Joel Dublanko was signed by the Seattle Seahawks on Friday afternoon and will reunite with fellow former Cincinnati standout Coby Bryant. During his prominent career with the Bearcats, Dublanko was named team captain and earned All-AAC honors after totaling 233 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 50 games over five seasons.
LET’S GO @JDublanko29‼️@Seahawks | #Bearcats https://t.co/EyGvUBDIi6 pic.twitter.com/w5lTJQHhUa
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) August 5, 2022
Cincinnati Football: Seahawks sign former Bearcats linebacker Joel Dublanko
More than half of his production came in the historic College Football Playoff run last year as Dublanko helped push the program to new heights. While using the extra year of eligibility, Dublanko returned and proceeded to record a team-best 113 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.
Following the 2022 NFL Draft, Dublanko quickly signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent before getting released in May. In order for the Seahawks to make room for Dublanko on the 90-man roster, the team released Cincinnati native and former Ohio State tight end Jake Hausmann.
The Seahawks signed rookie LB Joel Dublanko and waived TE Jake Hausmann, the team announced today. Dublanko was undrafted out of Cincinnati, where he was teammates with rookie CB Coby Bryant.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) August 5, 2022
Dublanko will have a chance to compete for a permanent roster spot with the preseason coming up this week followed by the regular season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 12. Bryant was selected in the fourth round by the Seahawks in April and is apparently making a name for himself during training camp.
Cincinnati will definitely be well represented in the NFL next season with 26 former players on current rosters including All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce and center Jason Kelce, the highest draft pick in school history Sauce Gardner, a trio of Indianapolis Colts in Curtis Brooks, Alec Pierce and Michael Young, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder and more.