Seahawks Sign Rookie RB Wayne Taulapapa

Shuffling the deck adding running back insurance, former Washington Husky runner Wayne Taulapapa will join the Seattle Seahawks for their third training camp practice on Friday.

Corbin K. Smith | Jul 28, 2023

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Seattle Seahawks

While the news of top-five pick Devon Witherspoon signing his rookie contract captured headlines on Friday, the Seattle Seahawks also fortified their backfield depth by signing undrafted rookie Wayne Taulapapa, the team announced.

In a corresponding move, with Witherspoon set to practice for the first time, the Seahawks released rookie cornerback Montrae Braswell, who signed as an undrafted free agent in May and participated in the team's offseason program.

Taulapapa, who spent his first four collegiate seasons at Virginia before transferring to Washington in 2022, participated in Seattle's rookie minicamp back in May but was not signed to a contract at the time. The 5-9, 200-pound back had a productive lone season with the Huskies, rushing for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 24 receptions out of the backfield, earning Honorable Mention All-Pac 12 honors.

Prior to transferring to Montlake, Taulapapa started 27 out of 40 games played for the Cavaliers, with his best season coming as a sophomore in 2019 when he rushed for 473 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. The Hawaii native rushed for more than 3,200 yards at Punahou High School before taking a two-year church mission and eventually committing to Virginia.

Taulapapa will join a talented running back stable headlined by Rookie of the Year runner-up Ken Walker III, second-round pick Zach Charbonnet, and returning veteran DeeJay Dallas. The Seahawks also invested a seventh-round pick in former Georgia starter Kenny McIntosh and former Toledo star Bryant Koback also has been with the team since signing in May.

With 12 career tackles on his resume, Taulapapa has extensive experience playing special teams at the collegiate level, which will be crucial to him sticking around throughout camp and potentially pushing for a practice squad spot.

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Published Jul 28, 2023

CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.