Despite an overall down year for the Seattle Seahawks ' defense, cornerback Devon Witherspoon absolutely had a rookie season to remember.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Witherspoon lived up to the hype and then some, recording 79 total tackles and 16 passes defended. His most-impressive showing came in a Week 4 game against the New York Giants, in which he had a pair of sacks and a 97-yard pick six. The Illinois product earned Pro Bowl honors and finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, although many believe he should've won it outright.
On Tuesday, Witherspoon added another accolade to his impressive rookie campaign. In his hometown of Pensacola, Florida, Witherspoon was named Pensacola Sports' Professional Athlete of the Year at the 70th Annual Sports Awards Banquet held at a local community center.
“It means a lot to come back to the town that I grew up in. To know that we came from a small town in north Florida, I feel like it’s my duty to represent where I come from,” Witherspoon told the Pensacola News Journal. “Like Roy Jones said, a lot of people didn’t expect for us to make it (from here), you’ve got to let it be known. I represent that and take a lot of pride in that.”
Even though he's now playing across the entire country, Witherspoon is still looking to make an impact in his hometown. Over the summer, he worked with Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson, his former teammate at Pine Forest High School, to help put on a youth football camp at their alma mater. That camp drew in roughly 200 participants with an age range from elementary school to high school.
“It’s just the opportunities that we create for the youth. … I just take that as a big pride moment for me," Witherspoon said. "Of course, you’re going to get congratulated for the awards that you get, but the opportunities that we leave behind for the kids that look up to us, that’s dope – to give them hope, (knowing), ‘If he can do it, then so can I...'
“I feel like I’ve got to represent where we come from. A lot of people don’t make it (to the pros), so when you do, you’ve got to shine a light on that.”
After an excellent debut, Seahawks fans are eagerly awaiting to see what Witherspoon can do for a follow-up act.
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