CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Keytaon Thompson #99 of the Virginia Cavaliers is tackled by Devon Witherspoon #31 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo …
RENTON, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks have selected Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon with the fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Despite an overwhelming focus on defensive line and quarterback candidates for Seattle with their top pick in the draft, the Seahawks threw yet another curveball by taking one of the best defensive backs in the class instead.
A three-year starter at Illinois, Witherspoon played both outside and in the nickel position during his time with the Illini. Witherspoon was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year in 2022.
"I'm energetic, physical, you know, a dog on the field," Witherspoon said in a conference call with reporters. "I'm just very confident in what I do. Passionate. And I just love showing my emotions out there on the field."
Witherspoon had a visit to the Seahawks as one of 30 players the team is permitted to bring in for a pre-draft visit ahead of the draft.
"It was dope, man," Witherspoon said. "The view out there, the facility, you know, the guys. Just everything about Washington was really dope when I had my visit there so very happy and excited."
Per Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Witherspoon "has excellent read-and-drive reaction quickness and uses his eyes and physicality to shut down passing windows (26 passes defended in 22 games the last two season). Although he doesn’t carry an ideal weight, he has functional length and competes much bigger than he looks both in coverage and run support."
Witherspoon appeared in 42 games with 32 starts over four years at Illinois. He had 159 total tackles with five interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble.
Witherspoon said he prides himself on being a physical player despite being just 5-foot-11, 185 pounds.
"It's always been me, man," Witherspoon said. "You've got to want to tackle. This game is about tackling, defending the run. It's everything so really that's just always been me. I've always been confident. I kind of been undersized all my life so tackling is what I do."