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Seattle stunner: Seahawks select RB Rashaad Penny

Penny was one of the elite running backs in college football last season. He led the nation with 2,248 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns for the Aztecs.
Credit: Sean M. Haffey
Rashaad Penny #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs looks on from the bench during the second half of a game against the New Mexico Lobos at Qualcomm Stadium on November 24, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Seattle Seahawks strengthened their commitment to the run game by selecting San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny with the 27th pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.

Seattle has said all offseason it wanted to get back to being an offense based around the run game and rely less on Russell Wilson. The drafting of Penny will help affirm that focus, even if the pick came with a number of other players available that could have helped Seattle at other positions, including options along the defensive line and in the secondary.

Penny was one of the elite running backs in college football last season. He led the nation with 2,248 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns for the Aztecs. He also showed his versatility with two kickoff return touchdowns and another TD on a punt return.

Penny was a first-team Associated Press All-America selection. He will join a backfield in Seattle that has no clear starter going into the season with Chris Carson coming back from injury, Mike Davis flashing in brief stints last season and C.J. Prosise struggling to stay healthy throughout his brief career.

Penny was the second running back selected after Penn State's Saquon Barkley was taken No. 2 overall.

Seattle traded the No. 18 pick and a seventh-round selection to Green Bay to move back nine spots. The trade landed Seattle a coveted third-round pick and a selection in the sixth round. Seattle entered the draft without any picks on the second day of the draft.

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