Seahawks 90-Man Rundown: Robbie Ouzts Brings Hard Hat as Klint Kubiak’s Hand-Picked FB
With their offseason program now complete, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC on July 23, marking the start of the upcoming season before fans have a chance to blink.
In preparation for year two under coach Mike Macdonald, I’ll be detailing every member of the Seahawks' 90-man roster over the next several weeks, sharing fun facts, exploring best- and worst-case scenarios, and predicting what to expect from each player entering the 2025 campaign.
Transitioning from tight end to fullback as he acclimates to Klint Kubiak’s offense, will Robbie Ouzts provide the lead blocking force Seattle needs to help awaken its dormant run game?
Robbie Ouzts
Height/Weight: 6-3, 274 pounds
2024 Stats: Eight receptions, 108 receiving yards, two touchdowns
One of the top tight end prospects in the nation heralding from Rock Hill High School in South Carolina, Ouzts committed to Alabama in 2021, playing mostly special teams in his first two seasons before taking on a more extended role as a junior and senior. A punishing blocker with the size to handle assignments against defensive ends in the SEC, he helped open up run lanes current/former teammate Jalen Milroe as well as a talented stable of running backs. Though hardly a consistent target in the passing game, he caught 16 passes in four seasons with the Crimson Tide and scored three touchdowns in his final two years on campus.
Seeking a big-bodied, athletic blocker who could step in as a viable force at fullback in an offense that will utilize two-back personnel far more often than previous play callers, the Seahawks invested the 172nd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft in Ouzts, setting him up to compete against veteran Brady Russell for a starting job. Aside from seeing action as an in-line tight end and an H-back at the college level that should prepare him well for fullback duty, Ouzts brings extensive special teams experience (537 snaps) to the NFL on his resume, which should only help his cause as he vies for significant playing time on offense and in the third phase of the game.
Fun Fact: More than capable of making plays with the ball in his hands, Ouzts finished his college career with a healthy 76 percent catch rate, 100 yards after the catch, and a 12 yards per catch average.
Best Case Scenario: A natural at the fullback position with a similar build and play style to Ravens standout Patrick Ricard, Ouzts makes his presence felt when the pads come out in August with bullying lead blocks and surprisingly soft hands as a checkdown receiver option, outclassing Russell in a competition that ultimately proves to not be a close one.
Worst Case Scenario: Disappointingly, Ouzts doesn’t make the easy adjustment from tight end to fullback and endures some growing pains shifting to the backfield in the preseason, while Russell winds up looking more the part with a bit more athleticism and underrated blocking ability, leading to the rookie being cut and retained on the practice squad.
What to Expect in 2025: While most NFL teams have moved away from employing a traditional fullback and have instead plugged reserve tight ends or even defensive tackles into short yardage situations to play the role, Kubiak subscribes to a more old school approach with a Shanahan-style offense. Last season with the Saints, he used a fullback more than 30 percent of the team’s offensive plays, providing a great opportunity for Ouzts to be more than a specialty player who logs a couple snaps a game. Additionally, new kickoff rules seem to be better catered to bigger bodied blockers, so he should be used to open up lanes for kick returners as well in that capacity.
As general manager John Schneider proclaimed hours after drafting Ouzts, the rookie won’t be given a job in Seattle, especially with Russell being a much-respected player by teammates and coaches alike. The battle for the fullback role could last throughout training camp and the preseason, but based on the type of players Macdonald’s former team deployed at the position in Baltimore and Kubiak’s previous track record, the fifth-round pick should get every opportunity to snatch the job come July and August. It would be a significant letdown if the junkyard dog isn’t able to stick on the roster and provide a road paving force in front of Ken Walker III and company as a rookie.
