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Former USC running back Allen Bradford was signed by the Seattle Seahawks to add linebacker depth on their 53-man roster, the team announced Wednesday.
Bradford has been with the Seahawks off and on for parts of the last four years. He was originally drafted as a running back in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay, but after getting five carries for 14 yards, Bradford was waived and ended up in Seattle with his former USC coach Pete Carroll.
Carroll put Bradford on the Seahawks' practice squad and flipped him over to the defensive side at linebacker -- a position many projected him to be a future star at coming out of high school. In 2012, Bradford was placed on the 53-man roster in December and played in one game for Seattle.
At the beginning of the 2013 season, Allen Bradford was waived after playing in one game with the Seahawks. He quickly signed with the New York Giants and played in nine games, making four tackles. During the offseason, the Giants waived Bradford. The next day he was signed by Jacksonville, but was waived in August. He most recently spent time with the Cleveland Browns practice squad.
Bradford told Seattle Times' reporter Bob Condotta he was shopping in a Toys R Us with his daughter when he was contacted by the Seahawks Tuesday. An early-morning flight put Bradford back in the Seattle locker room in time for Wednesday's practice.
"I’ve just got to just be ready and go out there and do what I do," Bradford said.
Bradford said he expects to play on special teams Sunday at Kansas City and will also get a refresher on the middle linebacker spot. Seattle may need some depth with Bobby Wagner likely still out and Brock Coyle a little"bagged up" in the words of Seattle coach Pete Carroll.
"I really just want to make the most of this opportunity because they only come every so often," Bradford said.
Allen Bradford finished his USC career with 1,587 yards rushing (5.9 avg) and 20 career touchdowns. As a high school senior all the way back in 2005, Bradford recorded 157 tackles, 12 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
Bradford's USC teammate, Dion Bailey, who was signed to the Seattle practice squad last week, was excited about the news of Bradford and fullback Stanley Havili signing with Seattle:
Man i'm so HYPED having my boys @AllenBradford21 & @SHavili in the building!!Love seeing the Dream stay alive for good people!! #FightOn
— Dion Bailey (@dbailey_18) November 13, 2014