Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is making a strong case to be the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year race in 2023.
In his first two games played, he notched 16 tackles and three passes defended. That's a good start for a rookie, but he took his game up a notch on "Monday Night Football" against the New York Giants.
Midway through the third quarter, Witherspoon had already notched six total tackles, three quarterback hits and two sacks on quarterback Daniel Jones.
Speaking of Jones, with 1:03 to go in the third and the Giants deep in the red zone with a second-and-goal from the Seattle 5, he threw up a gift to Witherspoon in the form of a lazy pass out to the hashes.
Witherspoon stepped in front of it and took it 97-yards back the other way to paydirt.
Devon Witherspoon picks off Daniel Jones and goes 97 yards to the HOUSE for a touchdown.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2023
The No. 5 overall pick has been ALL OVER the field tonight. 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and now this.pic.twitter.com/wwVlGuXPSM
If a new Legion of Boom forms in Seattle, Witherspoon is going to be one of the key pieces.
A former Illinois Fighting Illini, Witherspoon was taken with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He notched five interceptions in four seasons with Illinois but never a defensive touchdown.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!