Former Stony Brook CB Richards signs with Seahawks

Former Stony Brook University cornerback Chris Richards has signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks, the university announced Thursday.

Richards, a 6-foot, 175-pound transfer from Michigan, said in a statement, "I'd like to thank Jim Fiore and coach [Chuck] Priore for giving me the opportunity to succeed as a student-athlete at Stony Brook. Coach cultivated and refined my skills. Ever since I was 5 years old, it's been my goal to play professional football.''

Stony Brook never has had a player make an opening-day NFL roster. Fiore said he expects Richards will get a good look in training camp by first-year Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who recruited the California-raised Richards when he was coaching at USC.

Richards was named All-Big South second team in each of his two seasons at Stony Brook and led the conference with seven pass break-ups as a senior. He also had three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

"I came into Seattle's team camp and wanted to show the other guys I belonged,'' he said. "I had a rough first day, but I studied my playbook and had a great second day. I just stuck to the basics and even made an interception.''

Said Priore: "Chris always showed us talent to compete at the next level. Chris always worked hard, and it's great to see a student-athlete reach a goal like the NFL.''

Two other former Seawolves, tackle Lawrence Lovell and receiver/returner Dwayne Eley, signed with the Canadian Football League. Lovell went to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Eley to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.