Mother’s Day came early for Laurie Ursua.
Soon after being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, former University of Hawaii receiver John Ursua embraced his mother and said: “We did it. Mama, we did it.”
In the celebration at the family home in Utah, Ursua told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “That’s all I could think. I was waiting the whole time to tell her that. I had planned it out from when I woke up. … My family has been a huge support for me. My brothers have been role models for me. My mother has been my backbone in all of this. She was by my side the whole time. I’m so grateful for this huge blessing.”
In December, Ursua announced he would forgo his senior season at UH to apply for the NFL Draft. At UH’s pro day in Los Angeles, Ursua impressed NFL representatives with his lateral quickness (4.12 seconds in the short shuttle), burst (10-foot broad jump), athleticism (37-inch vertical jump) and strength (17 bench-press reps of 225 pounds). Four teams, including the Seahawks, invited Ursua to private workouts.
Ursua marveled at the Seahawks’ program. “They have a huge winning culture with (head coach) Pete Carroll winning championships in college and the NFL,” Ursua said. “He knows what he’s doing. … After I went on that visit, I knew I wanted to go there. I felt really strongly about it. I was hoping and praying I would land there.”
The Seahawks had kept in contact throughout Saturday, when the draft’s fourth through seventh rounds were conducted. In the seventh round, Carroll called twice, saying he wanted to sign Ursua as an undrafted free agent. Four other teams called seeking a free-agent pledge from Ursua.
“That third time (the Seahawks) called, they said they were on the clock right now and they were going to take me,” Ursua said. “I said, ‘No way.’ I was tripping out. It was the craziest moment of my life.”
The Seahawks traded a sixth-round pick in 2020 for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ seventh-round pick this year. The Seahawks then used that slot to draft Ursua.
“I was so excited,” said Ursua, who declared Seattle’s mascot to be his “favorite bird.”
Ursua reflected on his path from growing up on Hawaii island, attending three high schools in Utah, going on a church mission, and his career at UH. After suffering a torn ACL during the 2017 season, Ursua rebounded to lead the nation in touchdown receptions (16) in 2018. He was fifth in receiving yards (1,343), ninth in receiving yards per game (103,3), 10th in total touchdowns (17), and 11th in catches per game (6.8).
Ursua will report to the Seahawks’ facilities on Thursday for mini camp.
“Growing up on the Big Island, I was always the underdog,” Ursua said. “I was too short. Not being fast enough. I’m from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. I cannot believe that I’m going to Seattle to play in the National Football League. I cannot believe it.”
