He's hard to miss when he's on the field – because of his play style but also because of how vocal he is. And even when he's not on the field, the same could be said. He's consistently hyping up his teammates and talking trash to the offense. But that's just who he is, no matter the situation.

"He's like a little ball of energy," defensive coordinator Aden Durde said about Devon Witherspoon.

Witherspoon brings swagger, confidence and competitiveness to the team that lets you know he truly cares about the game of football that he plays. And heading into the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos, he has a lot of excitement to see what the team is working with.

"I think the thing I'm most excited about is to see what we're going to do, as far as team wise," he said "But I'm just ready to be back in Lumen (Field). I know that fans go crazy when we're back in Lumen (Field), so I'm ready to experience that again. It's been a minute."

Witherspoon's rookie season, to some exceeded expectations, he was voted to the Pro Bowl and was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. But to Witherspoon he has more to give.

"I've seen what I did last year, but I feel like I left a lot of plays out there. Really what I'm trying to do is make sure I play all the games. I'm just trying to stay healthy through this whole season."

And the expectations he has extend far past himself onto the team as well because Witherspoon knows what the defense is capable of but also what the entire team is capable of.

"I expect big things from everybody because we all play as one. We play off each other, so everybody is going to do their own thing, but we're all doing it together as one. I expect big things from everybody."

The defense that head coach Mike Macdonald has installed, will be tough for opposing offenses to play against, with Seahawks players calling Macdonald a "mastermind"," "very nerdy," and not knowing just "how smart he is." But for its players, the defense will allow them to shine, thrive and play to their strengths.

"I think it's going to put me in the right positions that I need to be in," Witherspoon said. "And it's going to allow me to play free. It's going to add a little bit of flavor to whatever we're doing. Then I could just play how I want to. I think the defense gives me the freedom to do that, but it also gives me discipline to play my responsibility and play off the people that are around me as well."

The way that his teammates talk so highly of him, you'd think that Witherspoon has a few years of experience in the league, but that's just the personality and mindset of the second-year cornerback.

"The ceiling is very high for him," safety Rayshawn Jenkins said. "He's a very intelligent player, moreso than most people give him credit for. And obviously he has the physical attributes to do good things as well. But that has impressed me the most is his mental understanding of the game, he just understands the game so well."

And Durde has seen the same from Witherspoon as well. "I think if you look on the field, on the play and stuff, he's got elite quickness, he's intelligent, his football IQ is through the roof. He has an uncanny ability to study stuff and know what's coming and be ahead of the play. But really, the thing that has impressed me is his growth as a leader. Especially over training camp. You feel him. It's not that he's more mature, I thought he was a mature guy when I first met him. He's understanding what he means to the defense and how he can drive and influence people."

Durde has watched the way that Witherspoon's mood and spirit can affect everyone around him.

"I just see him when practice is going well, when it's not going well, just being able to stand up and have the energy. When he's like that, he brings other people up. How we use that is important. He's doing a great job with that."

Going into Year 2, Witherspoon will be the same player, just taken up a few more notches than last year.

"I think he's an elite competitor," Durde said. He doesn't even want to lose. You can see that when you're watching practice. That is just him. Now, I think he's given it to all of the guys and us around him. That's what I feel."