The Selma Times-Journal

Ben Obomanu, a product of Selma High School, signed a contract to play football for the Seattle Seahawks Thursday.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Coming out of high school, he was a four-year starter who earned Parade All-American honors.

Obomanu also started for the Saints’ basketball, track and baseball teams.

He was recruited by Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, UCLA and Michigan among others. Instead, he chose to stay home and sign with the Tigers.

As a true freshman at Auburn, he earned his first career start against USC. At the end of that season, he finished fourth on the team with 17 catches for 224 yards (13.2 average) and three touchdowns.

In 2004, Obomanu helped lead Auburn to a perfect 13-0 season. He scored seven receiving touchdowns, and that put him in the Auburn record book, ranking fifth on the school’s single-season list.

In 2005, he earned All Southeastern Conference third-team honors from the league coaches.

Obomanu was also part of a class of seniors that never lost to Alabama, going 4-0.

Obomanu became the first player from Selma to sign an NFL contract.

“Thanks to all my coaches, family and most of all the Lord Jesus Christ,” Obomanu said. “Because if it wasn’t for him, none of my dreams would have come true.”

Ben is the son of Brenda Obomanu, and he is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.