DE Kenny Willekes
Kenny Willekes was a seventh-round pick of the Vikings last April and one that many thought could go much higher. The reason Willekes fell was that he doesn’t have impressive tangibles. He’s doesn’t boast great size, wingspan, and speed. He is by no means a prototypical NFL pass rusher but he does have one thing in spades, and that is his motor.
Willekes was one of the hardest working prospects in the entire draft. He has a motor that doesn’t stop and he keeps battling until he has to be drug off the field. It was by sheer determination that Willekes was able to walk onto the Spartans football team and that same desire and passion that made him a starter.
It’s that work ethic and motor that could land Willekes the title of Mr. Mankato. The fact he’ll be in a battle for a job could give him even more motivation to go extra hard in practice. It’ll be interesting to see if his work ethic can continue to carry him over his athletic ability, but there’s no reason to believe at this point that it won’t.