New Seahawks DB Tedric Thompson on getting call that he’d been drafted: ‘I couldn’t really talk’
May 2, 2017, 11:31 AM
Tedric Thompson led the Pac-12 with seven interceptions last season and had 13 during his career. (AP)
(AP)
Tedric Thompson had just parked his car and was walking toward his home, flanked by his brother and sisters, when he felt his phone vibrate.
The words that followed from Seahawks general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll changed Thompson’s life, and the former University of Colorado defensive back couldn’t hold back his emotions.
“Once he told me that they picked me with the 111th pick, I just kind of lost emotions,” Thompson told “Danny, Dave and Moore” on Tuesday. “I tried to hold everything in but I really couldn’t. And I was trying to be able to talk, but I couldn’t really talk or anything like that.
“It was just a humbling feeling, it was just a blessing because I always wanted to play in the NFL and be a part of it. Just to have the NFL logo, the Seahawks logo everywhere I walk, it’s just a blessing. So that phone call meant a lot to me.”
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The Seahawks are expecting a to see a lot from Thompson after picking the strong safety in the fourth round on Saturday. He was the third of four defensive backs the team drafted in hopes of bolstering their secondary that was depleted by injuries last season. Thompson was a ball hawk for the Buffaloes, intercepting 13 passes over his final three seasons, including a Pac-12-leading seven as a senior in 2016.
Thompson said he’s been using football as an outlet since he started playing at the age of 7 and is excited to play in front of the 12s. He said his favorite safeties in middle school were Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed, but after their retirements, he moved on to somebody who is now his teammate.
“The crazy thing about it is one year I had Earl Thomas as one of my little background screen savers on my computer,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy how everything works out.”
What #SeahawksDraft day moments are all about; @nuevexted reacts to the moment he became a Seattle Seahawk. pic.twitter.com/RYzkGCSG7S
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 29, 2017
The connections don’t end there as Thompson, who is from Los Angeles, said he attended a camp when he was a Pop Warner player where then-USC coach Carroll spoke.
“I’m not sure he even remembers it, but I saw him when I was a little kid,” Thompson said.
As for the future, Thompson said he’s focused on soaking up as much information as he can.
“I’m not necessarily thinking about the future,” he said when asked if he was the Seahawks’ future starting safety. “All I’m thinking about is going in and learning from the veterans and guys in front of me.”
