The Seahawks added some needed interior defensive line depth with their second of two fourth-round picks, selecting Mississippi State nose tackle Cameron Young with the 123rd overall pick.
Young, who is 6-foot-3, 304 pounds, gives the Seahawks a big presence on a defensive line that, coming into the draft, was lacking healthy interior linemen. Al Woods, last year's starting nose tackle, was released in a salary-cap related move, as were defensive linemen Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson, while Poona Ford remains unsigned as a free agent.
Young hoped to end up in Seattle after spending time with the team during the pre-draft process.
"I think the Seahawks were one of my favorites," he said. "They've been talking to me throughout this whole process. I knew that was a place where I wanted to go. With them already having Mississippi State players already there, I think I'll fit in."
Young, who is from Crosby, Mississippi, started 25 games over the past two seasons. As a junior he recorded 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two pass breakups, and last season he had 37 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack.
He plans on bringing a tough attitude as well as versatility to the Seahawks defense.
"I like to describe myself as a dog," he said. "A guy that's very physical who loves to establish the line of scrimmage and stop the run. But I also got a little twist in there and can rush the passer.
"The plan, when I talked to the [defensive] line coach, he was saying that my position versatility gives me the opportunity to get some reps at the nose spot and also bump up to the [defensive] end spot and get some reps."
Take a look at photos of defensive tackle Cameron Young during his five years (redshirt freshman) at Mississippi State University. Young was selected by the Seahawks with the 123rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mississippi State defensive lineman Gerri Green (4) practices blocking drills with defensive tackle Cameron Young (93) during the NCAA college football team's practice in Starkville, Miss., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)
STARKVILLE, MS - JULY 22, 2020 - Mississippi State Defensive Lineman Cameron Young (#93) headshot taken during 2020 Football Production Days in the Palmeiro Center at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS. Photo By Mitch Phillips
LSU quarterback Max Johnson (14) is pressured by Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young (93) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
TUCSON, AZ - September 10, 2022 - Mississippi State Defensive Lineman Cameron Young (#93) during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, AZ. Photo By Kevin Snyder
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (5)) runs the ball past Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young (93) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
LSU running back Josh Williams runs the ball between Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young, left, and cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. LSU won 31-16. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young (93) pursues Arkansas quarterback Malik Hornsby (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Mississippi State won 40-17. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
LEXINGTON, KY - October 15, 2022 - Mississippi State Defensive Lineman Cameron Young (#93) during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, KY. Photo By Mitch Phillips
OXFORD, MS - November 24, 2022 - Mississippi State Defensive Lineman Nathan Pickering (#22), Mississippi State Defensive Lineman Cameron Young (#93) and Mississippi State Defensive Lineman Jaden Crumedy (#94) during the Battle for the Golden Egg between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, MS. Photo By Mike Mattina
TAMPA, FL - January 02, 2023 - Mississippi State Defensive Lineman Cameron Young (#93) during the ReliaQuest Bowl between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Photo By Kevin Snyder
American defensive lineman Cameron Young of Mississippi State (93) runs drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American defensive lineman Cameron Young of Mississippi State (93) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP Images for the NFL)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young relaxes before running a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Coastal Carolina defensive lineman Jerrod Clark, left, warms up with Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young, right, and Wisconsin defensive lineman Keeanu Benton and warms up before running a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
