Pete Carroll predicts breakout season for Gerald Everett with Seahawks
When Gerald Everett became the first South Alabama player to be selected in the NFL Draft, Shane Waldron served as his position coach as a rookie tight end at the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.
Waldron continued to work with Everett as the Rams’ passing coordinator for the next three seasons.
During that off-season, Waldron became the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. And he will continue to work with Everett, who signed a $ 6 million one-year deal in March to join the Seahawks as a free agent.
That pre-made connection between the offensive coordinator and the tight end is one reason Seattle manager Pete Carroll believes Everett will thrive in his first season with the Seahawks.
During an appearance on “Danny and Gallant” on KIRO-AM in Seattle on the last day of the mandatory Seahawks minicamp, Carroll was asked who would be Seattle’s “breakout player” in the 2021 season.
“I think you will be really excited to see Gerald Everett,” said Carroll. “Gerald is a guy who comes to us freehand from the Rams and was acquired by the Rams while Shane was there. Shane was responsible for coaching him.
“In my opinion, this is the slickest, cutest receiver / tight end mix we’ve ever had. It’s like a wide receiver. He has great post catch run ability, is very aggressive and is also a good blocker. And he knows the system inside out. What Gerald brings us is a real threat in the throwing game. Should be a big factor in third place.
“And our tight spot is already in a good position with Will (Dissly) and you’ll see Colby Parkinson – he was really impressive. But Gerald is a really unique player who should catch a lot of balls this year and be right in the middle of it. “
In his fourth NFL season, Everett hit career highs with 41 receptions for 417 yards in 2020. In addition to a touchdown pass, Everett ran 2 yards for a touchdown on his only rush attempt of the season.
Last season, Jacob Hollister caught 25 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns, Dissly caught 24 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns, Greg Olsen caught 24 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown, and Parkinson caught two passes for 16 yards under Seattle’s tight ends .
Hollister went into the free hands of the Buffalo Bills, and Olsen withdrew.
While in Los Angeles, Everett played in 61 of the Rams’ 64 regular season games. He had 127 receptions for 1,389 yards and eight touchdowns. Everett also played in six playoff games with three receptions for 54 yards. For each of the past three seasons, Everett surpassed his receptions and reception meters from the previous campaign.
Everett came to South Alabama as a transfer from UAB. He caught 17 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown for the Blazers in 2014. But when UAB stopped its program after the 2014 season, Everett moved to the United States.
In South Alabama, Everett caught 90 passes for 1,292 yards and 12 touchdowns and also ran four TDs in two seasons.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @ AMarkG1.
MORE NFL:
· Damien Harris offers his advice to the Patriots’ newest Alabama players
· Henry Ruggs III: “Something clicked in his head”
· Xavier McKinney: “I take it personally every time I play the Cowboys”
· How is Kenyan Drake running so fast?
· Derrick Brown and Jeremy Chinn anchor the future of the Panthers
· Alabama, Ohio State Alumni Leading Washington to the Brightest Lights
· DeVonta Smith surprises his mother with a new house
· Falcons Trainer Terms Julio Jones is “a win-win situation”