Seahawks Rookie Sensation Tariq Woolen Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Thriving ever since his arrival on the VMAC for the beginning of Seahawks rookie minicamp and by no means wanting again, the instant ascendance of cornerback Tariq Woolen in direction of stardom has been one of many franchise’s most shocking developments.

A fifth-round pick of UTSA, Woolen wasted little time impressing coach Pete Carroll, who particularly cited particular person reps protecting speedy veteran Marquise Goodwin in the course of the group’s offseason program as the primary indicator he could also be able to play faster than anticipated. After Artie Burns injured his groin within the third week of coaching camp, the uber-athletic rookie vaulted into the beginning lineup and continued to make performs on the observe subject and preseason, profitable the suitable cornerback job for the season opener.

Since then, “Riq the Freak” has aced each check thrown his approach, placing collectively a exceptional first six video games to start his NFL profession. In every of the previous 4 video games, together with choosing off quarterback Kyler Murray in Sunday’s 19-9 win over the Cardinals, Woolen has intercepted a go, changing into solely the seventh participant in franchise historical past to perform the feat and the primary to take action since Brandon Browner in 2011. He additionally recovered a fumble on Sunday, making historical past as the primary rookie because the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to supply an interception and fumble restoration in consecutive weeks.

“I do not keep in mind feeling like this a couple of younger nook on the market that goes week after week after week, coming from the place he got here from and all that, and to be this far alongside and having this a lot enjoyable and success and all that,” Carroll gushed after Sunday’s win. “It is actually enjoyable to look at.”

Attaining historic milestones from a league and franchise perspective whereas serving to his group keep within the NFC West hunt, Woolen’s immense success as a rookie hasn’t gone unnoticed by the remainder of the NFL, as the previous Roadrunners star earned himself NFC Defensive Participant of the Week honors in Week 6 for his efforts.

After shining on the Senior Bowl in Cell, the 6-foot-4 Woolen placed on a present on the NFL Scouting Mix in March, changing into the primary participant of his peak to run a sub-4.30-second 40-yard sprint at 4.26 seconds and publish a vertical soar of greater than 40 inches. However with solely two years beneath his belt at cornerback after transitioning from receiver halfway by way of his profession at UTSA, groups had considerations about his professional readiness, resulting in him falling into day three of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Intrigued by his never-before-seen mix of measurement, size, and athleticism, Carroll and basic supervisor John Schneider lastly ended Woolen’s free fall at choose No. 153, doubling up at cornerback one spherical after choosing Cincinnati’s Coby Bryant. On the time, the Seahawks considered him as a challenge given his lack of expertise on the place.

Nevertheless, Woolen has turned these expectations on their head after which some. He not solely turned a day one starter, however he has rapidly surfaced as one of many league’s premier younger stars producing game-changing clutch performs each week for Seattle. Along with 4 interceptions and two fumble recoveries, he blocked a subject aim in a Week 2 loss at San Francisco, which led to a landing return for teammate Mike Jackson. Anytime the protection makes one thing optimistic occur, to the delight of Carroll and his workers, he appears to be within the middle of the chaos.

“I’ve simply been making an attempt to realize loads of information concerning the recreation. Simply conditions, and the completely different little issues that go into it that assist you higher as a participant. I really feel like I’ve been doing that from the time I obtained right here till now,” Woolen mentioned of his sudden early success. “I used to be blessed with the athletic skill, so when these two come collectively, and you understand what you are able to do, it slows the sport down so much for you, and it’s been slowing down week after week.”

Whereas he nonetheless has a lot to be taught – teammates equivalent to security Quandre Diggs have remarked how he retains making performs regardless of being “oblivious” to what’s going on and nonetheless being a novice by way of understanding the sport and his place – Woolen has already remodeled himself right into a family identify choosing off passes and shutting down opposing receivers week after week. With lower than three years as a cornerback beneath his belt, he ought to proceed to quickly enhance, which is horrifying information for opposing quarterbacks transferring ahead.

Together with profitable NFC Participant of the Week honors, Woolen was nominated for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week award. Seahawks working again Ken Walker III additionally obtained certainly one of six nominations after dashing for 97 yards and a landing towards the Cardinals. A winner will likely be introduced on Thursday and followers can vote through NFL.com.

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