Plenty of former basketball players have translated their talents over from the hardwood to the gridiron. From All-Pro tight ends’ like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates to the most recent convert Jimmy Graham, a number of former basketball stars have made a successful switch. Now, Pete Carroll is hoping he’s found the next great two-sport star.
The Seahawks, desperately seeking to add receiving options for quarterback Russell Wilson, signed former pro basketball player turned tight end Darren Fells to a three-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The former power forward will now transition from finger-roll layups to finger-tip catches.
Fells, who measures in at 6-foot-7 and almost 280 pounds, played four years of basketball at the University of California, Irvine, before taking his talents overseas to pursue a basketball career in Europe and then Argentina. He doesn’t have any recent football experience, but his older brother, Daniel, is a seven-year NFL veteran and plays tight end for the New England Patriots.
Darren originally planned to hold a pro day to show off his talents, but the Seahawks came away so impressed they inked him to a deal before he left the team’s facility.
Check out Fells’ highlight reel from his time balling out in Finland in the video below.
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Thumbnail via Facebook/Darren Fells
