EAGAN, Minn. — Charles "Chuck" Demmings started playing football in seventh grade.

But for the cornerback Minnesota drafted 163^rd overall Saturday afternoon, football went from being a hobby to being a passion on April 14, 2022.

"That was the day I surrendered my life to Christ. I understood from that point I was never going to live my life for me again," Demmings told Twin Cities media members via virtual call Saturday. "I was going to do everything I could to serve the person next to me. And what sport do I play? One of the greatest team sports on the planet.

"My passion and my 'why' is to hear God and express His heartbeat in every day," Demmings added. "So when I took that approach not only to life but to the field and my team — teammates and staff of the organization — that's when I really fell in love with it, because I could give more to this game than just my ability to play in my cleats. … How I treat people. How I talk to people. … I became so invested not only in the game but everyone who's involved with it and every adversity that comes with it."

Demmings, who wore a hoodie customed by a loved one with his stats and college photos, is no stranger to adversity — but it's clear the more difficult road to the NFL hasn't affected his zest for life.

He never played football prior to seventh grade, when he joined simply to follow in his older brother's footsteps. He attended John D. Horn High School and played receiver as a freshman before stepping away from the game for two years and returning as a senior to play cornerback. A no-star recruit, Demmings received just one FCS offer: from Stephen F. Austin and Head Coach Colby Carthel.

Called "one of the most intriguing FCS prospects" in this year's draft class by Pro Football Network, Demmings twice led the Lumberjacks in interceptions and passes defensed.

The 6-foot-1, 191-pound Texas native redshirted in 2021 and by 2023 was a full-time starter. Over four active seasons, he totaled 53 tackles, nine interceptions, two tackles for loss and 37 passes defensed.

Demmings flew largely under the radar but received an invitation to the Senior Bowl — as the only FCS defensive back — and the NFL Scouting Combine; at the latter, his traits garnered positive attention. His vertical jump of 42 inches was second best among cornerbacks, and he impressed in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.41 seconds.

"I always grew up working. I always grew up having to hustle," he said. "And wherever God called me to be in life, or whatever platform, I did it with everything I could."

Though Demmings hailed from a small program, he garnered big-time attention from peers.

"Going to the combine … the higher-end guys, SEC guys, Power 4 guys, they were definitely surprised," he said, smiling and naming a number of first- and second-day draft picks who complimented his game. "The first day of the combine, Keionte Scott came up to me and was like, 'Man, I heard you're going to break the vertical record.' It was a funny thing to me because I had never talked to Keionte before that."

Demmings received a 9.10 (out of 10) Relative Athletic Score, which topped this year's position group and ranked 278 out of 3,075 corners since 1987.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler called Demmings "a balanced athlete with length, change-of-direction skills and top-end speed."

"He can do a better job reading the route, instead of just playing the receiver, but he competes with supreme confidence and skillfully tracks the ball to play through the hands," Brugler wrote. "He is more comfortable in press man than zone, although some play-strength concerns show up (in coverage and run support)."

Demmings noted he played for three different defensive coordinators at Stephen F. Austin, which has helped his versatility.

"Throughout my [college] career I went through a couple different schemes, but it gave me a lot of tools in my toolbox," he said. "And one thing I love, I love press man [coverage]. For most of my time at SFA, I was a boundary corner. They believed I was the best press man corner we had, so if I had to follow a guy everywhere on the field, that was my role for the game. If I had to just be boundary corner, that was my role. If I had to be a run support, that was my role.

"Whatever the game plan called for … we just adjusted," Demmings added. "And I pride myself in being very adaptable week-in and week-out, not just being the same player giving the same look."

Throughout the pre-draft process, Demmings was grateful for Minnesota's interest.

Vikings College Scout Blaine Gramer last summer dived into Demmings' 2024 film. He visited SFA to see the corner in-person last August and later joined Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/DBs Coach Gerald Alexander at Demmings' pro day workout.

Demmings recalled Gramer telling him, "You look good in Purple."

"I never forgot that," Demmings said. "I went to the Senior Bowl and [the Vikings] had eyes on me, went to the combine, knew they had eyes on me. … I always say them and it was always good conversation."

Now, it's all come full-circle.

Demmings could barely contain his excitement as he settled the Vikings draft cap on his head and spoke with media members.

"All glory to God," he said. "I am blessed with every breath to be in this position. … It is literally a privilege. I'm super excited. I'm astounded and want to give a big shout-out to everyone who supports the Vikings, who's a part of the staff, the facility, the organization.

"I cannot wait to get started," Demmings added, grinning widely. "I feel like I could run to Minnesota right now."

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