Seahawks Coach Clint Hurtt Singles Out 'Very Talented Rusher!'
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The Seattle Seahawks made two selections during the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with cornerback Tariq Woolen and edge rusher Tyreke Smith.
Now one year removed, the two endured entirely different rookie seasons; Woolen was a Pro Bowler and finished third in defensive rookie of the year voting while Smith landed on injured reserve with a hip injury prior to Week 1 and never played.
But as the Seahawks get rolling for OTAs, Smith appears to be on the right track to joining Woolen (and several others) as success stories from Seattle's 2022 class ... just ask defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt.
“The guy that’s a very talented rusher from what he’s shown, but obviously he hasn’t done a lot on the practice field, but the early stuff and the drill work in OTAs, has been Tyreke Smith,” Hurtt said, via The News Tribune.
The 6-3, 255-pound Smith enjoyed a successful college career at Ohio State, capping it off by earning second-team All-Big Ten honors after logging five tackles for loss and three sacks in 10 games as a senior.
However, after battling the hip injury last fall, Smith finds himself in a peculiar position as summer workouts unfold; the Seahawks have quite a few edge rushers, with Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe and second-round rookie Derick Hall all lining the depth chart.
But Smith is talented and has evidently stood out to Hurtt, who cited several traits as to why ...
“He’s a very skilled guy with his hands, fluid hips, and his feet," Hurtt said, "so it will be interesting to see as he continues to progress.”
Can Smith join Woolen as an impactful fifth-round defender? Only time will tell - but he's off to a good start this summer as he seeks his first true NFL action.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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