The Seahawks selected Tyrice Knight, a linebacker out of UTEP, with pick No. 118 overall in the fourth round, adding a highly productive player to a position group that will look significantly different in 2024 than it did last season.
Knight joins free-agent additions Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker as new linebacker acquisitions for Seattle after Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks both signed elsewhere in free agency.
"I've been waiting for this call my whole life," Knight said. "To finally get it, you never thought this moment would happen. I'm blessed that it happened, I'm blessed to be here, and I'm ready to be a Seahawk."
Knight led all FBS players with 84 solo tackles last season and had 140 total tackles, including a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss. Knight, who also had 4.5 sacks, seven passes defensed and a forced fumble, was named first-team All-Conference USA, also earning second-team honors in 2022 when he had a team leading 95 tackles to go along with 6.5 tackles for loss.
Over the course of the past three seasons, Knight piled up 337 tackles and 31 tackles for loss while starting all 37 games.
"I feel that I'm very versatile," he said. "I feel like I can play good in the run game, good in the pass game, I'm all around from sideline to sideline. I think I can do anything the coaches ask me to do, without any hesitation. I feel like I'm the perfect linebacker for the Seahawks. I'm glad they made this decision."
Knight made a pre-draft visit to Seattle and came away impressed with the organization that wound up drafting him.
"That visit up to Seattle, it was really great," he said. "It was a good atmosphere; it was a good facility all around. All the coaches were nice to me, we had a good vibe, a good connection. I have nothing bad to say; the food was good. The training area, the weight room, everything was up to par. I really enjoyed it."
"The first thing that stands out about Tyrice Knight is his high football IQ. Pre-snap, he takes command of the defense by making calls and getting the rest of the defense set. Post-snap, he's quick to key and diagnose run plays, trusts what he sees and is consistently around the ball.
Against zone runs, Knight knows when to trigger downhill to help get unblocked tackles near the line of scrimmage. While his open-field tackling needs some work, he's effective in the box with good pad level and wraps up to make sure tackles."
This is a developing story. Check back soon for additional news and analysis.
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The Seahawks selected UTEP LB Tyrice Knight with the 118th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out the best photos of the 4th rounder from his college playing days.
UTEP Miners linebacker Tyrice Knight (10) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Fresno State wide receiver Jalen Cropper (5) is tackled by UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight (10) during the second half of the New Mexico Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
UTSA quarterback Frank Harris (0) is hit by UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight during the first half of an NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight (10) celebrates with teammates after UTSA wide receiver Tykee Ogle-Kellogg, right, missed a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UTSA quarterback Frank Harris, right, is hit by UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Louisiana Tech running back Tyre Shelton (4) is tackled by UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight (10) and cornerback AJ Odums (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
Louisiana Tech Ryan Rivera (34) misses a reception as he is defended by UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
Liberty running back Quinton Cooley (20) avoids the tackle by UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. Liberty won 42-28. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
American linebacker Tyrice Knight of UTEP (40) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP Images for the NFL)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the ball during the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
