Devon Witherspoon brings a trait that is indispensable to the Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks’ first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has a competitive drive rivaled to none.
When the Seattle Seahawks drafted cornerback Devon Witherspoon with the No. 5 overall pick, the organization knew it was getting a talented defensive back who can make plays few others can on the football field.
But as it turns out, Seattle is also getting a competitor with a desire to win that often goes unrivaled. Bret Bielema, Witherspoon's college coach granted some insight into the cornerback's insatiable competitive apatite on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, where he detailed that as hard-working as Witherspoon is on game days, during practice, he is even more intense.
“He just is a guy that as competitive as he is on gameday, he’s even more competitive in practice because now he knows the guys. I don’t care what the situation is … he is going to compete his tail off on a daily basis to be at his best on any given snap. A relentless work ethic,” Bielema said. “A lot of times … I think wide receivers and DBs (have a reputation of) ‘These guys don’t love the weight room, they don’t love to work., they don’t love to do all this.’ And it’s the exact opposite. Spooner’s engaged. He knows that the work that he puts in on Monday through Friday pays off on Saturdays, and I think in the NFL it will be the same thing.”
Much of Witherspoon's game is played on instincts. However, they are instincts that are only developed through constant studying of the game. The good news for Seattle, however, is that Witherspoon is a student of the game and knows how and when to take risks that can make or break games.
“He really, truly understands splits, cuts, if he’s into the boundary or to the field,” Bielema said.
Those instincts were on display in a widely circulated video of Witherspoon blowing up a screen pass play with a big hit — forecasting the type of player he aspires to be at the NFL level.
“I always say this: I think Spoon probably knew that play was going to be run before the quarterback even called it,” Bielema said of the play. “He just truly has great instincts, and the best news is I think his best football is yet to come.”
Witherspoon sees his game much the same way. Following the draft, he pulled back the curtain and revealed what exactly he aims to bring to the field in a Seahawks' uniform.
"I would say that I am energetic, physical, I’m a dog on the field, and I’m just very confident in what I do. I’m passionate and I love to show my emotions out there on the field, so that describes me,” he said.
Specifically, Witherspoon is excited to see how his game blends with Tariq Woolen, the other starting corner on Seattle's roster.
“I’m excited to be across from that guy," Witherspoon said of Woolen. "He’s a ball hawk, he’s a very talented player. I actually got a chance to play against him in college, so I know what he brings to the table. I’m ready to go out there and compete with him and go out there and be a great duo out there down the field."
Not lacking confidence, Witherspoon represents a changing of philosophy at the cornerback position for Seattle. It was a spot on the field where Seattle often opted for inexpensive players. As a first-round pick, Witherspoon is commanding first-round money. And now his play has to back up the investment.
That shouldn't be too hard. Bielema explained that the chip on his shoulder should influence his likelihood of success at the NFL level.
"He wasn’t only not a three-star, two-star, or one-star (recruit), he was a 0.0 star when he got recruited out of high school,” he said. “So this kid carries a chip on his shoulder both on the left and right. He doesn’t have one, he’s got two, and it shows up in his demeanor on a daily basis.”
