Most Seattle fans and Oregonians alike are probably unfamiliar with Ricky White. White played his last three seasons at UNLV, a program forgotten in college football. Outside of the Mountain West, people likely don’t realize UNLV has had 20 wins in the last two seasons. They’ve improved tenfold since he joined their team. He was their leader on offense all year for a squad that faced a quarterback change mid-season. His 2024 stats read 1,041 receiving yards and eleven touchdowns, but he proved much more than that. As the No. 1 LV receiver, he was their biggest threat on offense and provided explosives in the special teams. He could be one of the biggest steals in the 2025 draft and could provide a lot of upside for a seventh-round pick. Seeing what he does for the Seahawks this year should prove interesting.
NFL Stock
The biggest knock on him is probably his size. He stands at six-foot-one and 184 pounds. In NFL terms, he’s a child.
This could prove troublesome if teams try and press him at the line of scrimmage. This wasn’t an issue in college, but it’s something to consider when jumping to the pros.
The other reason he fell to the seventh round is likely because of his average 40 time. He ran a 4.61 at the NFL combine, which doesn’t scream speed. His lack of size and speed will be something to consider in the pros.
But here’s the flipside.
Even though his combine time was slow, he ran a 4.44 at his Pro Day in March, which indicates he’s fast.
He’s also walking into a receiving room with opportunity. With Tyler Lockett’s and DK Metcalf’s departures, the Seahawks are in a transitional phase at wideout.
Cooper Kupp, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling should be the top three guys in the rotation, but there are spots open.
White could easily find himself at No.4 in the rotation, and even if he falters, he’ll likely make an impact in special teams.
College Years
UNLV has had a resurgence over the last two years, and he was a pivotal reason for this.
Prior to him joining their squad, the Rebels had not had a winning season since 2013. LV won 11 games last year, their first ten-win season since 1984.
If it weren’t for Boise State, the Rebels would’ve won the Mountain West Championship last season. UNLV lost to the Broncos twice last year; their only other loss came against Syracuse.
Against Boise, he struggled, but State had a solid defense in 2024. They ranked 38th in the nation in points allowed per game. He only had a combined 9 catches for 78 yards against BSU.
It should be interesting to see if this carries over against NFL cornerbacks.
He also provided stability during the Matthew Sluka ordeal. Sluka was the quarterback who left midway through the season because he didn’t receive a payment.
After he left, White became the guy. In the three contests after Sluka’s departure, he had 27 catches, 400 yards, and five touchdowns. This was vital because LV was 3-0 at the time.
White also had one punt return touchdown on the season. Prior to the Rebels, he played for Michigan State.
Notable Seventh-Round Picks in Seahawks History
Seventh-round picks are usually forgotten, but the Hawks have drafted a few key players in this round.
The most notable is Malcolm Smith, who made two clutch interceptions in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run in 2014.
Smith had a 69-yard pick-six against Peyton Manning to put the Hawks up 22-0 in Super Bowl XLVIII. Before the game, he was the guy who caught Richard Sherman’s tip to clinch the win against the 49ers in the NFC Championship.
Another nice selection in this round was Josh Brown. Brown played five seasons for Seattle and was the Seahawks’ kicker for their 2005 NFC Championship squad. He was a team captain in 2007.
During his tenure with the Hawks, he made 116 field goals, 223 extra points, and 571 points scored. These rank fifth, third, and sixth in Seattle history. He also made a 58-yard field goal in 2003.
Other notable seventh-round picks include David Moore, J.R. Sweezy, and Justin Forsett.
The final round might not be the flashiest, but every piece counts when building a championship team.
