This autumn, the Seattle Seahawks’ inside linebacker position will appear completely different.
Who is the top player in the Seahawks position groups?
Both previous first-round selection Jordyn Brooks and franchise icon Bobby Wagner have left via free agency. Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker, who each signed one-year contracts with Seattle in March, are expected to take their places.
Tyrice Knight, a rookie selected in the fourth round of the draft who led the FBS with 84 solo tackles at UTEP last season, is another fascinating wild card.
On Brock and Salk’s yearly list of the “Most Intriguing Seahawks,” which made its premiere on Seattle Sports on Monday, Knight was ranked No. 25. Prior to the Seahawks’ preseason opener on August 10, co-host Mike Salk and former NFL quarterback Brock Huard will highlight one player from the list on each show.
Tyrice Knight immediately caught Salk’s attention during all of the spring practices he observed. This was due to Knight’s quickness, his unique appearance compared to some of the players we’ve seen in recent years, and the fact that the two expected starters were absent from practice because of injuries. Tyrice Knight is now the focus of a lot more attention. Because of his one weapon—his speed—he has the potential to be a reliable starter in this league.
Throughout his four seasons with the Miners, the 6-foot-1, 233-pound Knight recorded 391 tackles, demonstrating his impressive productivity history at UTEP. He finished the previous season with 4.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, and one forced fumble. With a 40-yard sprint time of 4.63 seconds, he placed eighth out of 16 linebackers at the NFL combine.
Huard stated that Knight’s primary difficulty as a rookie is understanding the playbook, particularly considering the defensive style of new head coach Mike Macdonald. College defenses, according to Huard, usually have significantly smaller playbooks.
“This young man, entering this defensive scheme, this NFL playbook by Mike Macdonald?” Huard stated. “He’s going to need some time.”
According to Huard, it would be best if Baker and Dodson stay healthy and have successful seasons this year, which would provide Knight more time to adjust to the NFL without being thrust into a starting role.
Huard remarked, “I think in the best-case scenario, he starts zero games.” “In the best case, Baker and Dodson are fantastic and amazing.”
But because to injury, Baker and Dodson were sidelined for almost the whole spring program. Although everyone of them is anticipated to return before training camp, there is extremely little depth at linebacker. With just 19 total defensive snaps of NFL experience, former undrafted free agents Jon Rhattigan and Patrick O’Connell are the next choices on the depth chart after Knight.
Huard remarked, “Tyrice Knight better be ready to play.” “He will start some, so you’ll need to outfit him for training camp and, who knows, perhaps rotate a series in here and there to give him some experience. I have a good feeling that he will start a few games.
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