Bryant Koback: Seahawks Hidden RB Gem?

Seattle Seahawks running back Bryant Koback had an impressive showing in the preseason opener on Thursday night, but can he keep it up?

The Seattle Seahawks kicked off their preseason slate with a bang on Thursday night, earning a 24-13 comeback victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

While the win is nice, the Seahawks are focused on seeing how individual players are coming along, like any team in the preseason. In that sense, the night was a success with unheralded players like quarterback Drew Lock and receiver Jake Bobo making a big impact. However, the biggest surprise performance came from a little-known running back by the name of Bryant Koback.

Koback, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings last year, put on a strong performance against his former team. The 25-year-old running back led Seattle in rushing with six carries for 32 yards, and finished second in receiving with 43 yards on three receptions. The highlight of his night came on the Seahawks' opening drive of the second half, when he took a swing pass from Lock 32 yards to put Seattle in field-goal range.

Vikings legend Bryant Koback gets around Troy Dye for a big gain pic.twitter.com/w6hydzFgee

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 11, 2023

For those unfamiliar with Koback, he began his college career at Kentucky but transferred to Toledo after not playing his freshman year. Koback quickly became a staple in the Rockets' offense, putting up big numbers on the ground and through the air. His final collegiate season in 2021 was also his best, as he had 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing to go along with 334 yards and three touchdowns receiving. 

Despite his college production and his strong showing on Thursday, Koback still has a long way to go to secure a roster spot. He is currently the fifth running back in the lineup, according to the Seahawks unofficial depth chart. With Seattle already having Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist Kenneth Walker III, second-round rookie Zach Charbonnet and other quality options, it's an uphill battle for Koback.

That doesn't diminish what he accomplished on Thursday night, though. With this strong performance, Koback has put his name on the map in the NFL world.

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You can find Jonathan Alfano on Twitter @JonAlfano_News

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