Walnut Ridge graduate Michael Ayers heading to Seattle Seahawks as undrafted free agent
Michael Ayers didn’t hear his name called in the three-day NFL draft. However, he didn’t have to wait long after that to find out his first NFL destination.
Ayers, a Walnut Ridge graduate who burst into prominence the past two years as an inside linebacker at Division II Ashland, is headed to the Seattle Seahawks as a priority undrafted free agent.
"I'm really excited," Ayers said Saturday in a statement released by Ashland. "I get another opportunity to play ball again, and I can't be any more grateful for that. "Words can't even describe it. (The Seahawks) gave me an opportunity to showcase my skills, and I'm glad the next level saw that. I'm glad I get to represent Ashland well."
𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗘𝗟 𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗙𝗟🏈@Ashland_Univ All-American Linebacker Michael Ayers has signed with the Seattle Seahawks!
The 2022 @GreatMidwestAC Player of the Year looks to become the 10th Eagle in program history to play in an NFL regular-season game!— Ashland University Athletics (@ashlandeagles_) April 30, 2023
Brad Robbins: Cincinnati Bengals draft Michigan punter, Westerville South graduate
Zach Harrison: Atlanta Falcons draft Ohio State defensive end, Olentangy Orange graduate
Ayers, a 2017 graduate of Walnut Ridge, recorded 181 tackles, six sacks and five forced fumbles over the past two seasons. He was named Great Midwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and overall conference Player of the Year and an American Football Coaches Association first-team All-American last fall.
NFL scouts took notice of Ayers over the summer and throughout last season. He declared for the draft Dec. 13, spent much of the winter preparing at a training facility in Colorado and participated in the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl in January as well as in pro days at Ashland and Toledo.
Ayers was an all-state safety in high school and played a mix of safety and linebacker in his first two college seasons.
“He’s very fast, very strong, very sudden,” Ashland defensive coordinator Tim Rose said earlier this month. “We needed a linebacker … (so) we moved him to inside linebacker, never dreaming he’d become the player he was.”
Seattle drafted Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first round Thursday.
As of Monday morning, four other area products reportedly have signed with NFL teams. This list will be updated as necessary:
Xavier Henderson, Pickerington Central/Michigan State (Washington Commanders)
A safety, Henderson amassed 273 tackles, including 17 for loss and three sacks, as well as three interceptions, three forced fumbles and nine pass breakups in 51 games spanning five seasons.
Henderson, who helped Central to the Division I state championship as a senior in 2017, had 96 tackles in 2021, when the Spartans went 11-2 and won the Peach Bowl.
Jacob Slade, Olentangy/Michigan State (Arizona Cardinals)
The defensive lineman and 2018 graduate of Olentangy opted to forgo a sixth season of eligibility. He missed four games last season with a leg injury but still totaled 20 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and a half-sack. Slade started 26 games in college and finished with 88 tackles and four sacks.
Allen Smith, Westerville Central/Brown (Kansas City Chiefs)
The running back will get a shot to catch on with the defending Super Bowl champions after a college career in which he rushed for 1,698 yards and 24 touchdowns and made 87 catches for 616 yards and six scores. Smith was an honorable mention all-state back for the Warhawks.
Chris Stoll, DeSales/Penn State (Seattle Seahawks)
Stoll won the Patrick Mannelly Award last fall as the nation’s top long snapper and also earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. He was a captain as a senior for the Nittany Lions, for whom he was the primary long snapper for four seasons, and played football, hockey and lacrosse in high school.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ashland's Ayers signing with Seahawks as undrafted free agent
