With every big play he makes, be it an interception, a crushing hit or a key pass breakup, rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon continues to prove to be a game-changing talent.
"He's that guy," safety Jamal Adams said. "I've been excited since he came here. One of the smartest rookies I've ever been around. Just a complete baller, game-changer, can do it all. That's my guy."
And after an impressive four-game stretch for Witherspoon that coincided, not coincidentally, with Seattle's entire defense taking a leap forward, the first-round pick out of Illinois has been named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October.
"He's a phenomenal football player," Adams said. "Hat's off to him. He's very smart, he's very coachable, and he listens. It's a rare find and it's a reason why he's a top-five pick."
Witherspoon becomes the seventh player in franchise history to earn Rookie of the Month honors, joining Walter Jones, Rocky Bernard, Lofa Tatupu, Russell Wilson, and current teammates Riq Woolen and Kenneth Walker III, who were the Defensive and Offensive Rookies of the Month in October last season.
Witherspoon set the tone for a big October in Seattle's Week 4 win over the Giants, breaking out with two sacks, seven tackles, and most notably, a 97-yard pick-six, a performance that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
"I never thought he wouldn't play like this," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after that Week 4 game. "This is why we took him, to be active and to show that he gets this game of football, and it comes easy to him, and he's an explosive, dynamic player… He's showing you who he is."
In all, Witherspoon finished the month with 17 tackles, five passes defensed, two sacks, three quarterback hits and the interception return for a touchdown, and did that playing two different positions, left cornerback and nickel corner. He also had a sack and interception taken away by penalties committed away from the play in Seattle's Week 7 win over the Cardinals.
Witherspoon's big month was just part of a strong stretch of play for Seattle's entire defense, which, dating back to that Week 4 win in New Yorks, ranks second in the NFL in total defense, allowing 274 yards per game, and first in scoring defense (12.5 points per game). The Seahawks have also held four straight opponents without a second-half touchdown, allowing a total of nine second-half points in October.
Check out some of the best photos taken of Seahawks rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon from the 2023 season.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is in his rookie season after being taken fifth overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
