Former UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight drafted by Seattle Seahawks
UTEP has its first NFL draft selection in six years, as linebacker Tyrice Knight came off the board Saturday as a fourth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound former Miner became the 118th overall selection in the 2024 draft.
A native of Lakeland, Fla., Knight came to El Paso after two seasons at Independence Community College. In his four seasons at UTEP, Knight accumulated 392 total tackles and made 43 total starts at the linebacker position. A Conference USA first-teamer in 2023, Knight racked up 140 tackles in his final season in the Sun City, adding 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Knight later earned an invite to the 2024 NFL Combine and turned in an impressive performance, clocking a 4.63 40-yard dash and logging 21 reps on the bench press. He becomes the first Miner to hear his name called on draft day since Will Hernandez, who was a second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2018.
Of Knight, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein said the following...
"Durable three-year starter with loads of tackle production on his résumé. Knight plays a floating, freestyling brand of football from the second level, looking for opportunities to knife in and make plays.
"While he racks up tackles, he fails to play within defensive structure full-time and will lose run fits and overflow action outside the tackle box. He has average speed and below-average man cover talent. His size and production will be looked upon favorably, but he might not play with the instincts needed to handle what he will see from NFL offenses."
Knight was the third player selected in the draft by the Seahawks, who had previously taken Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy with their first-round selection (16th overall) and UConn offensive lineman Christian Haynes with their third-round selection (81st overall).
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