05-04-2018, 01:44 AM
When the Vikings selected defensive end Ade Aruna in the sixth round of the NFL draft last week, Keith Millard was elated.
Millard, a two-time all-pro defensive tackle for the Vikings from 1985-90, worked Aruna out for three weeks in January to help prepare him for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and NFL scouting combine.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Tulane product on Thursday signed a four-year, $2.578 million contract with a $118,408 signing bonus and will take the field for the first time for the Vikings on Friday, the first day of a three-day rookie minicamp.
“They’re going to love him,” said Millard, whose 18 sacks in 1989 rank as the third-most for the Vikings in a season. “He’s got work to do and he’s green, but he’s athletic and he’s definitely going to be one of those guys who does anything you ask and puts the work in. I told Ade, ‘You’re going to love that defense.’ It’s the perfect situation for him to work with (defensive line coach) Andre Patterson.”
Aruna, a native of Nigeria, came to the United States in 2010 to play basketball; he didn’t play football until his senior year of high school. He had 11 sacks in his final three seasons at Tulane.
https://www.twincities.com/2018/05/03/ex...ade-aruna/
Millard, a two-time all-pro defensive tackle for the Vikings from 1985-90, worked Aruna out for three weeks in January to help prepare him for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and NFL scouting combine.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Tulane product on Thursday signed a four-year, $2.578 million contract with a $118,408 signing bonus and will take the field for the first time for the Vikings on Friday, the first day of a three-day rookie minicamp.
“They’re going to love him,” said Millard, whose 18 sacks in 1989 rank as the third-most for the Vikings in a season. “He’s got work to do and he’s green, but he’s athletic and he’s definitely going to be one of those guys who does anything you ask and puts the work in. I told Ade, ‘You’re going to love that defense.’ It’s the perfect situation for him to work with (defensive line coach) Andre Patterson.”
Aruna, a native of Nigeria, came to the United States in 2010 to play basketball; he didn’t play football until his senior year of high school. He had 11 sacks in his final three seasons at Tulane.
https://www.twincities.com/2018/05/03/ex...ade-aruna/