Fauria Drafted, Headed to Seattle : Football: Former Crespi High star is chosen by Seahawks in second round.

In the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, Colorado tight end Christian Fauria said he tried to avoid any thoughts about his future.

The Seattle Seahawks put the former Crespi High player’s future on solid ground Saturday, drafting him with the seventh pick of the second round.

“I’ve really been down playing it, taking it with a grain of salt,” Fauria said. “I didn’t want to get caught up in all the hoopla.

“But deep down inside I wanted it so bad, I was ready to burst.”

The third-team All-American, who was projected to go high in the second round and be one of the first two or three tight ends chosen, can’t keep a low profile very long.

Fauria said he was on the edge of his seat when Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced his name with the 39th pick overall at about 3:30 p.m., because his agent, Leigh Steinberg, had told him an hour earlier that Seattle planned to pick him.

“My whole family went around the TV and started dancing, and I couldn’t hear what they were saying (on the telecast),” Fauria said. “I feel a combination of relief and excitement. And I’m ready to go.”

The 6-foot-3, 238-pound senior was highly regarded by scouts as a tough, feisty competitor with a great attitude. He rarely drops a pass and fights for every block. Fauria had 35 receptions for 356 yards in 1994, and was second in catches only to wide receiver Michael Westbrook, who was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Redskins.

Fauria’s 98 receptions in three years as a starter with the Buffaloes is a Big Eight Conference record for tight ends. He was the third tight end taken in the draft behind Penn State’s Kyle Brady and Washington’s Mark Bruener, both first-round choices.

Fauria might have gone higher in the draft if minor shoulder surgery hadn’t sidelined him during the NFL Scouting Combine, a comprehensive workout camp that evaluates college players.

“I was in a sling, I wasn’t able to work out and I was (really) out of shape,” he said. “It was my choice to have (surgery). I didn’t want it to get worse then go to camp and say, ‘Oh, by the way, guys, my shoulder’s hurt.’ ”

Fauria said he likes the prospect of playing with the Seahawks.

“Seattle is still on the West Coast,” he said. “We get to come down and play teams in L.A. and go back to Colorado and play Denver, which I like.

“I think Seattle will use my abilities. (Coach) Dennis Erickson’s offenses in the past have been pretty wide open, and they throw the ball. I think I can shine in that offense. I’m glad that I went there. Some teams basically wanted a blocking tight end or just a pass-catching tight end. I’d still go there, but I don’t want my abilities to be limited.”

Fauria has two older brothers--Lance, 30, and Quinn, 26--whose Division I football careers were cut short by injury. A back injury forced Christian to miss spring practice and continued to nag him throughout his senior season, but not enough to deter NFL scouts. And on draft day, the Fauria family held a champagne toast.

“It was a happy day for all of us,” said Ashley Fauria, Christian’s father. “I had two sons that didn’t get the opportunity. It’s nice to have one make it. I had dreams for all of my sons, and one of the dreams came through.”