INDIANAPOLIS—Mack Strong wasn't a highly-touted prospect coming out of the University of Georgia, so he didn't get to experience the NFL Scouting Combine as a player. Strong did, however, enjoy a 15-year NFL career, so he has plenty of insight to offer to current NFL hopefuls going through this year's Combine.
Strong's standout career, which saw him twice earn Pro Bowl honors and block for three different 1,000-yard rushers, makes him more than qualified to dispense advice to college prospects, which is why he is here this week as part of the NFL Legends Community, serving as mentor to running backs and fullbacks at the combine.
"I never had the opportunity to be invited to the combine, I wasn't drafted, but I do know what it's like to be in the National Football League and have a long career," said Strong, who is one of 13 NFL Legends serving as a mentor this week. "So I just share some of my thoughts and hopefully pearls of wisdom with the guys who are coming out now."
Some of what Strong talks to players about this week is football-related, but there are plenty of important life lessons to pass along this week that have nothing to do with Xs and Os, but that can make the difference between a short career and a long, successful one.
"They go hand-in-hand," Strong said. "You've got to have an attitude of just really wanting it. You've got to want it bad. There's a lot of guys who are here that are going to be competing for the same spot. There's only so many spots to go around—there are 33 running backs here, and not all of them are going to get drafted, not all of them are going to make an NFL team, but it's probably going to be the ones who are able to stay healthy, who can compete at a very high level, give everything they have, and also show themselves to be good citizens, be the type of player that teams want on their football teams."
Running back is considered a strong position in this year's draft, and Strong likes what he has seen, on and off the field, while working with this group.
"I like it, it's a talented group, football-wise, and these are great young men off the field," Strong said. "I only get a little bit of interaction with them over the course of three or four days, but it has been valuable time. From the top players like Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey, to guys who probably won't end up getting drafted, it has just been great getting to know these guys and share my story, but also just being available for them to ask questions about things, bounce things off of, stuff like that."
Strong said he has seen a few backs "who look like they can bang around a little bit," but he also will tell those fullbacks that they need to be able to do more than just block a linebacker to open a running lane if they're going to make it at a position where fewer and fewer NFL jobs are available with every passing year.
"Nowadays, I think for a fullback to make a team, they really have to be versatile in a lot of different areas," Strong said. "Obviously blocking, but they've got to be able to play special teams, pass protect, run the football, catch, because it's a passing league right now. There are very few teams like the Seahawks who want to emphasize the running game; they want to pass the football. As a fullback, if you want to get into the National Football League right now, you've got to be a little bit more versatile and on the athletic side."
When Strong isn't on the road representing the NFL Legends Community, he is back home in Pullman where his family now lives—his wife, Zoe, is a professor at Washington State University—and he said life on the Palouse is treating him well.
"It's a unique situation, my first time living in a college town," Strong said. "Everything revolves around the school. It's cool to expose my kids to that. It takes me about five minutes to get from my house to literally sitting in a seat in the stadium, that's including parking. I enjoy it, it's a great experience. My wife is enjoying being a professor there. I definitely root for the Cougs, even when they play UW… I'm enjoying being over there and being a part of Coug Nation."
With the 2017 NFL Combine underway, take a look back at some current Seahawks at their own NFL Combines.
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, MAY 15-16 - FILE This Feb. 27, 2010, file photo shows Miami's Jimmy Graham running a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Graham believes that overcoming a difficult upbringing gave him confidence to do what he did at Miami: play four years of basketball, one year of football, earn a degree and become a third-round draft choice of the defending Super Bowl champions. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
West Virginia offensive lineman Mark Glowinski runs a drill during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin of Iowa State runs a drill at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Defensive lineman Cliff Avril of Purdue runs a drill at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Defensive lineman Cliff Avril of Purdue runs a drill at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Michael Bennett runs a football drill at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Michael Bennett runs a football drill at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Michael Bennett runs the 40-yard dash during football drills at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Boston Col linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Jimmy Graham of Miami poses for a headshot during the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Kam Chancellor of Virginia Tech poses for a headshot during the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Earl Thomas of Texas poses for a headshot during the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Miami's Jimmy Graham runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas' Earl Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson poses for a headshot during the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 24 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
University of Washington wide receiver Jermaine Kearse poses for a headshot during the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 24 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Mississippi State linebacker KJ Wright poses for a headshot during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 26 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Stanford defensive lineman Richard Sherman poses for a headshot during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 27 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Mississippi State linebacker KJ Wright runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford defensive back Richard Sherman runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford defensive back Richard Sherman runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston Col linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas State University defensive back Kelcie McCray poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson throws as he runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Washington receiver Jermaine Kearse runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Washington receiver Jermaine Kearse runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Arkansas State defensive back Kelcie McCray runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Arkansas State defensive back Kelcie McCray runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of California-Los Angeles defensive end Cassius Marsh poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 22, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
UCLA defensive lineman Cassius Marsh drops the ball during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
West Virginia offensive lineman Mark Glowinski runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
West Virginia offensive lineman Mark Glowinski poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Central Michigan running back Thomas Rawls poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, February 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
UCLA defensive lineman Cassius Marsh runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UCLA defensive lineman Cassius Marsh runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 20, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Boston College linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 22, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, February 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 21, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson makes a catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson prepares to throw during drills at the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Boise State defensive back Jeron Johnson poses for a headshot during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 27 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Boise State defensive back Jeron Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett performs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive lineman Jarran Reed runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama defensive lineman Jarran Reed runs the 40-yard dash during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive lineman Jarran Reed poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Notre Dame running back C.J. Prosise poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Notre Dame running back C J Prosise runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame running back C J Prosise runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boise State offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
California wide receiver Kenny Lawler poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
California wide receiver Kenny Lawler runs the 40-yard dash during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
California wide receiver Kenny Lawler catches a pass during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson runs a drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Germain Ifedi poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Germain Ifedi makes a vertical jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Germain Ifedi runs the 40 yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Colorado State defensive back DeAndre Elliott poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Colorado State defensive back Deandre Elliott runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colorado State defensive back Deandre Elliott runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arkansas running back Alex Collins poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Arkansas running back Alex Collins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas running back Alex Collins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
