The Seattle Seahawks surprisingly signed former Baylor basketball player Mark Vital to a contract. The 6-foot-9, 275 pounder was not drafted in the NBA but has been playing professionally overseas.
Mark Vital, a former Baylor basketball player, has been added to the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad.
The Seahawks have a demonstrated track record of cultivating talent under Pete Carroll. Seattle selected Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, D.K. Metcalf, and Bobby Wagner, all of whom have made major contributions to the team. The front office made an intriguing signing, posing the greatest challenge yet to their talent development team.
Mark Vital is fresh off a national championship in college basketball.
Mark Vital, a Baylor basketball player, has signed with the Seattle Seahawks | Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Mark Vital was a standout basketball player at Washington-Marion High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, from 2012 until 2016. 247Sports ranked him as a four-star recruit and the No. 63 overall player in the nation when he first came out. Western Kentucky and Baylor both offered him scholarships.
Vital has chosen to join Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears. The Lake Charles native started four years for Baylor and added some distinct qualities to the squad. Players like Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell, and MaCio Teague were all better scorers than him. Throughout his career, Vital averaged only 6.4 points per game.
However, the 6-foot-5 forward had an effect on the game in other ways. For his stature, he was a terrific rebounder. On the defensive end of the court, he was exceptional. Vital was named to the Big 12’s All-Defense team twice.
In the year 2020, the Baylor Bears were one of the top collegiate basketball teams in the country. They completed the regular season with a 28-2 record, good for first place in the Big 12 conference. The Bears had an outstanding NCAA Tournament run that ended with a national title win against Gonzaga.
The importance of Vital in the championship run cannot be overstated.
Vital was signed to the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad.
The Seahawks’ receiving corps is loaded with talent. D.K. Metcalf, a wide receiver, had an outstanding sophomore season. Over the last several seasons, Tyler Lockett has served as one of Russell Wilson’s safety nets. Dee Eskridge of Western Michigan was selected by the front management to provide additional speed and playmaking abilities.
So, why should you check at Mark Vital? He won’t pose a danger to the team’s wide receivers. He was signed by Seattle as a tight end, which makes sense given his build. The former basketball player went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft and spent the summer with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Vital revealed his plans to pursue an NFL dream on Twitter, putting to rest speculations that he may return to Baylor to play collegiate football.
In a teaser video, Vital stated, “Often, the best routes lead us to some unexpected locations.” His journey had led him to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks. While he might have pursued a basketball career, he has decided to pursue a future in football. He want to be great.
For the Seahawks, Mark Vital thinks he has the potential to be a Hall of Fame player.
Vital has uploaded a number of videos of himself doing exercises in preparation for his football future. However, the adjustment will be difficult. Since high school, basketball has been his life. Since middle school, the Baylor star hasn’t played organized football.
Despite his lack of playing experience, he has the necessary skills to be a productive tight end. At Baylor, Vital’s athleticism was on show with many rim-rattling dunks and chase-down blocks. He is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 250 pounds.
He’ll be following in the footsteps of tight ends Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez, and fellow Baylor alum Rico Gathers, who all played collegiate basketball.
Vital, on the other hand, believes he’s already being compared to another basketball star who switched to tight end. In an interview with KPLC 7, he stated, “I’m already being compared to Antonio Gates from various scouts and teams when hearing them speak about me.” “We’re both explosive, quick, and big,” he says. We’re both made of the same stuff.”
Vital is built like an NFL player, with the right mix of size and quickness. At tight end, the Seahawks have Gerald Everett and Will Dissly on the roster. It will be difficult, but not impossible, to make the active roster.
Mark Vital thinks he has a promising future in the NFL. “I believe I have the potential to be a Hall of Famer.”
College Basketball Reference provided all stats.
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