4 Vikings rookies who need to shine most at 2021 minicamp
By Dean Jones
Kene Nwangwu – RB
The Vikings have plenty of options to slot behind star running back Dalvin Cook on the depth chart next season. Alexander Mattison and Amer Abdullah have both shown flashes during their respective careers, so Kene Nwangwu has his work cut out to earn some touches after the team selected him at No. 119 overall in the fourth round.
Nwangwu is a stab in the dark from Minnesota after the back didn’t carry the load at Iowa State over his four-year college career. His contribution in the passing game was minimal, and although he did accumulate a 5.2 yards-per-carry average, this was a pretty strange pick from the Vikings, considering the options already at their disposal.
Minnesota had so many selections in the mid-rounds, it gave them the luxury of reaching for a couple of prospects they really liked. Nwangwu undoubtedly falls into this category, and his eye-catching ability as a kick returner is something else that didn’t go overlooked by the decision-makers.
The rookie will need to prove he is more than a special teamer somewhere down the line. Nwangwu has the speed and elusiveness to become an immediate force in this area while brushing up his running ability during his transition to the pros, but giving a good account of himself at minicamp will be key to his aspirations.