The Vikings add the best blocking TE in the draft

Justin Ekstrom
Updated
Minnesota Vikings draftee and UTSA Roadrunners tight end David Morgan II makes a touchdown catch against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
Minnesota Vikings draftee and UTSA Roadrunners tight end David Morgan II makes a touchdown catch against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

With the 188th pick in the 2016 NFL draft the Minnesota Vikings selected David Morgan, tight end from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

The Vikings followed up their history making selection of Moritz Boehringer by making more history. Morgan is the first player ever to be drafted by an NFL team out of UTSA. That stat is fitting since UTSA has only had a program for five years.

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The surprise of it all is Morgan played well enough out of beleaguered UTSA to be named a second team All-American and was a second team All-Conference USA selection. Morgan finished with a very respectable 45 receptions for 566 yards and five touchdowns in 2015. The stats are even more amazing when factoring in that Morgan stayed in to block on many of UTSA’s plays.

Morgan is built for blocking as he stands a towering six foot four inches tall and weighs 262 pounds. Morgan also added lineman like stats at the combine while bench pressing 225 pounds 29 times and having a 20 yard shuttle of 4.19 seconds. Putting that into perspective, Cody Whitehair only put 225 pounds up 16 times and ran a 20 yard shuttle in 4.58 seconds.

Do not be fooled by Morgan though, he has the ability to grab tough catches and was often the most targeted receiver for UTSA on game day. His route running and technique will need work but when he gets the ball, he is tough to bring down.

If Morgan takes to the coaching and game plan, expect him to make the team and possibly be used in various formations much like Rhett Ellison. Morgan is a hard worker that for now will provide some competition for an underachieving tight end corps that suddenly looks over paid. This isn’t the splashiest of draft selections by any means but Morgan might just surprise some fans come this fall.

Justin Ekstrom can be followed on Twitter @thesportscrib21

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