The Vikings **announced the signing** of cornerback Terrell Sinkfield on Thursday.

Sinkfield spent the 2016 offseason with the Vikings as a wide receiver but has transitioned to cornerback, a position he had experience with in high school before moving to receiver at Northern Iowa. He **participated in defensive back drills** during the Minnesota Gophers Pro Day earlier this month.

The 26-year-old was released during roster reductions before the season and signed by the BC Lions of the CFL last September. Sinkfield caught 16 passes for 297 yards (18.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns and added five rushes for 51 yards with the Lions.

Sinkfield originally joined the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in April 2013 and spent time with two other teams – Green Bay and Buffalo – before being waived by the Giants on Aug. 25, 2013. In 2014, the Minnesota native helped the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL to a Grey Cup appearance. During that season, he recorded 69 catches for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns while adding 132 rushing yards on 28 carries.

Here are five things to know about Sinkfield:

1. Sinkfield has speed

Although he didn't receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, Sinkfield turned plenty of heads at the University of Minnesota Pro Day on March 4, 2013, when his 40-yard dash was manually clocked at 4.19 seconds.

Sinkfield's time has been debated. Vikings college scout Scott Studwell, who also timed Sinkfield at the Pro Day, told the* ****Pioneer Press*** at the time that the receiver did not break the 4.3 mark.

As reference, two-time Super Bowl champion and eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at the 1989 NFL Combine. Running back Chris Johnson's official record of 4.24 seconds (2008 combine) was recently broken by 2017 NFL Draft prospect John Ross. The Washington wide receiver clocked in at 4.22 seconds.

Although Sinkfield's exact time is disputed, he has speed.

2. Vikings connection

Sinkfield had some experience with the Vikings prior to spending the 2016 offseason with the team. Leading up to the 2013 Pro Day dash, Sinkfield trained under former Vikings assistant strength and conditioning coach Mark Ellis, who later co-founded GameSpeed Sports Academy in Eden Prairie with former Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson. Ellis studied a handful of the fastest 40s ever recorded at the NFL Combine and worked with Sinkfield's technique to further enhance the receiver's natural ability.

3. University of Northern Iowa alum

As a senior at Northern Iowa, Sinkfield recorded 43 catches for 499 yards and four touchdowns.

In Northern Iowa's history, 32 alumni have gone on to the NFL, including former defensive tackle James Jones, former cornerback Benny Sapp and former quarterback Kurt Warner and Cardinals running back David Johnson. Sapp played for the Vikings in 2008-09 and for part of the 2011 season.

4. Not the first

Sinkfield will not be the first CFL player to join the Vikings roster in recent years. Wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux had a brief stint with Minnesota in 2011, before spending time with Washington and the New York Jets. Arceneaux joined the BC Lions of the CFL in 2013. Linebacker Brian Peters, cornerback Jalil Carter and defensive end Caesar Rayford spent the 2015 offseason and training camp with the Vikings after playing in the CFL.

5. Hometown proud

Born on Dec. 10, 1990, Sinkfield is a native of Minnetonka, Minnesota. He attended Hopkins High School, where he played running back and cornerback before changing to wide receiver for his college career. While at Hopkins, Sinkfield received an Honorable Mention listing on the 2008 AP Minnesota All-State Team.