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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

5 Things to Know About New Vikings WR Olabisi Johnson

EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings grabbed a pair of wide receivers in Round 7 of the 2019 NFL Draft, including Colorado State's Olabisi Johnson.

Minnesota used the 247th selection to pick Johnson, who played four seasons at Colorado State.

In 2018, Johnson recorded 54 catches for 796 yards and four touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams for the Rams, returning 12 punts for 48 yards.

Johnson finished his collegiate career with 125 receptions for 2,019 yards and 11 touchdowns.

View photos of Vikings new WR Olabisi Johnson from Colorado State who was selected in the seventh round.

Here are five things to know about the Vikings newest receiver:

1. In good company

Johnson marks the sixth player out of Colorado State to be selected by Minnesota. He joins RB Oscar Reed (167th overall) and DE Mark Mullaney (25th overall), who were drafted in 1968 and 1975, respectively.

P Mike Deutsch (240th) and RB Ron Harris (299th) were drafted in 1978, and DE Gary Paulson (372nd) was picked in 1976.

2. Proud of his heritage

Johnson's father, Bode, is Nigerian; his mother, Traci, is from Iowa. But interestingly, Johnson's birth name wasn't given to him by his parents.

According to a **2017 article by the Coloradoan’s Kelly Lyell**, Olabisi Johnson was named by Ola Fadeyi, an elder in Denver's Nigerian community. Johnson wrote:

Johnson … is proud of his name, which means "to bring prosperity to your family," and his Nigerian heritage. He traveled to the African nation several times as a child to visit his grandparents, aunts and uncles and their families.

Johnson is one of five players on the Vikings roster — and two selected in 2019 (tackle Olisaemeka Udoh) — who are of Nigerian descent. Brothers Ifeadi and Tito Odenigbo, and 2018 draft pick Ade Aruna are the other three.

3. Multi-sport athlete

Johnson excelled at the high school level in more than just football.

In addition to earning three varsity letters in football, he did the same in track-and-field at Bear Creek High School. In 2014, he won the Class 5A Colorado 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.34 seconds. He holds the school record in the 4x100-meter relay and earned First-Team All-Jeffco honors in 2013 and 2014.

4. Combine competitor

Johnson participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where his time of 6.88 seconds in the 3-cone drill was good enough for fifth-best among wide receivers.

He clocked in at 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash, reached 38 inches in the vertical jump and leapt 10 feet, 4 inches in the broad jump. Johnson lifted 14 reps of 225 pounds at the bench press station.

5. Colorado native

Johnson grew up in Lakewood, Colorado, where he attended Bear Creek High School and earned First-Team All-Colorado honors as a senior in 2014.

Johnson is the only Colorado native currently on Minnesota's roster.

The Vikings will face Johnson's home-state Denver Broncos in Week 11 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

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