Bios for the Seahawks’ 11 picks in the NFL draft

By Todd Milles

The News Tribune

MALIK McDOWELL

Height: 6-6¼ Weight: 299

Position: DT School: Michigan State

Pick: 2nd round (35th overall)

Bio: Played three seasons with the Spartans, totaling 90 tackles in 36 games — with 24½ of them being behind the line of scrimmage. He mostly played nose tackle, but did move to defensive end for three games as a junior last season. Was an all-Big Ten defensive lineman in 2016, even though an ankle injury hampered him in the final three games. Says the most frequent NFL player comparison he hears is Calais Campbell, now with Jacksonville. Talent and upside is immense, but has been criticized for game-to-game effort and consistency.

Quotable: “I am motivated, and just ready to come down here and play for the 12th Man.”

ETHAN POCIC

Height: 6-6 Weight: 317

Position: OL School: LSU

Pick: 2nd round (58th overall)

Bio: A versatile, masterful technician who’s been the durable anchor in the Tigers’ offensive line (37 starts). Like his brother, Graham, who played at Illinois, the two siblings have starred at center. But because Ethan Pocic is more of a natural athlete, he has seen game action at both tackle positions and at right guard. Last season, the all-SEC first-teamer led LSU offensive linemen in snaps (752), knockdowns (106) and big effort plays (38), opening holes for first-round NFL pick Leonard Fournette. Graduated in December.

Quotable: “I can play all five (positions). In my mind. I just consider myself an (offensive) lineman.”

SHAQUILL GRIFFIN

Height: 6-1 Weight: 198

Position: CB School: Central Florida

Pick: 3rd round (90th overall)

Bio: A strong, disruptive defensive back who has played cornerback and safety. And he is part of one of the heartwarming sibling stories in college football with his twin brother, Shaquem, who plays linebacker with one hand. The biggest knock on Griffin was his inability to cover speedy wide receivers. But when he showed up to the NFL Combine, he clocked a 4.38 40-yard time, best of all defensive backs.

Quotable: “I know the Seahawks (like) … more of that press coverage, something I can do with my tools.”

DELANO HILL

Height: 6-1 Weight: 216

Position: SS School: Michigan

Pick: 3rd round (95th overall)

Bio: Part of the Detroit Cass Tech program that won three state titles, Hill is a line-of-scrimmage terror. It is his domain — he loves to hit ball-carriers. He is not a great athlete in pass coverage, especially in space. But the Big Ten second-teamer improved his stock at the NFL Combine with a 4.47 40-yard time. His brother, Lavert, also plays at Michigan as a star cornerback.

Quotable: “The 12s are crazy. I want to play in an atmosphere like that. I love that atmosphere. It reminds me of Michigan.”

NAZAIR JONES

Height: 6-5 Weight: 304

Position: DT School: North Carolina

Pick: 3rd round (102nd overall)

Bio: Another big man who can fill many spots along the defensive line. Coming out of high school, he was a touted pass-rusher. But as he grew, and regained some of the bulk he lost from suffering from a nervous-system disease called complex regional pain syndrome, he shifted more inside. Last season, he had 70 tackles, including nine behind the line of scrimmage.

Quotable: “I had a good idea it was going to be in Seattle, knowing (they) had six picks on the second day. I was hoping to be one of them.”

AMARA DARBOH

Height: 6-2 Weight: 216

Position: WR School: Michigan

Pick: 3rd round (106th overall)

Bio: Why stop at one Michigan product when you can have two? The Seahawks grabbed another from Jim Harbaugh’s group with their final pick — which happened to be their first and only offensive skill-position selection. Darboh is a physical target who has the knack of making the big play in the Wolverines’ pro-style offense. His best year was in 2016 — 57 catches, 862 yards and seven touchdowns.

Quotable: “My speed was something people questioned at first this season. At the (NFL) Combine, I proved I had speed.”

TEDRIC THOMPSON

Height: 6-0 Weight: 204

Position: FS School: Colorado

Pick: 4th round (111th overall)

Bio: Well at least he beat his brother, Cedric — who was selected in the fifth round by Miami in the 2015 NFL Draft. And the younger Thompson has one goal in mind — getting his hands on the football. He led all FBS defensive backs with 23 pass breakups, including seven interceptions last season for the Buffaloes. And if passes end up as jump balls, he usually ends up with it. Has a history of concussion issues, which dropped him on many NFL teams’ draft boards.

Quotable: “I played in the box a lot. I played center field a lot, and I played on a lot of special teams (at Colorado).”

MIKE TYSON

Height: 6-1¼ Weight: 207

Position: CB School: Cincinnati

Pick: 6th round (187th overall)

Bio: A year ago, very few in college football knew who “this” Mike Tyson was. But his stint as a one-and-done starter as a senior in 2016 (five interceptions) opened up this door. He is regarded as a strong, sure tackler who isn’t afraid to deliver the knockout blow. But he could use more football seasoning. The Seahawks see him as a press-coverage defensive back, and with Deshawn Shead expected to be out much of next season, there is a starting cornerback spot up for grabs.

Quotable: “(This was the) only visit I had took this whole offseason. That was great just knowing they really had seen something in me to give me that call today.”

JUSTIN SENIOR

Height: 6-4½ Weight: 331

Position: OT School: Mississippi State

Pick: 6th round (210th overall)

Bio: He was known as “The Wall” as a youth in Canada, and now he is hoping to help fortify the Seahawks’ offensive line protecting Russell Wilson. The Kent Hull Trophy winner as the state of Mississippi’s top collegiate lineman. Before enrolling at MSU, he spent one year at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia where he faced current Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed. He played in 49 games in the past three seasons for the Bulldogs, including 39 starts (38 at right tackle). Is strong with his hands, but needs better footwork to stay on the outside.

Quotable: “Coming out of Canada, the Seattle Seahawks are a real big team. A lot of my friends like the Seattle Seahawks. My mom likes the Seattle Seahawks. When it happened, it was, ‘Wow, I can’t picture it any better than this.’”

DAVID MOORE

Height: 6-0½ Weight: 219

Position: WR School: East Central Oklahoma

Pick: 7th round (226th overall)

Bio: If you wanted the name of a deep sleeper in this draft, this is your guy. Moore was one of the best playmakers in the NCAA Division II ranks, totaling 35 career touchdowns — 33 coming in his final three seasons. As a senior, he caught 57 passes for 878 yards and 10 scores. The speedster’s stock has steadily risen since his pro day where he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash.

Quotable: “My coaches told me (NFL) teams asked about me after my sophomore year in college. But I didn’t think anything of it — I just tried to keep my mind. After my junior year, I talked to my first scout, and I was like, ‘Alright, this is real.’”

CHRIS CARSON

Height: 5-11¾ Weight: 218

Position: RB School: Oklahoma State

Pick: 7th round (249th overall)

Bio: Originally slated to go to the University of Georgia, instead he opted for two years of junior college before latching on with the Cowboys. The firmly-chiseled Carson shows a good — not great — blend of everything required in the NFL with power, elusiveness, blocking and catching passes. And he was a reliable ball-carrier at OSU, never having fumbled in more than 200 carries. Hampered by a broken thumb in 2016, he still rushed for 559 yards on 82 carries with nine touchdowns.

Quotable: “I am a physical runner. I like to break tackles, get hard yards. … I am not afraid of contact.”