RENTON, Wash. -- Former Baylor basketball star Mark Vital has been signed by the Seattle Seahawks to their practice team as a tight end. The team announced Thursday.
Vital, listed as 6'5" and 250 lbs on the school website, was a starting forward for Bears who won the national title last April. Vital was not selected in the NBA draft this year and played in the NBA summer league for the Portland Trail Blazers before declaring earlier this week that his goal was to play in the NFL.
As a Baylor senior, Vital averaged 5.6 points per game and 6.7 rebounds. For the second consecutive season, Vital was named Naismith Defensive Player Of The Year. He also helped Baylor win its first national championship in men's basketball.
According to The Waco Tribune-Herald Vital hasn’t played football since middle-school in Lake Charles, Louisiana. A former NFL scout described Vital as a "big, undeveloped athlete" with natural skills in the game.
Vital said that he feels like a Hall of Famer. When I hear them speak about me, I'm already being compared to Antonio Gates by different scouts. Already, I am being compared to a Hall of Famer. That's what motivates me to reach that level. The similarities are obvious. Both he and I are explosive, fast, and big. We are the same."
A college basketball player has made it to the NFL and the Seahawks already have success. George Fant was signed by Seattle in 2016 as an undrafted agent. He converted to offensive tackle and signed a $27.3million deal with the New York Jets last year.
Three tight ends make up the 53-man Seahawks roster: Will Dissly, Gerald Everett and Colby Parkinson. Colby Parkinson is returning from a foot injury. Vital is joined by Tyler Mabry in their practice squad.
