With their second pick in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Vikings selected University of Minnesota LB Nate Triplett. Here are his quotes from a call with the media:
Q: Was it a surprise to hear the Vikings call you? What was your immediate reaction?
A: Obviously, I was pretty happy about it. (Laughter) I wasn’t real surprised. I had talked to a bunch of the coaches throughout the process. All of them were at our (University of Minnesota) Pro Day. I felt like I had established a pretty good relationship when I talked to them, and felt pretty comfortable talking to them. It just seemed like a good fit for me. When I got the phone call, it was a surprise in getting that phone call. You only get one in a lifetime. In that way, it was a surprise. It felt really good getting that phone call.
Q: What does it mean to you to be staying at home and playing for the Vikings, the team you grew up watching?
A: Staying in Minnesota here has been a dream of mine since I was a little guy. You live in Minnesota your whole life, and I wanted to be a Gopher since I could walk and I’ve wanted to be a Viking ever since I knew what football was. It’s been a long trip through there, and I’m sure it means a lot to my family as well. They’re going to be able to go to a lot more games now that I’m in Minnesota. For me and my family, it means a lot and we’re looking forward to a bunch of good years here in Minnesota.
Q: Which Vikings team or players did you grow up watching the most, or are your heroes?
A: I grew up watching the whole Cris Carter, Randy Moss teams, all those guys. But, lately, they have a good squad here. With 
Q: You talk about getting on the field. How much does special teams have to be your focus right off the bat, with where they are with linebackers?
A: That was one of the first things that the coaches said when they first called me on the phone. They said, “Are you ready to play?” And I said, “You know I’m ready to play.” I’m ready to play linebacker, but right away I think my role is going to be doing a lot of special teams things until I can really prove myself on the field as a linebacker. They’ve got some good linebackers in Minnesota, they’ve proven themselves.
Q: Where do you project as a linebacker?
A: With the Gophers, I played some “Will” (linebacker). I played in the middle at “Mike,” but down in Texas I played some “Sam” as well. So, I play inside, I play outside. But, with them (the Vikings), I think they’re looking towards the middle a little bit, being with my size and all. That’s something we’re going to have to talk about and we’ll see how practice goes, but I think middle right now is where they are looking at me.
Q: When you were looking at teams that might draft you, were you focusing more on the 3-4 (defense) teams?
A: I had heard a lot from the 3-4 teams, a little more so than the 4-3 teams. I kind of focused a little bit on them, and where they maybe projected me to go. A lot of them had me in the middle in a 3-4, but I didn’t by any means rule out the 4-3. I was kind of hoping that the Vikings would take a look at me.
Q: Where were you when you got the call?
A: I wasn’t hanging around the phone too much. I was just kind of sitting around the house, just me and my family. My mom and dad and two brothers are here. But, my brother’s getting ready for prom, so I was helping him with things. We’ve got an eventful house right here, right now. So, it was just sitting around and watching the draft a little bit, but trying to keep my mind off not getting that call yet.
Q: With the way you had to work your way up to that starting spot at Minnesota, do you think that will prepare you for what you have to do in the NFL?
A: Yes. I’m not expecting to be placed in a starting role at all right away, so I’m going to work my way up, definitely. Starting with special teams, and work my way into a linebacker spot where eventually I can become a big playmaker for the Vikings.
Q: To go back to when you were a kid, did your folks take you to Vikings games, or did you watch most on TV?
A: We watched a lot of the games on TV. I’d go to one every now and then. I actually went to a game for the Punt, Pass and Kick game they do at halftime. I was actually one of the kids who threw a ball at halftime, so that was one of the probably four or five games I got to go to. To hear the horn, and see all the fun things that go on in the Metrodome when they are playing, it was a lot of fun. From there, they got me hooked.
Q: Is Coach Pav (Delano HS Football Coach Merrill Pavlovich) taking all the credit?
A: (Laughter). Actually, I haven’t heard from him yet. I think he’s waiting for things to settle down a little bit, but I’m expecting a call from him to get his share of the glory in a little while. (Laughter)
