Childhood Seahawks fan Byron Murphy II has his ‘dream come true’

The former Texas Longhorn is the first Seahawks draft pick under new head coach Mike Macdonald.

For the second straight season and fourth time in the last six, the Seattle Seahawks used their top pick of the NFL Draft on a defensive player. Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II was one of only nine defenders taken in Round 1, and he’s the latest addition to the Seahawks’ retooled interior front.

Speaking with media on Thursday night from his Texas home, Murphy provided a description of what he brings to Seattle’s defense.

“I’m just very aggressive, a very dominant player,” Murphy said. “I can stop the run, rush the passer, I’m an all-three-down type of D-lineman. That’s why I feel like I fit perfect in their scheme and their defense.”

Murphy also says the Seahawks view him as a 3-tech defensive lineman (placed opposite the outside shoulder of the guard).

The 21-year-old Murphy also revealed that he was a Seahawks fan growing up—he wasn’t even a teenager yet when Seattle won the Super Bowl—and now he’s going to be playing for the team he loved to watch.

“I really loved the Legion of Boom, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett, all those guys, just how dominant they were,” Murphy said. “And you had the offensive guys, Russell Wilson, Marshawn (Lynch), Doug Baldwin, (Jermaine) Kearse. Just watching them growing up, they dominated the league, they won a Super Bowl, so growing up watching them do that, man, that’s all I ever wanted is to win the Super Bowl.

“It means a lot (being picked by Seattle), it’s an honor for them to believe in me and invest in me. I’m going to give them everything I’ve got. I owe them my everything. Growing up that was my favorite team, so to be drafted by Seattle, it’s crazy. I give all glory to God, I feel like it’s just God’s plan.”

I’m sure the Seahawks organization and the fans can’t wait to see Murphy live out his dream on the field and wreak havoc in the backfield.