Steelers 2014 NFL Draft Player Profiles – Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk

Good friend Dave-Te’ Thomas of Scouting Services has finished his player profiles of several of the top 2014 NFL Draft prospects and over the course of the next few weeks I will be posting the ones that the Pittsburgh Steelers will more than likely have interest in. Being as Baylor Seastrunk Lache Seastrunk was in for a pre draft visit a few weeks ago, now is a good time to post his. Thomas has done these profiles for the NFL for several years and I know that many of you enjoy reading them.

LACHE J. SEASTRUNK
Tailback
Baylor University Bears
#25
5:09.1-210
Temple, Texas
University of Oregon
Temple High School

OVERVIEW

After two seasons of sitting in “dry-dock,” the high-motor, electrifying Seastrunk finally got to step on the football field in 2012. Despite battling a groin injury that sidelined him for two games and part of another in 2013, he accomplished a feat that no other Baylor Bear has ever done – rushing for over 1,000 yards in multiple seasons. In fact, since the Bears first began competing in organized football back in 1899, only nine players have reached the 1,000-yard rushing level.

Baylor secured the services of the speedy ball carrier “on the rebound,” as he had turned them down previously to enroll at the University of Oregon. Things did not work as the Temple High product planned, thanks to a crowded backfield that included a player similar to Seastrunk in size, speed and ability also joining the program – De’Anthony Thomas. Sensing that he would not get a chance to compete for the starting job, he left the Pacific Northwest after red-shirting in 2010 and transferred to Baylor. Under NCAA guidelines, he would have to sit out the 2011 season before being declared eligible to play the following schedule.

In August, 2011, Seastrunk signed a financial aid contract with Baylor University, after obtaining his release from the University of Oregon several days prior. The transfer, which was first reported by ESPN Central Texas, had been on the minds of Baylor fans for the past couple of months, and they welcomed home a student-athlete that grew up in their backyard. Many of those fans followed his recruiting closely, and were glad that Bears head coach Art Briles left a lasting impact on Lache.

“I think Lache is back where he needs to be,” Briles said in the Baylor press release, “on Texas soil at Baylor University where he will have the opportunity to get a quality education and play football at the highest level. We’re looking forward to him being a great teammate.”

Seastrunk had been a “favorite son” in the state of Texas, where he was regarded as a five-star prospect for Temple High School, as his speed was evident, both on the gridiron and on the track field. He was rated the second-best running back in the nation by Scout.com and the prep ranks’ second-best overall prospect, according to MaxPreps.com.
The Sporting News rated him the fourth-best player in the country and Rivals.com ranked him third among high school running backs, placing him second on their Texas Top 100 and 26th on their Rivals100 lists.

Seastrunk was named District 12-5A Newcomer of the Year after he rushed for 1,532 yards with nineteen touchdowns on 130 carries (11.8 ypc) to lead the team to the district title in 2007. As a junior, the Blue Chip All-American amassed 1,541 yards on 171 attempts (9.0 ypc), scoring fourteen times on the ground.

Again selected an All-American, Seastrunk was chosen to USA Today’s All-USA squad as a senior. He collected 1,179 yards on 177 chances (6.7 ypc) that included eleven touch-downs and also snared twelve passes for 218 yards and a pair of scores, finding the end zone one more time via a kickoff return, picking up All-State Class 5A recognition. He closed out his football career playing in the 2010 U.S. All-American Bowl before joining the University of Oregon football program.

At Temple High, he was also a very accomplished track athlete, recording personal bests of 10.33 in the 100-meter dash and 21’-8” in the long jump. He was timed at 10.64 in 100 meters as a sophomore and won the district meet with a 10.77 clocking at the Texas Relays. As a thirteen-year-old he had established three Texas high school records in the 100 (10.98), 400 and long jump. He was also a member of the school’s 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams, along with playing on the basketball squad.

Once Seastrunk returned to the state of Texas to join the Baylor Bears, he started slowly, but became a second half sensation, rushing for 100 yards in five of his final six games. He started six of the thirteen games he played in, picking up 1,012 yards on 131 carries that included seven scores. It would mark the ninth time a player rushed for 1,000 yards in a season for Baylor. He also scored once while pulling in nine passes for 107 yards. Before the end of the 2012 season, he predicted he would win the Heisman Trophy and said “I know I am the best back in the country.”

Seastrunk was primed for a banner 2013 campaign, and the preseason All-American did not disappoint during the first half of the schedule. He reeled off six 100-yard rushing efforts through the Bears’ first seven games, but a groin injury forced him to miss most of the Oklahoma contest and the next two games. He still paced the team with 1,177 yards and six touchdowns on 158 attempts, becoming the first player in Baylor history to record multiple 1,000-yard campaigns.

On January 6th, 2014, five days after Baylor lost to Central Florida at the Fiesta Bowl, Seastrunk held a press conference to announce that he was leaving Baylor University and had applied for early entry into the 2014 NFL Draft. “Playing in the NFL has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I’m fully prepared to take the next step toward realizing that goal,” said Seastrunk in a statement. “I’m excited for the opportunity to compete in the NFL draft process. I look forward to giving teams every ounce of energy I’ve got and proving to them that I’m a good person, a relentless competitor, and a great player, too.”

CAREER NOTES

Seastrunk played two seasons at Baylor, appearing in twenty-four games while earning fourteen starting assignments … Carried 289 times for 2,189 yards and eighteen touch-downs, adding 107 yards and a score on nine receptions (11.89 ypc) and 13 yards on a kickoff return … NCAA Career-Record Results … Among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision active players, Seastrunk’s rushing average of 7.57 yards per carry ranked second, topped by Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin (8.08-yard average on 288 carries for 2,328 yards) … Baylor Career-Record Results … Seastrunk’s average of 7.57 yards per carry set the school and Big Twelve Conference career-records (minimum 200 attempts), breaking the old Bears mark of 6.12 yards by Del Shofner (220 for 1,346; 1954-56) and the league record of 6.8 yards by Vince Young of Texas (2003-05) … His eighteen touchdown runs tied Don Trull (1961-63) for tenth place on the school all-time record list … Ranks second in Baylor history with an average gain of 91.21 yards per game rushing, topped by Walter Abercrombie (93.72 ypg; 3,665 yards in 39 games; 1978-81) … Ran for 100 yards twelve times for the Bears, joining Abercrombie (nineteen) and Jerod Douglas (ten; 1994-97) as the only Baylor players to reach the century mark at least ten times in a career … One of just ten players in school history to rush for over 2,000 yards, he ranks eighth on that all-time list (2,189).

SEASON NOTES

Seastrunk is the only player in school history to record multiple 1,000-yard seasons as a ball carrier … His average of 7.73 yards gained per carry in 2012 set the school season record, but he did not have enough attempts (minimum 150) to qualify for the league record … He placed second on the school annual chart with an average of 7.45 yards per attempt in 2013, capturing the Big Twelve Conference season-record (had enough carries to qualify) … .Ranks fourth on the Baylor list with 1,177 yards rushing in 2013, surpassed by only Terrance Ganaway (1,547 in 2011), Jay Finley (1,218 in 2010) and Walter Abercrombie (1,187 in 1980) on the annual record chart, as his 1,012 yards gained as a junior placed tenth … His game average of 107.0 yards per game rushing is third-best in a season by a Bear … His eleven touchdown runs in 2013 rank sixth on the school chart … Tied for fourth on the season list with five 100-yard rushing performances and his seven successful games reaching the century mark in 2013 is topped by only the eight posted by Walter Abercrombie in 1980.

SEASON ANALYSIS

2013 SEASON

Seastrunk earned All-Big Twelve Conference first-team honors as the semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award added All-Big Twelve Player of the Week honors vs. West Virginia … Started eight games, appearing in eleven contests, as he paced the league and ranked 20th in the nation with an average of 107.0 yards per game rushing … His 1,177 yards on the ground were the most by a Big Twelve player in 2013, setting the league record after averaging 7.45 yards on 158 carries … Played a major role in helping the Bears lead the nation in total offense (618.8 ypg) and scoring (52.4 ppg), along with leading the conference and finishing 13th in the FBS with an average of 259.7 yards per game on the ground … Forced to sit out most of the Oklahoma game and missed the entire Oklahoma State and Texas Tech contests after suffering a groin injury vs. the Sooners … Had rushed for at least 100 yards in six of his first seven appearances prior to getting injured … Recorded 52 first downs, converting seven third-down runs … Gained at least ten yards on 36 of those rushes, including eleven for twenty yards or longer … In addition to his eleven scoring scampers, he produced key carries that set up six more touchdown drives … Had positive gains on twelve carries inside the red zone, including five on goal-line plays … Began the season with eleven runs for 111 yards and two scores, adding 150 yaerds and three more touchdowns on seventeen tries vs. Buffalo … Rushed ten times for 156 yards and a score vs. Louisiana-Monroe and delivered 172 yards that included two scores on fifteen chances in the West Virginia clash … Ran for two touchdowns and 112 yards via eighteen attempts vs. Iowa State and carried thirteen times for 109 yards and another score vs. Kansas before he closed out his career with 117 yards on seventeen runs vs. Central Florida in the Fiesta Bowl.

2012 SEASON

Seastrunk finally appeared in a college football game after two years of inactivity, earning Big Twelve Conference Newcomer of the Year honors … Appeared in every game, as the second-team All-Big Twelve choice started six contests … Became the ninth player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, leading the Bears with 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns on 131 attempts, as his average of 7.73 yards per carry set a school season-record … Scored one more time on nine receptions for 107 yards (11.89 ypc) and also returned a kickoff 13 yards … Registered 38 first downs as a ball carrier, as he converted seven third-down attempts … Gained at least ten yards on 31 attempts, including eleven for twenty yards or longer … Gained positive yardage on thirteen runs inside the red zone, including three on goal-line snaps … In addition to his seven touchdown runs, he posted crucial carries that set up eight other touchdown drives and on three possessions that resulted in field goals … Started the season slowly, but over the course of his final six appearances, he averaged 138.5 yards per game on the ground, totaling 831 yards while scoring six times … Recorded five 100-yard rushing performances, setting a Baylor record when he reached the century mark in four consecutive contests … Accounted for three touchdowns of 68 yards or longer, eight total plays of 30 yards or longer…Made his Baylor debut as back-up in the season-opening win over Southern Methodist and had 39 yards on three carries…Through five games as reserve, he managed only 95 yards and one touch-down on fifteen carries…Earned his first start in sixth game at Texas, … Had his “breakout game” in his second start, as he totaled a season-high 207 yards, picking up 103 yards on seventeen rushes, along with 91 yards and a 68-yard score on a season-high five catches vs. Kansas … Ran for 91 yards and three touchdowns on fifteen tries and made an 11-yard reception at Oklahoma … Burst out with a season-high 185 rushing yards and season-long 80-yard touchdown run on 19 carries in an historic upset of then top-ranked Kansas State … Followed with 136 yards on 19 carries in a win over Texas Tech and collected 178 yards with one touchdown on sixteen attempts, including a memorable, game-clinching 76-yard scoring scamper in which he tweaked a leg muscle and hobbled the final 40 yards, but still out-ran defenders in fourth quarter vs. Oklahoma State to earn Big Twelve Offensive Player of Week honors … Had 138 yards and a 43-yard touchdown on sixteen carries to earn offensive MVP honors in the Holiday Bowl win over UCLA.

2011 SEASON

Seastrunk joined the Baylor program in August, but sat out the season under NCAA transfer requirements.

2010 SEASON

Seastrunk was a member of Oregon’s 2010 travel squad, but did not play, red-shirting … Cleared 34.5 inches in the vertical leap to top all Oregon running backs during spring drills in 2011.

INJURY REPORT

2012 Season … Seastrunk left the Oklahoma State game after he pulled a leg muscle eluding defenders on a long touchdown run.
2013 Season … Seastrunk missed most of the Oklahoma contests with a groin injury that prevented him from playing in the Bears’ next two games vs. Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

AGILITY TESTS

4.51 in the 40-yard dash … 1.57 10-yard dash … 2.56 20-yard dash … 4.25 20-yard shuttle … 7.19 three-cone drill … 41 ½-inch vertical jump … 11’-2” broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 15 times … 30-inch arm length … 9 ¼-inch hands … 73 3/8-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL

Seastrunk attended Temple (Tex.) High School, playing football for head coach Bryce Monsen … Rated the second-best running back in the nation by Scout.com and the prep ranks’ second-best overall prospect, according to MaxPreps.com … The Sporting News rated him the fourth-best player in the country and Rivals.com ranked him third among high school running backs, placing him second on their Texas Top 100 and 26th on their Rivals100 lists … Named District 12-5A Newcomer of the Year after he rushed for 1,532 yards with nineteen touchdowns on 130 carries (11.8 ypc) to lead the team to the district title in 2007 … As a junior, the Blue Chip All-American amassed 1,541 yards on 171 attempts (9.0 ypc), scoring fourteen times on the ground … Again selected an All-American, Seastrunk was chosen to USA Today’s All-USA squad as a senior … Collected 1,179 yards on 177 chances (6.7 ypc) that included eleven touch-downs and also snared twelve passes for 218 yards and a pair of scores, finding the end zone one more time via a kickoff return to pick up All-State Class 5A recognition … Closed out his football career playing in the 2010 U.S. All-American Bowl before joining the University of Oregon football program … Was also a very accomplished track athlete, recording personal bests of 10.33 in the 100-meter dash and 21’-8” in the long jump … Timed at 10.64 in 100 meters as a sophomore and won the district meet with a 10.77 clocking at the Texas Relays … As a thirteen-year-old he had established three Texas high school records in the 100 (10.98), 400 and long jump … He was also a member of the school’s 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams, along with playing on the basketball squad.

PERSONAL

Seastrunk is a General Studies major at Baylor University … Son of Evelyn Seastrunk… Born Lache J. Seastrunk on 7/29/91 in Temple, Texas.

PLAYER STATISTICS