no slouch and will have an NFL career. My guess is that Harvey will have a very productive career, and those who know me know that I don’t say that about many BYU players even though I follow them weekly since I went to school there and worked for them.
The last player out of BYU that I was this high on was Austin Collie, and as you can see… he’s a good NFL player already after only 2 seasons. Unga has that kind of talent. The Hawks would be lucky to have him and I’d be one pumped Hawks fan if they got him. He’s ten times the player former BYU back Fahu Tahi was, and that guy has been in the NFL for quite a few years, and I think he might have almost gone to the Pro Bowl last year as a FB.
Remember all of you who loved John L. Williams and the reasons you loved the guy. Well…. here’s a perfect clone of him in skill set.
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