The Vikings announced Thursday that they have signed free agent linebacker Emmanuel Lamur. The 2016 season will be his fifth in the NFL.
Lamur joined the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster in November 2012. After missing the entire 2013 season due to a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason, Lamur played 30 games from 2014-2015, starting 15 of them.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings free agent addition:
View photos of new Vikings LB Emmanuel Lamur from his days as a Bengal.
1) Multi-dimensional player
Lamur started out in college as a safety and didn't make his first start at linebacker until 2010 during his junior season at Kansas State University. His background as a defensive back makes him a versatile and athletic option at linebacker.
2) Small-market roots
Lamur played his final three collegiate seasons for Kansas State. Prior to joining the Wildcats, Lamur played his freshman season for Independence Community College (Kansas). In 2008, he tallied 45 tackles, 1.0 sack and two interceptions in nine games and earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors. Before college, Lamur recorded 70 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles as a senior at King's Academy High School in West Palm Beach, Florida.
3) Football family
Lamur's twin brother, Sammuel, played quarterback for Kansas State University and was signed as a linebacker by the Buccaneers during the 2015 offseason before being waived in August 2015. Sammuel originally signed with the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
4) Vikings connections
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer served as the Bengals defensive coordinator during Lamur's rookie season in Cincinnati. Lamur recorded 19 tackles and one pass defended over nine games played in his debut season.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Lamur grew up less than 10 miles from Vikings defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis, who lived in Lake Worth, Florida. Lamur and Ellis have known each other for a long time and trained together in Boca Raton, Florida.
5) Notable alumnus
NFL Media analyst and former NFL running back Heath Evans is also a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, and an alum of King's Academy High School. Evans played in the NFL from 2001-2010 and spent time with the Seahawks, Dolphins, Patriots and Saints.
