Vikings Training Camp: Candidates For Mr. Mankato 2020
By Nik Edlund
Every year the Minnesota Vikings give out the “Mr. Mankato” award. This is an honor bestowed upon a lower level player who stands out in camp. Here are some names to watch for this year.
Mr. Mankato is a prestigious title given to a player drafted in the third round or lower by the Minnesota Vikings who stood out in camp. The name originated when the team still held training camp in Mankato, but has stuck even after they moved things north to Eagan at TCO Performance Center.
The player named doesn’t have to be a rookie but can be a younger player who hasn’t yet established themselves in the league as a reliable starter. Last year’s winner was tight end Brandon Dillon, who had a great camp and caught basically everything thrown his way. This performance secured him a spot on the 53 man roster, though it didn’t lead to much playing time in the actual regular season.
With the loss of OTAs and mini-camps and no exhibition games this season, it’ll be especially important for this year’s “Mr. Mankato” to step up and make an impact. Being the best practice player on the team will help that player get noticed and potentially land them a spot with the club. Here are some of the candidates for this year’s Mr. Mankato.