Vikings Have a Dark Horse Rookie Standout

Last year, the Minnesota Vikings expert solid creation out of rookie jogging back Kene Nwangwu. The speedster started out as a particular teams contributor and labored his way into a frequent functioning back again job.

There could be a similar standout this period, and it might shock who it is.

Certainly, there need to be an expectation that Lewis Cine shines in the secondary. He was a to start with-round decide, heralded tackler, and will engage in together with Harrison Smith. Andrew Booth Jr. ought to also be predicted to add heavily provided the very first-round pedigree and the require for a cornerback group to stage up. Even offensive lineman Ed Ingram, too, with initial-spherical measurables, must demonstrate nicely as he’s worked his way into a beginning position.

From there, though, in which do you seem for the rookie to make the most influence for the 2022 Minnesota Vikings?

Akalyleb Evans will be in a comparable position to Booth Jr. regarding opportunity. He’s of course additional down the depth chart, but the depth at cornerback will be analyzed. Patrick Peterson is a reliable veteran, but the team continue to has much more problem marks than responses. I like Esezi Otomewo as a nearby product, but he’s got some serious horses in front of him. Even Jalen Nailor proceeds to attract rave assessments amidst a excellent wide receiver team. I do not assume it is any of them, though.

Give me 3rd-round select from Oklahoma — Brian Asamoah. Now mentioned on the depth chart behind no cost agent acquisition Jordan Hicks, Asamoah will have plenty of possibilities to carve out a purpose. He’ll lead on specific teams early. And in the Vikings new defensive scheme, he will discover himself rotating in at linebacker loads.

At Oklahoma, Asamoah led the Sooners in tackles in each individual of the past two seasons, and his 4.56 time in the 40-property-sprint is flying for a linebacker. He may possibly not attract a ton of starts off supplied the veterans forward of him, but he need to have sufficient prospect to make an influence. With Ed Donatell’s protection shifting to a 3-4 plan, Asamoah can establish himself in the center of the field and aid a secondary that desperately wanted it a time ago.

Tackles are a surefire way to exhibit up in the stat sheet. If the mixture of Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith can push runners up the middle, a lot will be offered concerning the hashes. Asamoah has seemed like he suits during preseason action, and enjoying at a superior stage in university undoubtedly does wonders for acclimation.

I’m not guaranteed we’re conversing defensive participant of the yr in this article — that’d be a very crazy breakout — but turning into a reliable piece that appears like a long term contributor is a great bar for Asamoah. As a third-round pick and the fourth variety designed by Minnesota, you cannot be mad about that style of final result.

Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is concentrated on all points Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a previous faculty athlete and avid athletics enthusiast, masking our pro teams with a passion has often appeared like such a normal outlet.

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