MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After two years working with Will Grier at West Virginia, wide receiver Gary Jennings will start his NFL career with another quarterback who knows how to place the ball in his hands.
Jennings was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round with the 120th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Seahawks are led by quarterback Russell Wilson, who recently signed a contract extension that makes him the second-highest paid player in NFL history.
The two should already have quite a rapport. Wilson tweeted amazement at the pick, noting that he and his late father coached Jennings as a youth basketball player.
Gary!!! @_Gman12
What’s crazy is how God works! From my dad and I coaching you and my sister @a_willy03 in basketball when y’all were young and us all going to the same school together to now!What a blessing! #GoHawks 🙏🏾 https://t.co/Z81ZfTTJ2O
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) April 27, 2019
Jennings is sixth on WVU’s all-time list with 2,294 career receiving yards. As a junior, he had the strange distinction of scoring just one touchdown on 97 catches. He found the end zone 13 times as a senior. The most dramatic of those touchdowns was his back-of-the-end zone snag of Will Grier’s 33-yard rainbow with 16 seconds remaining in West Virginia’s 42-41 win at Texas.
Jennings turned heads among scouts with his performance at the NFL combine. He ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, completed the 20-yard cone drill in 4.15 seconds, and did 20 reps in the bench press. Jennings also graded as one of the fastest players at the Senior Bowl despite being a late invite to the event.
The Seahawks are potentially in need of receiving depth amid reports that two-time Pro Bowler Doug Baldwin is contemplating retirement. Seattle drafted Ole Miss receiver DK Metcalf in the second round.
Even if Metcalf ends up starting on the outside with Tyler Lockett, Jennings projects as a slot receiver who would potentially give Seattle a dangerous trio of wideouts.