Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports. He has been covering the NFL Draft for more than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Today, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, among others. He also works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Rang's opinions and evaluations are his own and do not reflect those of the Seahawks. Follow him on Twitter @RobRang.

When you are a life-long Seattle-area resident (born, like the Seahawks, in 1976) and have evaluated as many football players as I have over my quarter-century in the scouting business, certain iconic traits – such as Hall of Famer Walter Jones' unbelievable blend of size and athleticism, Marshawn Lynch's staggered gait and unbelievable power through contact, Richard Sherman's long arms, galloping strides and nonstop chatter – all tend to stand out.

This is not to suggest that the college prospects listed below will go on to enjoy the same degree of success in the NFL that these Seahawks Legends captured. Or, for that matter, that this year's rookie crop can't exceed what their Seahawks doppelgangers achieved. Every player is their own individual, of course.

So, take these comparisons as they are intended – an indication of my respect for the Seahawks and other players of the past, present and future – with a dash of nostalgia and projection added, just for kicks. I promise that I won't take the low-hanging fruit – like comparing Boston College center Drew Kendall to his father, Pete, who was Seattle's first round pick back in 1996.

Here are a handful prospects whose tape brought back memories for me of Seahawks, throughout all 50 years of the franchise's history.

Prospects are listed in alphabetical order.

FS Billy Bowman, Jr., Oklahoma = Quandre Diggs

Given that Bowman played at Oklahoma – the longtime rival of Diggs' beloved Texas Longhorns – this comparison might sting a little for some, especially as the first one of the article. However, the similarities between the two undersized ballhawks are just too obvious to ignore. Both, for example, lack the size scouts would prefer with Bowman checking in at 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds. Diggs was an inch shorter and just four pounds heavier when he was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2015 draft.

But as Diggs has since proven over his 10-year career in the NFL, instincts, ball-skills and reliable open-field tackling are ultimately even more important than size.

Just as Seahawks fans won't soon forget Diggs' playoff-clinching interception in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams two years, Bowman has history of clutch plays of his own.

For example, take this pick-6 against to break a third quarter tie against BYU. It was one of his 11 career interceptions – the same number as Diggs – and one of three that Bowman returned for a touchdown over his career.

And while interceptions are the metric that many use to rank defensive backs, Bowman and Diggs were also known for their tackling, with the former showing the instincts and closing speed to someday challenge the staggering 622 total stops (including 463 solos and 15 tackles for loss) the latter has posted during his illustrious NFL career.

Those instincts – along with a stellar showing at the Combine – should have Bowman drafted significantly earlier the Diggs, with a Top 100 likely.

QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon = Russell Wilson

Speaking of illustrious careers, it takes a pretty special prospect to earn a comparison to the most accomplished quarterback in franchise history but in terms of size, arm talent, improvisational skills and most importantly, a track record of winning, Seahawks fans could see an awful lot of similarities between Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Russell Wilson.

Both measured in at 5-foot-11 at their respective NFL combines with Gabriel actually weighing in one pound heavier (205) than Wilson did back in 2012. Wilson began his college career at North Carolina State before transferring to Wisconsin, completing 60.9% of his passes in those two stops for 11,720 yards and 109 touchdowns against just 30 interceptions. He also ran for 1,421 yards and 23 scores, guiding the Badgers to a Rose Bowl berth in his final season.

Gabriel began his college career at Central Florida before transferring first to Oklahoma and then to Oregon. When comparing his final statistics, it is important to note that Gabriel played 14 more games than Wilson, but his 65.2% completion rate for 18,722 yards and 155 touchdowns against just 32 interceptions speak for themselves. He also ran for 1,209 yards and 33 scores, earning all-league honors in the American Athletic Conference, Big 12 and Big Ten over his career.

It isn't just the stature and statistics that warrants Gabriel's comparison to Wilson, however. Just look at the way that Gabriel buys time and delivers strikes on the move.

And like Wilson, Gabriel has a much stronger arm than his frame might suggest. Gabriel, a left hander, is among this year's most talented deep ball passers.

Perhaps most important, both players earned a reputation for making big plays at critical moments.

Few expected that John Schneider and the Seahawks would invest a third round pick in a quarterback after signing Matt Flynn in free agency back in 2012, but the No. 75 overall selection of that class was arguably the most important pick the club has ever made.

Given the splashy signing of Sam Darnold in free agency this year, many would be surprised if Seattle invested an early pick on a quarterback in the draft.

Whether in Seattle or elsewhere, however, no one should be surprised if Gabriel proves a similar mid-round steal.

WR/RS Matthew Golden, Texas = Joey Galloway

Like the aforementioned Wilson, it takes a pretty special player to warrant a comparison to Joey Galloway, the No. 8 overall selection of the 1995 NFL draft and arguably the most electric playmaker in Seattle's franchise history.

The 5-foot-11, 183-pound Galloway was a blur, beating opponents with a rare combination of elusiveness and breakaway speed, as demonstrated with this touchdown – one of five combined kick and punt returns scored over his NFL career.

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound Golden was one of the stars at this year's Combine, proving the fastest of all the players tested this year, registering an eye-popping 4.29 second 40-yard dash. And like Galloway, Golden's speed translates beautifully to the field, showing similar playmaking ability at Texas this past season and previously at the University of Houston, which is where he played while returning this kickoff for a touchdown.

But it isn't just on special teams where Galloway and Golden shined. The former caught 77 touchdowns over his NFL career. After transferring from Houston, it took Golden some time to develop a rapport with quarterback Quinn Ewers but once he did so, he became the Longhorns' primary weapon as the 2025 season went on. His explosiveness is all over the tape.

Just like Galloway 30 years ago, Golden is going to fly off the board in the first round.

DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State = Brandon Mebane

Each of the prior three Seahawks Legends listed in this article earned trips to the Pro Bowl but Mebane was arguably as beloved as any of them, spending nine years in Seattle (and four more with the Los Angeles Chargers) after being selected 85^th overall out of Cal back in 2007.

Mebane measured in at just over 6-foot-1 and 309 pounds at the 2007 Scouting Combine but his round frame, power-based game and trademark "belly roll" celebration made him a larger-than-life presence in the middle for the Seahawks, helping him rack up an eye-popping 349 tackles, including 53 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks during his Seatle career.

Mebane's stout frame made him well-suited to stuffing the run, but he also offered impressive lateral agility and balance to penetrate the backfield. What I remember most, however, was his quick, technically-refined hand play. Mebane was savvy, saving his best moves for key moments. When necessary, he'd slip blocks with remarkable quickness and reliability. Further, while no one would confuse him with current Seahawks star Leonard Williams for their breakaway speed, Mebane had terrific "phone booth" quickness and awareness, as demonstrated with this blast from the past.

At 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds, Williams is even bigger than Mebane. That height helps him affect the quarterback, registering 10 passes broken up during his four seasons at Ohio State.

Despite the height, Williams plays with very good pad level and power to win the leverage battle. Further, he chops his hands with similar speed and precision as the 176-game NFL starter, offering a suddenness to the stack-and-shed technique that helped make Mebane so effective.

Like the chronically-underrated Mebane, Williams was often overshadowed at Ohio State and in this remarkably gifted defensive tackle class. He also may still be available outside of the draft's Top 32 picks but plays with the passion and pro-readiness to ultimately outperform his selection.