AU FOOTBALL: Doolittle, Smith get free agent deals

Less than two years after he was faced with the prospect of never playing football again, Tez Doolittle is on his way to the NFL.

Doolittle, an Opelika native and six-year defensive tackle at Auburn, went undrafted Saturday and Sunday, but was quickly scooped up by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. He will fly to Seattle on Thursday to go through minicamp.

“I’m going to be like a blind dog in a meathouse,” Doolittle said.

Doolittle missed the entire 2007 season after he tore his Achilles tendon in fall practice. He redshirted his first year with the Tigers, so an end to a largely uneventful Auburn career was certainly in the realm of possibility.

But Doolittle was awarded an extra year of eligibility and he made the most of it. He emerged as a leader in the middle of Auburn’s defensive line alongside best friend and current roommate Sen’Derrick Marks, as he amassed 28 tackles, eight of which were for a loss.

Doolittle garnered more interest than may have been expected when he showed up to Auburn’s Pro Day with a noticeable amount of added muscle and a more toned physique.

“I’m just happy to be in the situation I’m in,” Doolittle said. “I wasn’t supposed to be playing ball after ’07. It’s been six years and I just fought through it.”

Doolittle said the New York Jets called him shortly before Sunday’s seventh round and expressed interest in him, but didn’t have any picks left. He never heard from them again, but was more than happy to hear from the Seahawks shortly thereafter.

“I’ve been around here and I went to Opelika and then went to Auburn,” Doolittle said. “So I need to get away from here for a little bit.”

Doolittle will join former Opelika product and Auburn linebacker Will Herring, who has been with the Seahawks since 2007.

Wide receiver Rod Smith will be joining former Auburn offensive lineman Tyronne Green with the San Diego Chargers, Doolittle said. Smith went undrafted, but was signed by the Chargers shortly after the final pick, according to AuburnSports.com.

Smith led the Tigers with 30 catches for 332 yards in 2008. He came to Auburn as a walk-on before earning a scholarship in 2007.

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