Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III 'impressed' with rookie RBs Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh
Seahawks starting running back Kenneth Walker II likes what he has been seeing from a pair of rookies.
Though it wasn't thought to happen, somehow the Seattle Seahawks took two running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Those two running backs: UCLA's Zach Charbonnet and Georgia's Kenny McIntosh. Typically the incumbent running back would feel prickly in a situation like this. But Kenneth Walker III is not a typical running back. And in fact, he's been quite impressed with what he's seen from the two rookies throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said.
“Yeah, they're catchers for sure. Kenny [McIntosh] is a really natural athlete, you can just see it in everything that he does. Zach [Charbonnet] does everything well, he just is a complete ball player," Carroll said. "I know Ken (Walker III) has been really impressed with those guys too, and that's for a guy to say stuff about his young teammates like that. He's come out and been outspoken about it, that's a statement. So they look really good.”
Walker burst onto the scene during his rookie year. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards and collected nine touchdowns. Additionally, Walker rushed for 4.6 yards per carry on average.
So in comes Charbonnet and McIntosh.
Charbonnet enjoyed a decorated career at UCLA. He rushed 2,495 yards in his two seasons in the Pac-12. He also collected 27 rushing touchdowns. And in totality, between two seasons at Michigan and two at UCLA, Charbonnet rushed for 3346 yards and 39 touchdowns.
McIntosh, at Georgia, totaled 2,443 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns.
Both running backs are impressing the Seahawks coaches and Walker, who will be taking snaps ahead of them — at least to start the season.
Feature image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports.
