What are some things to know about Vikings rookie corner Jeff Gladney?
The Minnesota Vikings selected TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney with the 31st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Five cornerbacks were selected before him, and the Vikings nabbed Gladney after trading back six spots with San Francisco 49ers. Minnesota acquired three picks in the trade and they turned the draft capital into Gladney, former South Carolina defensive end D.J. Wonnum, and former Miami wide receiver K.J. Osborn. It was a vintage Rick Spielman transaction when it comes to accumulating draft picks.
The good news for Gladney is that the Vikings cleared the deck of virtually all corners on the roster this offseason.
Minnesota’s play at the cornerback position was flummoxing during the 2019 campaign, so changes were in order. The team neglected to retain free agents Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackenzie Alexander this year. It was very much out with the old and in with the new.
As for the new and young replacements, Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, and Harrison Hand are among the men who are hopeful to see immediate action. And that is likely because the Vikings’ defensive back room is rather barren outside of the top-notch safties that occupy the space.
So, we know that Gladney has high hopes attached to his name and that he should play early on this season. But what are some facts we don’t yet know about him? Let’s find out.
Gladney is on the older end of the spectrum for rookies
If you’re an optimist, this means he’s more game-ready, mature, and poised to make an instant impact. Gladney was a redshirt freshman at TCU in 2015 and he consequently did not see in-game action until 2016.
It should be noted that Gladney’s age is in no way a red flag. It’s just that he is not in that 21-year-old range like recent Vikings rookies such as Alexander Mattison or Justin Jefferson.
A better perspective is a comparison of age to Minnesota tight end Irv Smith. The Alabama alumnus embarks on his sophomore season with the Vikings and he is 605 days younger than Gladney.
No need to panic. 23-year-old rookie selections have been fruitful for the Vikings during the last decade. Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, and Trae Waynes were all 23-years-old when taken by Minnesota in their respective drafts.
On a team that effectively mandates that Gladney see the field right away due to depth chart needs, his age and experience should suit him and the team productively.
Gladney was more than just a football player in high school
In all likelihood, Gladney will solely be a defensive back for the Vikings. Interestingly though, he played cornerback and wide receiver at New Boston High School in northeast Texas. That’s right, Gladney was first-team all-district wide receiver before his college days at TCU.
It doesn’t end there. He was also a three-sport athlete at New Boston. In addition to playing two positions on the school’s football team, Gladney was a standout basketball player and track athlete. He’s even the owner of the school’s 100-meter dash record, posting an 11.15-second mark.
Minnesota is in the market for playmakers at the cornerback position, so the selection of Gladney and his athleticism make sense.
Last season, the primary aspect of defense that plagued the Vikings was the cornerback play, specifically when it came to third-down efficiency. Minnesota dropped from No. 1 in the business in defensive third-down percentage in 2018 to 19th overall in 2019. If Gladney can adjust to the pace of the NFL swiftly, he could aid in upping that ranking this season.
Gladney hails from the same hometown as Devin The Dude
If you’re not a fan of hip-hop, it’s probably time to close your ears, or expand your horizons.
The aforementioned town in Texas, New Boston, is near the southwestern border of Arkansas and it has a population of roughly 5,000 people. The goal is to make the Gladney the most famous of them all and New Boston’s favorite son.
As of now, a state representative, Gary VanDeaver, is from New Boston and so is the president of Southern Methodist University, R. Gerald Turner.
But on the entertainment end, hip hop artist Devin The Dude also spent some of his childhood time in New Boston. The rapper is notable for collaborations with several prominent artists including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Scarface, Andre 3000, UGK, and Gucci Mane. Mr. Dude has also had a lucrative solo career.
Admittedly, this has nothing to do with football, but it is not common knowledge that Devin The Dude and Gladney both hail from such a small Texas town.
TCU is not a school the Vikings utilize for talent too often
When Vikings general manager Rick Spielman selected Jeff Gladney in this year’s NFL Draft, he was the first player from TCU to be plucked in the draft by the franchise in 19 years. The last time Minnesota chose a Horned Frog was back in 2001 when Dennis Green acted as both the head coach and the de facto general manager.
That season, the Vikings (ironically) picked two TCU players in the fourth round of the draft. Shawn Worthen, a defensive tackle, was taken with the 130th overall pick by Minnesota. Worthen played four games with the Vikings and then that was it for his career.
When Minnesota made its next selection that day, they grabbed Cedrick James with the very next pick (131st overall). James was a wideout that went on to play five games in purple and gold. He, too, would promptly end his professional career following the 2001 season.
Unrelated to the performance of Worthen and James, it was also the final draft that Green would undertake with the Vikings as he was fired about nine months later.
Quarterbacks often avoided Gladney’s side of the field in college
In examining Gladney’s career at TCU, his final stat line is inconspicuously devoid of ample interceptions. He only tallied five interceptions in 44 career college games.
This is not all that diminutive, but for a first-round pick, one might expect a number in the double-digits for interceptions.
The hard truth is that because of Gladney’s lockdown presence and reputation, opposing signal-callers avoided the TCU corner altogether.
When quarterbacks actually did choose to throw in Gladney’s direction, he more often than not swatted the pass attempt away. In 2019, Gladney led the Big 12 conference in pass breakups with 14.
All in all, Gladney does not jump off the reel of the tape in size, but he is noted for his speed and technique. It is not fully known what his immediate role will be within Mike Zimmer’s secondary.
But, if he can replicate the success he displayed at TCU, Gladney will have a chance to influence the Vikings defense sooner than later.