With their first pick in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Vikings selected Wake Forrest offensive lineman Chris DeGeare. Here are his quotes from a call with the media:
Q: Were the Vikings one of the teams you had spent a lot of time with prior to the draft?
A: Actually, no. It was always just a phone call here, or a phone call there.
Q: Is this about where you expected to go in the draft?
A: I was expecting mid-rounds. Fifth round isn’t bad at all, a lot of good players are still taken in the fifth round. I’m just so blessed to have this opportunity to be able to play football at the highest level.
Q: Can you explain what you do well, and describe your game a little bit?
A: I think I’m a great run blocker, but also I’m very versatile. I can play guard or tackle. They can plug me in wherever they need me. I’m looking forward to learning from two Pro Bowl offensive linemen in (Steve) Hutchinson and Bryant (McKinnie). I’m just ready to roll, I’m so excited.
Q: Which position do you prefer at this point of your career, guard or tackle?
A: At this point I prefer guard, just because I played guard for three years in college, and I played guard in my all-star game back in January. I’m definitely more comfortable at guard.
Q: How did it come about that you played tackle in your last year?
A: Well, my coach always told me that he puts his best athletes at left tackle, and he told me that I was the best pass protector on the team. He got the idea to put me at left tackle and try me out in the spring coming up to my senior year, and I dominated, so he left me there.
Q: You missed the 2008 season after your mother passed away. How difficult was that time for you?
A: I tell you – especially after she passed, she was my inspiration, she was my everything, she was my best friend, she was the person that I went to – it was very tough to lose someone that you’re that close to. But, back in ’08 was my redshirt year. I had some academic trouble and I had to catch up in the classroom in order to graduate, and I graduated this past December. I’m proud of myself.
Q: How tough or emotional is today for you because of what transpired with your mom?
A: It’s very tough. I think about it constantly. I know if she was here with me right now, she’d be very proud of me. But, I’ve got a great family and a great supporting cast. That’s probably the number one thing in life, is family. They’re great, so I’m very blessed to have them.
Q: What are areas you think are strengths, and what do you need to improve on at the next level?
A: Like I said, I think I’m a good run blocker. I’m very quick off the ball. I know how to use my size to my advantage. I think one of the things that I really need to work on, and I was trying to work on this off-season, is my hand placement and my punching. I need to get better on my punching in pass protection, trying to keep my hands inside. That’s probably the number one thing I need to work on.
Q: Looking forward to getting a chance to block for 
A: Oh, definitely. It’s going to be so surreal. I can’t wait to come in and meet everybody. These are the guys I’ve been watching on TV for the past years, and I’m going to be playing along with these guys and be in the heat of battle with them, so I’m very excited.
Q: Where you aware that the Vikings needed some depth at the guard and tackle spots?
A: Yeah, but there’s always a possibility. With this being the NFL Draft, you just never know. It’s a crapshoot, and you have no idea what team’s going to take you. I did notice the fact that they needed depth on the O-line.
