MOBILE, ALA. — Tariq Woolen is a former UTSA star who is currently the Seattle Seahawks cornerback. He has been named Reese’s Senior Bowl Defender of the Year for 2022.
Woolen, along with Co-Offensive Rookies of the Year Dameon Pierce, a Houston Texans running back, and Christian Watson, a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, will be honored in the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony emceed by NFL Network host Rhett Lewis at The Grand Hotel Golf Club & Spa on June 25 in Point Clear, Alabama.
Woolen stated, “The Senior Bowl invitation meant so much to me. Especially since I had switched positions from wide receiver (at UTSA) to cornerback midway in my career.” “The Mobile platform allowed me to demonstrate to teams that I have the athleticism and skills to take it to another level. The 32 teams had the opportunity to see me against last year’s best receivers. This is truly an honour.”
Seattle selected Woolen (who played in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl) in the fifth round. The 2022 NFL Draft saw Woolen selected in the fifth round (No. 153 overall). He was a Seahawks cornerback who played 16 games. After a brilliant rookie season, which saw him equal the NFL leader with six interceptions and a stellar rookie campaign, he was elected to the Pro Bowl. Pro Football Writers Association and Pro Football Focus both deemed him an all-rookie performer. He became the only rookie in the past ten years to record at minimum four interceptions. He finished the campaign with 60 tackles and 15 passes defensed.
Woolen, a Fort Worth native, broke records when he ran 4.26 seconds in a 40-yard sprint at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. The time tied for third fastest in Combine history. It is also the fastest time ever recorded by someone over six feet tall. He also measured 42 inches vertically at the Combine.
Woolen was a redshirt senior and earned honorable mention All-Conference USA accolades in 2021. He helped the Roadrunners to a 12-2 record, which included their first ever conference championship and a appearance in the Frisco Bowl. He played in all nine games and recorded 25 total tackles. 17 solo stops, 2.5 tackles to loss, five pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry.
Woolen, a graduate of Arlington Heights High School was a wide receiver who started his UTSA career in 2017 as a wide receiver. He caught 24 passes for 263 yards with a TD and two more over the next two seasons.
Woolen switched to cornerback in the latter part of the 2019 season. In 2020’s first full season, Woolen appeared in 11 games. He made seven cornerback starts and recorded 35 tackles. He also recorded four pass breakups as well as two quarterback hurries. The interception helped UTSA reach a 7-5 mark, and culminated in a participation in the First Responder Bowl.
For more information about the Reese’s Senior Bowl Rookies of the Year and Hall of Fame class, please visit https://www.seniorbowl.com/the-game/hall-of-fame/.
-UTSA-
Woolen, along with Co-Offensive Rookies of the Year Dameon Pierce, a Houston Texans running back, and Christian Watson, a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, will be honored in the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony emceed by NFL Network host Rhett Lewis at The Grand Hotel Golf Club & Spa on June 25 in Point Clear, Alabama.
Woolen stated, “The Senior Bowl invitation meant so much to me. Especially since I had switched positions from wide receiver (at UTSA) to cornerback midway in my career.” “The Mobile platform allowed me to demonstrate to teams that I have the athleticism and skills to take it to another level. The 32 teams had the opportunity to see me against last year’s best receivers. This is truly an honour.”
Seattle selected Woolen (who played in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl) in the fifth round. The 2022 NFL Draft saw Woolen selected in the fifth round (No. 153 overall). He was a Seahawks cornerback who played 16 games. After a brilliant rookie season, which saw him equal the NFL leader with six interceptions and a stellar rookie campaign, he was elected to the Pro Bowl. Pro Football Writers Association and Pro Football Focus both deemed him an all-rookie performer. He became the only rookie in the past ten years to record at minimum four interceptions. He finished the campaign with 60 tackles and 15 passes defensed.
Woolen, a Fort Worth native, broke records when he ran 4.26 seconds in a 40-yard sprint at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. The time tied for third fastest in Combine history. It is also the fastest time ever recorded by someone over six feet tall. He also measured 42 inches vertically at the Combine.
Woolen was a redshirt senior and earned honorable mention All-Conference USA accolades in 2021. He helped the Roadrunners to a 12-2 record, which included their first ever conference championship and a appearance in the Frisco Bowl. He played in all nine games and recorded 25 total tackles. 17 solo stops, 2.5 tackles to loss, five pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry.
Woolen, a graduate of Arlington Heights High School was a wide receiver who started his UTSA career in 2017 as a wide receiver. He caught 24 passes for 263 yards with a TD and two more over the next two seasons.
Woolen switched to cornerback in the latter part of the 2019 season. In 2020’s first full season, Woolen appeared in 11 games. He made seven cornerback starts and recorded 35 tackles. He also recorded four pass breakups as well as two quarterback hurries. The interception helped UTSA reach a 7-5 mark, and culminated in a participation in the First Responder Bowl.
For more information about the Reese’s Senior Bowl Rookies of the Year and Hall of Fame class, please visit https://www.seniorbowl.com/the-game/hall-of-fame/.
-UTSA-
