Locked On Vikings - Daily Podcast On The Minnesota Vikings

Kyle Rudolph will likely retire a Viking now. Plus, Tashawn Bower, Craig James, and what they went through to be here. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Tashawn Bower: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_87a90903-317f-5067-8c65-1dbd048477cd.html Craig James: https://siusalukis.com/news/2016/10/6/football-craig-james-is-at-home-in-sius-secondary.aspx Kyle Rudolph: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26945257/vikes-extend-rudolph-4-years-36m Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On these players’ faith, their peaks, and their valleys.  Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Garrett Bradbury: https://www.wralsportsfan.com/bradbury-s-unlikely-path-to-the-rimington-tropy-/18047297/ Jake Browning: https://gohuskies.com/news/2016/6/17/211020552.aspx Ameer Abdullah: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11531690/nebraska-rb-ameer-abdullah-uncommon-talent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It matters where you grow up. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Jeff Badet: https://oklahoman.com/article/5559086/how-baker-mayfield-brought-jeff-badet-to-oklahoma Sean Mannion: https://www.irishpost.com/sport/sean-mannion-southie-paw-never-knocked-33910 Dalvin Cook: https://www.si.com/mmqb/2017/04/25/nfl-draft-dalvin-cook-red-flags-character-concerns-scouts-florida-state-miami-dade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taking a break from the 90 man series to delve into some 2018 tape. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL That EPA graph I was talking about: https://twitter.com/kentweyrauch/status/1135938860855300097?s=21 The Bears Thread: https://twitter.com/lukebraunnfl/status/1136104201455431680?s=21 Seahawks thread too: https://twitter.com/lukebraunnfl/status/1072614311305113600?s=21 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many, it simply starts as a childhood game. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Shamar Stephen: http://mineolaamerican.com/2015/02/former-chief-an-nfl-standout/ Jalyn Holmes: https://theozone.net/2017/11/tough-love-jalyn-holmes-either-ohio-state-homeless/ Isaiah Wharton: https://scarletknights.com/news/2018/11/15/football-isaiah-wharton-ironman.aspx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The winding, bumpy roads that got three players to the same NFL training camp Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Derron Smith: https://www.pe.com/2017/07/15/alexander-derron-smiths-productive-homecoming/ Oli Udoh: http://www.startribune.com/mobile-mountain-immense-vikings-draft-pick-oli-udoh-tries-to-make-the-leap-from-nigerian-immigrant-to-the-nfl/509727632/?refresh=true\df v  Eric Kendricks: http://www.startribune.com/vikings-linebacker-eric-kendricks-finds-it-in-himself-to-forgive-once-absent-father/405810206/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some stories can be told by the people surrounding and supporting them.  Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Danny Isidora: http://www.athletes-guide.com/dannyisidora/ Roc Thomas: https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-rb-thomas-puts-roc-in-the-rockies Stephen Weatherly: http://www.startribune.com/for-stephen-weatherly-vikings-renaissance-man-football-is-only-part-of-the-story/466507823/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some weird and wacky paths to the NFL. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Riley Reiff: https://www.mlive.com/lions/2012/04/post_13.html Ade Aruna: http://www.fox9.com/sports/behind-the-scenes-with-vikings-player-ade-aruna Cornelius Edison: https://theathletic.com/467634/2018/08/10/meet-cornelius-edison-center-vikings-preseason-kirk-cousins-debut/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three players who are choosing the legacy they leave Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL David Morgan: https://vikingsterritory.com/2017/trainingcamp/david-morgan-role-growing-on-off-field Cameron Smith: https://www.ocregister.com/2018/09/27/usc-linebacker-cameron-smith-tackles-fine-wine-yoga-and-running-backs/ Alexander Hollins: https://jg-tc.com/sports/college/eastern/eiu-s-hollins-becomes-one-of-nation-s-best/article_f9f1a1ea-4d22-5e8b-8471-68fe87282264.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three players whose parents made choices before they were born that define their entire lives. Follow the show: @LukeBraunNFL Follow the host: @LockedOnVikings Anree Saint-Amour: https://theathletic.com/654602/2018/11/15/saint-amours-career-at-georgia-tech-is-all-about-faith-passion-perseverance/ Chad Beebe: https://www.twincities.com/2018/08/23/vikings-rookie-receiver-chad-beebe-is-the-ultimate-underdog-even-with-his-nfl-pedigree/ Mackensie Alexander: https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/struggles-of-immigrant-parents-drive-clemson-s-mackensie-alexander-to/article_c6f7aaa4-f253-5047-b975-7bf5867b5655.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OTA updates, and trying to do justice to the stories of Laquon Treadwell and Hercules Mata’afa. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL OTA overview: http://www.startribune.com/garrett-bradbury-at-center-pat-elflein-at-guard-for-vikings-stefon-diggs-skips-ota/510280292/ Hercules Mata’afa: https://sports.cbslocal.com/2018/04/05/hercules-mataafa-nfl-draft-2018/ Laquon Treadwell 1: https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-xpm-2012-12-08-ct-spt-1209-prep-foot-player-of-year-20121208-story.html Laquon Treadwell 2: https://www.si.com/vault/2016/02/11/laquon-treadwell-healed-and-thats-damn-near-miracle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two players who more or less followed the standard path through college to the NFL, and one who didn’t but it worked out anyway. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Davion Davis: https://www.itemonline.com/sports/sam_houston_state_university_bearkats/davis-to-miss-rest-of-season/article_dbeedae5-da25-5680-ae75-575552e43839.html Dru Samia: http://projects.oudaily.com/football-tattoos/#Dru_Samia Dan Bailey: https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesheadlines/2009/12/31/Oklahoma-State-kicker-back-in-groove-803 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rhodes, Sloter and Dillon all had major moments in their career where they had to make choices about risk.  Follow the show: @LukeBraunNFL Follow the host: @LockedOnVikings Xavier Rhodes: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/article/20121031/SPORTS/812022740 Kyle Sloter: https://zonecoverage.com/2017/vikings/new-vikings-qb-kyle-sloter-played-three-years-of-receiver-in-college/ Brandon Dillon: https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/football/2019/03/11/former-carroll-athlete-brandon-dillon-looking-nfl-opportunity-marian-university/3104376002/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three players who have all hit lows that would end the hopes of any other players, and what they did to dig out of it. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Greer Martini: https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-notre-dame-football-spt-1129-20141128-story.html Aviante Collins: https://www.twincities.com/2017/09/06/rookie-aviante-collins-makes-vikings-after-fathers-home-severely-damaged-by-hurricane/ Mike Hughes: https://zonecoverage.com/2018/vikings/how-mike-hughes-turned-his-career-around-with-the-garden-city-broncbusters/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re talking about three players who had to deal with varying setbacks throughout their pre-NFL careers. Follow the show: @LockedOnVikings Follow the host: @LukeBraunNFL Duke Thomas: https://www.burntorangenation.com/2015/7/22/9017157/longhorns-cb-duke-thomas-looking-for-consistency-to-match-leadership Curtis Cothran: https://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/penn_state/penn-state-curtis-cothran-fifth-year-senior-council-rock-north-20170831.html Adam Thielen: https://www.dl-online.com/sports/570568-becoming-lead-maverick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices