01-04-2018, 10:36 PM
http://www.inforum.com/sports/4383214-vikings-could-have-another-thielen-story-signing-brandon-zylstra
FARGO—The grade-school assignment was simple. Draw a picture of yourself of what you want to be when you grow up.
It
didn't take very long for Brandon Zylstra to produce a picture that his
mother would later display after his high school graduation. The
artwork showed Zylstra wearing a No. 84, Minnesota Vikings
purple-colored jersey.
Zylstra took one
step closer to his childhood dream on Wednesday when he signed a
reserve/future contract with the Vikings. The contract means Zylstra
will be added to the Vikings' 90-man offseason roster once the 2018
league year begins in March.
Zylstra, the former Concordia College
standout who was one of the top receivers in the Canadian Football
League last season, knows there is a lot of work to be done before
cracking the Vikings lineup for next season.
"Honestly, I've been
kind of manifesting this dream ever since I was a little guy," Zylstra
said, referring in part to his grade-school artwork. "Regardless if I am
a receiver or just on special teams, I will take whatever role they
will throw at me."
Growing up in Spicer, Minn.,—located just over
100 miles west of Minneapolis—Zylstra was a Vikings' fan idolizing the
likes of receiver Randy Moss who wore the No. 84 that Zylstra drew in
his picture. Moss was the inspiration for him to switch from running
back to wide receiver when he was a freshman at New London-Spicer High
School.
Zylstra's story rings similar to another Minnesotan who
came out of nowhere and became a Vikings wide receiver. That is Adam
Thielen of Detroit Lakes who this season became a Pro Bowl receiver for a
Vikings team that is preparing for the NFL playoffs.
"He kind of paved the way for unknown and undrafted guys," Zylstra said.
Zylstra
reached out to Thielen for advice on how to become a professional
football player. Zylstra's quarterback at Concordia, Michael Herzog, was
good friends with the Thielen family. Zylstra, who ran into Thielen
after his workout with the Vikings last month, now has the same agent as
Thielen and plans to work out with him this spring in the Minneapolis
suburb of Oakdale.
"He told me two years ago to do as many
workouts as you can," Zylstra said. "I took his advice and ran with it. I
just had to get my name out there."
After college at Concordia,
Zylstra moved to Arizona to train with former Cobbers teammate Griffin
Neal. That's where he attracted the interest of CFL teams and was
eventually signed to a two-year contract with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Ironically,
his contract with the Eskimos prevented him from a workout the Vikings
had requested after the 2016 NFL Draft. The Vikings noticed Zylstra
during a Pro Day at the Fargodome that included former North Dakota
State and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.
Since
the Vikings did not sign Zylstra to any kind of contract at that time,
it prevented them from working him out because of his Edmonton contract.
"I
know Brandon was extremely disappointed not getting that chance to work
out with the Vikings," said Concordia head coach Terry Horan. "I just
told him to go make a name for yourself in the CFL. That league is a
perfect place for him because they chuck the ball all over the place."
Zylstra
certainly made a name for himself. After catching 34 passes for 508
yards in six games during his first season with Edmonton, Zylstra led
the CFL with 1,687 receiving yards this past season and became a CFL
All-Star.
NFL teams took notice. Zylstra and his agent put
together a list of teams to schedule workouts. That's why Zylstra moved
in with his uncle in Bloomington, to be close to the airport when he
flew to workouts with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit
Lions and Indianapolis Colts.
But it eventually came down to the Vikings.
"Everybody
talks about how close knit they are," Zylstra said, referring in part
to conversations with current Vikings fullback C.J. Ham. Zylstra and Ham
were part of the same recruiting class at Augustana College of Sioux
Falls, S.D. Zylstra later transferred to Concordia—where he had 1,932
career receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.
"The Vikings are a proven team this year with a great, solid coaching staff. But first and foremost, it's back home to me."
Zylstra
will report to the Vikings OTAs (organized team activities) in
mid-April, with hopes of staying with the team until the next season
begins.
"There is a lot of work to do now," he said. "I've always
felt I could play in this league. I'm grateful they have given me the
chance. Now, it's up to me to prove that I belong in this league."
It
won't be easy. The Vikings currently have Thielen and fellow receivers
Jarius Wright, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell and Stacy Coley under
contract through at least next season.
Horan certainly believes Zylstra can become the next Adam Thielen story.
"And
he's bigger," Horan said of the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Zylstra, who
cleared 6 feet, 10 inches as a high jumper for the Concordia track team
and was once a professional barefoot water skier. "He is so athletic ...
he's a freak. This is another Thielen story. He is pretty special."
FARGO—The grade-school assignment was simple. Draw a picture of yourself of what you want to be when you grow up.
It
didn't take very long for Brandon Zylstra to produce a picture that his
mother would later display after his high school graduation. The
artwork showed Zylstra wearing a No. 84, Minnesota Vikings
purple-colored jersey.
Zylstra took one
step closer to his childhood dream on Wednesday when he signed a
reserve/future contract with the Vikings. The contract means Zylstra
will be added to the Vikings' 90-man offseason roster once the 2018
league year begins in March.
Zylstra, the former Concordia College
standout who was one of the top receivers in the Canadian Football
League last season, knows there is a lot of work to be done before
cracking the Vikings lineup for next season.
"Honestly, I've been
kind of manifesting this dream ever since I was a little guy," Zylstra
said, referring in part to his grade-school artwork. "Regardless if I am
a receiver or just on special teams, I will take whatever role they
will throw at me."
Growing up in Spicer, Minn.,—located just over
100 miles west of Minneapolis—Zylstra was a Vikings' fan idolizing the
likes of receiver Randy Moss who wore the No. 84 that Zylstra drew in
his picture. Moss was the inspiration for him to switch from running
back to wide receiver when he was a freshman at New London-Spicer High
School.
Zylstra's story rings similar to another Minnesotan who
came out of nowhere and became a Vikings wide receiver. That is Adam
Thielen of Detroit Lakes who this season became a Pro Bowl receiver for a
Vikings team that is preparing for the NFL playoffs.
"He kind of paved the way for unknown and undrafted guys," Zylstra said.
Zylstra
reached out to Thielen for advice on how to become a professional
football player. Zylstra's quarterback at Concordia, Michael Herzog, was
good friends with the Thielen family. Zylstra, who ran into Thielen
after his workout with the Vikings last month, now has the same agent as
Thielen and plans to work out with him this spring in the Minneapolis
suburb of Oakdale.
"He told me two years ago to do as many
workouts as you can," Zylstra said. "I took his advice and ran with it. I
just had to get my name out there."
After college at Concordia,
Zylstra moved to Arizona to train with former Cobbers teammate Griffin
Neal. That's where he attracted the interest of CFL teams and was
eventually signed to a two-year contract with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Ironically,
his contract with the Eskimos prevented him from a workout the Vikings
had requested after the 2016 NFL Draft. The Vikings noticed Zylstra
during a Pro Day at the Fargodome that included former North Dakota
State and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.
Since
the Vikings did not sign Zylstra to any kind of contract at that time,
it prevented them from working him out because of his Edmonton contract.
"I
know Brandon was extremely disappointed not getting that chance to work
out with the Vikings," said Concordia head coach Terry Horan. "I just
told him to go make a name for yourself in the CFL. That league is a
perfect place for him because they chuck the ball all over the place."
Zylstra
certainly made a name for himself. After catching 34 passes for 508
yards in six games during his first season with Edmonton, Zylstra led
the CFL with 1,687 receiving yards this past season and became a CFL
All-Star.
NFL teams took notice. Zylstra and his agent put
together a list of teams to schedule workouts. That's why Zylstra moved
in with his uncle in Bloomington, to be close to the airport when he
flew to workouts with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit
Lions and Indianapolis Colts.
But it eventually came down to the Vikings.
"Everybody
talks about how close knit they are," Zylstra said, referring in part
to conversations with current Vikings fullback C.J. Ham. Zylstra and Ham
were part of the same recruiting class at Augustana College of Sioux
Falls, S.D. Zylstra later transferred to Concordia—where he had 1,932
career receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.
"The Vikings are a proven team this year with a great, solid coaching staff. But first and foremost, it's back home to me."
Zylstra
will report to the Vikings OTAs (organized team activities) in
mid-April, with hopes of staying with the team until the next season
begins.
"There is a lot of work to do now," he said. "I've always
felt I could play in this league. I'm grateful they have given me the
chance. Now, it's up to me to prove that I belong in this league."
It
won't be easy. The Vikings currently have Thielen and fellow receivers
Jarius Wright, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell and Stacy Coley under
contract through at least next season.
Horan certainly believes Zylstra can become the next Adam Thielen story.
"And
he's bigger," Horan said of the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Zylstra, who
cleared 6 feet, 10 inches as a high jumper for the Concordia track team
and was once a professional barefoot water skier. "He is so athletic ...
he's a freak. This is another Thielen story. He is pretty special."