The Seahawks signed rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight on Tuesday, making the fourth-round pick out of UTEP the sixth of the team’s eight 2024 draft picks to sign his rookie contract.

Knight, who will join the competition at inside linebacker with free-agent additions Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker, was one of the most productive linebackers in college football over the past three seasons, recording 337 tackles and 31 tackles for loss in 37 starts. Last season, Knight piled up 140 tackles, including an FBS-leading 84 solo tackles. He also added 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, seven passes defensed and a forced fumble on his way to first-team All-Conference USA honors.

“The first thing that pops out on the tape is he sees the game quickly,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said after the draft. “Instincts is a good way to put it, but moving where the ball is going kind of before everybody else is a good way to describe it. He stays square. I think he brings some thump at the point of attack and then when we brought him in, we got to meet him and we just really liked the person and the competitor. His demeanor is soft-spoken right now, but I think he’s a very clear communicator and then just a guy throughout the process we started to really like. Linebackers are paid to make tackles. He makes a lot of tackles, so that’s a good thing.”

Knight is the sixth of Seattle’s eight draft picks to sign his rookie contract, leaving only third-round pick Christian Haynes and seventh-rounder Michael Jerrell yet to sign.