One of the most important, yet overlooked Seahawks took the non-traditional path to Seattle.
Without any scholarship offers, he walked on at Penn State. Despite a good showing at the East-West Shrine Game, he wasn't drafted and settled for signing a free-agent contract to replace a veteran Pro Bowl performer.
Don't look now, but that rocky road has led to one of the smoothest paths to a roster spot as the Seahawks prepare to commence training camp at the VMAC next week. Rookie Chris Stoll is the only long-snapper on Seattle's roster, meaning he's running unopposed for a job that's his to lose.
With Seattle deciding not to re-sign former Pro Bowler Tyler Ott (who held the position from 2017-21) or last season's injury fill-in 33-year-old Carson Tinker, the 24-year-old Stoll arrives as a younger, cheaper, yet priceless alternative. Ott, who spent last season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, is now healthy enough to be trying out for the Los Angeles Rams. Stoll has never delivered an NFL snap. And we know that so many games are decided by field goals in the waning seconds.
The Seahawks are taking a calculated risk. But given Stoll's pedigree, is it a safe bet?
Last season at Penn State he was awarded the Patrick Mannelly Award, given annually to the nation's best long-snapper. In high school he was a two-time All-American.
Pete Carroll obviously likes Stoll. If he meshes with kicker Jason Myers and punter Michael Dickson, his job will be to disappear. The less we hear about Stoll, the better.
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