One of those 53 players with Alabama ties is former star running back Eddie Lacy. From 2009-2012, Lacy rushed for 2,402 yards along with 30 rushing touchdowns in his career with the Crimson Tide.

Following the 2012 football season, the Green Bay Packers selected Lacy in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Lacy’s NFL career began with a bang as he recorded back-to-back seasons of 1,000+ yards rushing in 2013 and 2014. The Gretna, Louisiana native was awarded the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2013.

While his first two seasons were impressive, Lacy saw his production take a nosedive as he rushed for 758 yards and three scores in 2015 and sank to 360 yards with no touchdowns last season.

Over the off-season, the Seattle Seahawks inked him to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

During Wednesday’s edition of The Gary Harris Show, Seattle Seahawks beat writer for the Times Tribune Gregg Bell updated the progress of Lacy as a Seahawk.

Bell summarized the initial impressions that Seattle’s coaching staff has regarding Lacy’s progression as a running back with the team.

“Pete Carroll, the coach, said he’s done everything and more they’ve asked of him, even more than they expected.” Bell said.

During Seattle’s Super Bowl runs in 2013 and 2014, running back Marshawn Lynch anchored the offense combining for over 2,500 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns. Lynch retired after the 2015 season only to return to football with the Oakland Raiders earlier this year.

As the Seahawks continue to search for a replacement in the backfield for Lynch, Bell commented on the expectations and pressure surrounding Lacy as a possible answer for Seattle at running back.

“I really haven’t sensed that, and I think Thomas Rawls having had the job the last two years when Lynch wasn’t here is more of the guy that people have compared him to.” Bell said.

The Seahawks beat writer offered his thoughts on Lacy’s potential to help stabilize the running back situation and how that is a high priority for Seattle.

“I think that that’s the reason that Eddie Lacy is here is that Thomas Rawls wasn’t approaching Marshawn Lynch’s productivity or his availability.” Bell said. “Rawls has yet to prove that he can be a full 16-game running back in the NFL.”

Throughout the conversation with Gary Harris, Bell touched on Lacy’s progression with his weight, the type of running back that the Seahawks want to see in Lacy and whether he can be a starter in Seattle.

The Gary Harris Show airs every weekday from 9-11 AM on Tide 102.9/100.9 and the radioPup app.

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