RENTON — It’s almost as if one small corner of the locker room was ripped out of Husky Stadium during the recent renovations, transported across Lake Washington, then plopped down at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
There, almost side-by-side in the locker room at the Seattle Seahawks’ headquarters, are stalls with the names Jermaine Kearse, Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams attached to them.
Three-fifths of the Seattle Seahawks’ current receiving corps are former University of Washington Huskies, and not only are they former Dawgs, they also all found their way onto Seattle’s roster after being undrafted free agents.
The phenomenon of having three undrafted receivers from Washington on the roster was completed last Saturday when Williams was signed off the practice squad.
“We like those Huskies,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “We want to get them all out there at the same time a few times here if we can. It’s pretty unique. They’re all good football players. They’re versatile guys, they’re tough guys, they’re great to have in the program. They’ve just fit us really well. I think it’s ironic that they’re right across the lake here.”
All three were good players at Washington, but not good enough to warrant getting drafted. Kearse, who was a Husky from 2008-11, was a two-time second-team All-Pac-10 selection, but he slumped his senior season. Smith (2010-13) wasn’t productive as a receiver until his final season, and although he led Washington in receiving yards as a senior it was a modest total (765 yards). Williams (2011-14) was on his way to stardom, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors as a sophomore, but a broken leg wiped out his junior and senior campaigns.
However, they’ve now found a home in the NFL together with the Seahawks.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Kearse said. “Especially because I played with both Kevin and Kasen in college, too, so it’s definitely exciting for all three of us to be able to reach this mark, something that I’ve got to see them grow as people and as players. It’s pretty cool to see.”
The three Huskies have all been a part of Seattle’s organization since Smith and Williams signed free-agent contracts with the Seahawks in June. However, neither Smith nor Williams, both of whom are in their first season in the NFL, made the 53-man roster at the beginning of the season. Yet Seattle deemed them interesting enough to find space for them on the practice squad.
The duo bided their time, and attrition among the Seahawks’ receivers led to their chance. Chris Matthews was released, Ricardo Lockette and Paul Richardson suffered season-ending injuries, and B.J. Daniels was signed off Seattle’s practice squad by Houston. Smith was signed to the 53-man roster on Nov. 17 when Matthews was released, while Williams was signed last Saturday when tight end Anthony McCoy was placed on injured reserve.
“It’s an awesome feeling, three Dawgs coming from Washington, and at the same time we did play with each other at least a year at Washington,” Smith said. “It’s good to have that feeling that we had coming out of Washington. You can see what we can do, when we were on the low radar.”
Kearse provided the blueprint for Smith and Williams. Kearse went unselected in the 2012 draft, but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks. He spent the first half of the season on Seattle’s practice squad before being signed to the active roster following Seattle’s eighth game.
Now in his fourth season, Kearse has steadily seen his role on the team increase. In 2013, mostly as a backup, he caught 22 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Last season, moving into the starting lineup, he grabbed 38 balls for 537 yards and one TD. This season he’s taken another step with 46 catches for 651 yards and four scores heading into Sunday’s season finale at Arizona. Two weeks ago he had his first 100-yard receiving day in the NFL.
After paying his dues Kearse is now a productive NFL receiver. Smith and Williams are hoping to follow suit, and Kearse is helping by serving as a mentor.
“(Kearse has taught) the routes, and just what to expect when you get in the game,” Williams said. “Some guys, because it’s the NFL, it’s going to be big and there’s going to be so much going on. But Jermaine was the guy who kind of pulled me aside and said everything is going to be the same, just be comfortable, it’s just like practice. So he helps in the sense of calming in the nerves and taking the pressure off of myself.”
Meanwhile, Kearse is seeing Smith and Williams go through the same process he went through as a first-year player, giving him new perspective on his own journey.
“It’s funny, too, because I can also see the growing pains I went through,” Kearse said. “I see it watching them, watching Kevin on special teams, and I’m like, ‘Bro, trust me. I know you kind of got to learn your way through it.’ So it’s kind of funny.
“I try (to be a mentor) as much as I can,” Kearse added. “Just be available for them and just kind of show the example, set the example of them. They do a great job and they’re staying hungry and competitive.”
It’s still a little slow going for Smith and Williams. Smith has played in six games and has just two catches, though his playing time has gradually increased — he was on the field for 28 of Seattle’s 73 offensive plays in last week’s 23-17 loss to St. Louis. Williams, making his NFL debut against the Rams, saw the field for just 10 plays.
But Kearse had just three catches his first season with the Seahawks, and look where he is now. Seattle will be hoping a couple more former Huskies can continue following in Kearse’s footsteps.
Chancellor, Bennett back at practice
The Seahawks received some good news on the injury front Thursday as strong safety Kam Chancellor and defensive end Michael Bennett both returned to practice on a limited basis. Chancellor hadn’t practiced since suffering a bruised tailbone in Seattle’s 35-6 victory at Baltimore on Dec. 13. Bennett was gone Wednesday to have an injection on his injured toe. However, tackle Russell Okung, who’s nursing a calf injury, did not practice Thursday after taking part in a limited fashion Wednesday. Guard J.R. Sweezy and tight end Luke Willson remained sidelined because of concussions.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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