The Seahawks used their final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft to select Dareke Young, a receiver out of Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.
Young, who is 6-foot-2, 224 pounds, gives the Seahawks a physical and versatile receiver who also saw time at running back in college and was a regular on multiple special teams units.
"I feel like the more that you can do, the better," Young said of his versatility. "I feel like I'm definitely someone who can take handoffs and help the team out if that's what they need me to do. I definitely feel like I could be someone who runs routes and makes plays down the field as well. Just being a guy who's versatile and can do multiple things, I feel like that brings more value to a team and I feel like that's what I bring."
COVID-19 wiped out Lenoir-Rhyne's 2020 season, but in an abbreviated 2021 spring season, Young had 14 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns. A knee injury limited him to five games as a senior, but in those games he had 303 yards and four touchdowns on 25 catches, giving him 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns on 73 career catches. Young also finished his college career with 88 rush attempts for 658 yards and eight touchdowns.
Young had a pre-draft visit with the Seahawks at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, and he left Seattle feeling good about his chances of returning.
"I had a 30 visit with Seattle, and I felt like it went perfectly," Young said. "I felt like I impressed all the coaches and bonded with all the coaches that were there. Seattle just felt like the right fit when I was there and I'm glad they took a shot on me."
As for how a player with the physical traits of Young ended up at a Division II school, Young said, "I wasn't heavily recruited out of high school, and I broke my leg entering my senior year so I missed half of my season and that was a school that showed the most interest in me and I felt like that was the best fit for me at the time. I ended up committing there and it worked out, 100 percent."
Young is the ninth and final player in the Seahawks' draft class:
- Round 1, No. 9 overall: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
- Round 2, No. 40 overall: Boye Mafe, LB, Minnesota
- Round 2, No. 41 overall: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
- Round 3, No. 72 overall: Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
- Round 4, No. 109 overall: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
- Round 5, No. 153 overall: Tariq Woolen, CB, Texas-San Antonio
- Round 5, No. 158 overall: Tyreke Smith, LB, Ohio State
- Round 7, No. 229 overall: Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
- Round 7: No. 233 overall: Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir-Rhyne
Take a look at Dareke Young during his time at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Young was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 7th round, No. 233 overall, in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wide receiver Dareke Young during his playing days at Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. (courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne)
