Devon Witherspoon, former Illini and current Seattle Seahawks CB1, has been a defining piece in a resurgent Seattle defense. With the help of Witherspoon’s secondary leadership, Seattle has dominated its way to the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Witherspoon’s journey from zero-star recruit to All-American Illini represented a meteoric rise in performance and determination for the cornerback.
Coming into Illinois from Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Florida, Witherspoon rose from a rotational secondary to a defensive cornerstone. Witherspoon’s freshman year saw the Illini scratch bowl eligibility at 6-7, with the corner recording 33 total sacks and two pass deflections.
In his shortened sophomore season, Witherspoon again recorded 33 tackles. The cornerback also tacked on two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
With limited time in 2020, Witherspoon still showed dominance on a team that went 2-6. The Illini corner further blossomed in 2021, recording 52 tackles (42 solo) for a 5-7 team.
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He also dominated tackles for loss, recording eight during the season. Pass defense became a critical point in his style of play, as he racked up nine pass deflections.
In his final collegiate season, Witherspoon dominated for the Illini secondary. The corner recorded 41 total tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass deflections. Witherspoon earned himself a spot as an All-American and ranked among the national leaders in pass deflections.
Witherspoon’s play led the Seahawks to take him fifth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. His selection put him in some rare company, being the highest-drafted Illini since 1996.
In the NFL, Witherspoon quickly came into his own. The rookie corner secured Pro-Bowl honors in 2023 under the guidance of former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Witherspoon showcased his lockdown abilities quickly. He held targets to a 58.3 completion percentage and limited quarterbacks to an average passer rating of 87.9 in his debut season.
The Seahawks fell short of the playoffs in his rookie campaign, going 9-8. However, after firing Carroll and bringing in former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks’ defensive front underwent a drastic change.
In the two seasons under Macdonald, Witherspoon and the reconstructed defense have seen major improvement. Witherspoon, Tariq Woolen and Josh Jobe, along with safeties Coby Bryant and Julian Love, have returned Seattle’s defensive dominance.
The Seahawks’ 14-3 record this season, bolstered by one of the best defenses in the league, has made them a formidable force as they enter the NFC Championship round against the Los Angeles Rams. Witherspoon found himself in the league’s best, securing his third-straight Pro-Bowl honor and earning a spot on the AP All-Pro Second Team.
Witherspoon has been crucial in some of the most important games for the Seahawks this season. In the Seahawks’ week 16 overtime thriller against the Rams, he recorded nine tackles with one tackle for loss and a QB hit against Matthew Stafford.
Against another familiar NFC West Foe, the San Francisco 49ers, Witherspoon was critical in limiting Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ passing offense in the Divisional Round. The cornerback recorded a team-high seven tackles (three solo) and a pass deflection.
Witherspoon looks to turn in another strong performance this Sunday as the Seahawks take on the Rams in the NFC Championship.
