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Brian Flores Says the 6’3″ Sophomore Packed on Muscle

Sophomore corner Zemaiah Vaughn showed promise last offseason. As a rookie, his length showed up during training camp, creating intrigue about his potential. Apparently, he spent the summer months building his body.

Check out what Brian Flores @vikings">had to say: “Zemaiah certainly improved really since he got here. He’s got a of tools, size, length, speed; he’s really worked hard in the weight room to just kind fill out. He’s a little bit bigger this year, I would say, and that’s shown up in his play. He’s a little bit more physical at the line of scrimmage, he’s able to use his length a little bit better.”

Brian Flores, Zemaiah Vaughn, & The Chance at CB

At the risk of making a ridiculous comparison, Vaughn is somewhat reminiscent of Kevin Durant. Think a rangy athlete who is noticeably long and skinny.

Vaughn, though, plays in the NFL instead of the NBA. Basketball can be a physical sport but football is on a different level, a truth that even applies within the secondary. Packing on muscle without sacrificing speed and agility is a good thing. A tricky balance, to be sure, and yet something that all players need to work toward.

Recently, Lindsey Young of the Vikings’ website spent time digging into who the young corner is.

Some of the defender’s background to clarify his switch to being a college corner: “Vaughn played his freshman season at free safety and then was moved to corner. Though he’d never lined up there before, he leaned on his experience at quarterback — understanding coverages and route concepts — and consistently put himself in position to make plays.”

Further from Young: “He admits there was a point, though, when he struggled with the change and inquired about moving back to QB or even receiver — ‘I missed having the ball in my hands’ — but Utah Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach Sharrieff Shah encouraged him to stick with it. Best decision of his life he acknowledged, grinning.”

Consider one more thought from the piece: “Vaughn went on to play four years at Utah, appearing in 56 games and making 31 straight starts to finish his career. As a senior, he totaled 40 tackles, one interception, 2.0 sacks, five tackles for loss and five passes defensed. Though he of course hoped to be drafted, going unselected through the 2025 NFL Draft allowed Vaughn some flexibility on which team to sign with — and he now can’t imagine being anywhere but Minnesota.”

Right now, Chuck Demmings is hogging the optimism from the masses. Such is life for a drafted rookie with as much energy and charisma as Mr. Demmings.

Behind the scenes, though, is a young lad who has been grinding. Vaughn can’t be counted out.

People can think of the NFL as being a glamorous spot to work. In some ways, that’s true; most people would be thrilled to make a modest NFL salary of roughly $1 million. Any normal person sees that total as life-changing money that represents extraordinary wealth.

Do note, though, that becoming successful in football means boasting an unusual ability to do repetitive things to improve. Constant lifts, good nutrition, film study, feedback from coaches, and a broader commitment to growth is needed. That can be especially true for somebody looking to get onto a final roster.

Zemaiah Vaughn appears to be willing to put in the hours. As a result, the DC has taken notice, singing his praises at the podium with the corner position looking as competitive as it has ever looked since Brian Flores starting calling the Twin Cities home.

The young corner stands at 6’3″ and is listed as weighing 180 pounds. Quite possibly, the added muscle means he can put a bigger number onto the scale. Quite possibly, that added muscle will mean being capable of stealing away snaps from more well-known players.