Seahawks get high quality players in Rutgers "Scarlet Knights"!

Published on July 10, 2009 by Seahawk Fanatic

When you think of Rutgers University you probably do a double take and say “who“?

But rest assured the type of guys the Seahawks front office acquired through the 2009 draft are high caliber, high quality, high character individuals, and it just happens 2 of them are from Rutgers University!

It just helps that Rutgers is in the top 3 academically, the Rutgers football team was ranked third in the nation in the Academic Progress Rate according to the latest multi-year APR figures released by the NCAA. The Scarlet Knights have a four-year APR score of 980, which covers the academic years of 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Not to mention the Jersey area absolutely has some boys that can play some high caliber football.

[poll id="2"]

Take Mike Teel for instance, he was not highly sought after yet he fits the exact mold Tim Ruskell seeks in a player of high character on and off the field, so he will fit well in the scheme of the Seahawks!

A durable three-plus-year starter with NFL size and an adequate arm, Teel really started to turn heads during the team’s seven-win run at the end of 2008. His connections with fellow 2009 NFL Draft prospects wide receivers Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt lit up scoreboards through the final two months of the season.

Teel improved statistically each season, partially because his receivers began catching the ball consistently. He set career highs as a senior with 3,418 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.
An NFL team will take a chance on him as a late-round pick or priority free agent because of his strong physical and mental makeup.

Leading Rutgers to victory in the final six games of the 2008 season got Mike Teel some recognition. That may have been the difference between going undrafted and getting picked in the sixth round by the Seahawks.

The New Jersey native lead the Scarlet Knights to three bowl appearances in a row didn’t hurt either, nor did his six touchdown passes against Pittsburgh last October. Teel was a three-year starter for coach Schiano at Rutgers after being recruited out of a New Jersey prep school by Michigan State, Wisconsin , Penn State and Boston College.

Strong Safety Courtney Greene was also a standout with the Scarlet Knight program, here are his stats -

Greene was a first-team All-Big East pick in 2008 after twice earning second-team All-Big East notice and also Freshman All-American honors. He’s been exceptionally durable, starting 51 straight games during his career. A tackling machine, Greene eclipsed 100 stops twice in his first three years as a starter at both the free and strong safety spots. His production dropped a bit this season (87 tackles, one for loss, two INTs).

My prediction was for him to go in the first 75 to 100 spots, obviously we know this did not happen and the Seahawks were fortunate to get him when they did.

I was very impressed with both of these young men at Minicamp this year and expect both of them to contribute in a very short time, very talented, very smart football players from Rutgers!

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Tags: 2009 nfl draft prospects, Academic Progress, Aquired, Bowl Appearances, Britt, Career Highs, Exact Mold, Football Poll, Free Agent, Mental Makeup, Mike Teel, nfl draft, nfl draft prospects, nfl team, Poll Id, Progress Rate, Quality Players, Rutgers Football Team, rutgers scarlet knights, Rutgers University, Six Games, Tim Ruskell, Wide Receivers

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