The Seahawks selected Coby Bryant with the 109th overall pick, a playmaking cornerback from Cincinnati who last year won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back.

Playing opposite fellow Cincy corner Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, who was the No. 4 overall pick on Thursday, Bryant was tested often and came through, recording a team-high 11 pass breakups to go along with 45 tackles, three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and three forced fumbles.

"I'm a physical corner as well as high football IQ," Bryant said when asked about his style of play. "The most importantly, I feel like I make a lot of plays on the ball. I would say my ball skills are the best in the draft."

In addition to winning the Thorpe Award, Bryant was also named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors for the second straight year. Despite those accolades, Bryant had to wait until Day 3 of the draft to hear his name called, but he won't let that bother him.

"All I need is just a lane," he said. "I wasn't really focused on what round it was or whatever, just as long as I got the opportunity. It was just up to me to seize that opportunity once it came. Like I said, I'm grateful to hear my name called."

And while he is from Cleveland, Bryant is familiar with the Seahawks, having grown up watching Seattle and its Legion of Boom secondary.

"I watched them a lot actually," he said. "My dad used to always talk to me about Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas growing up, and Kam Chancellor. I watched those guys growing up, they were actually my favorite group of DBs growing up. I'm not that old, so I can't really go back too far. Those are kind of like my guys that I always used to watch and look up to."

Bryant, who was named after the late NBA star Kobe Bryant, changed his number from 7 to 8 for last year's College Football Playoff appearance to honor his namesake's legacy.

"My parents love Kobe Bryant and everything he brought to the table, not only as an athlete but as a human being, and how he carried himself," Brant said, adding he didn't feel any extra pressure with that famous name. "Not really pressure, more of a privilege honestly. It just means I have to work twice as hard to live up to that name. Set a name for myself as well, but most importantly represent him as well as I can."