EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings added an intriguing prospect to their running backs group during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Minnesota used the 198^th overall pick to tab former Wake Forest speedster Demond Claiborne, who led the Demon Deacons in rushing each of the past three seasons.

Claiborne totaled 558 carries for 2,599 yards and 26 touchdowns over his collegiate career. He also added 55 catches for 424 receiving yards and two TDs through the air, and he contributed to special teams as a returner. On 22 kickoffs, he averaged 26.3 return yards; he fielded 10 and 11 in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and he ran one back for a score in both campaigns.

NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein called Claiborne "a twitched-up, elusive slasher who can turn minimal gains into explosive runs."

Here are five things to know about the Vikings new running back:

1. He's got some wheels

Claiborne impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds, good enough for third fastest in his position group this year. (Arkansas' Mike Washington, Jr., clocked in at 4.33, and Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love had a 4.36).

According to Relative Athletic Score's stats, Claiborne scored a 9.88 out of 10 for his 40 time and an 8.70 out of 10 in the 20-yard split (2.59 seconds). RAS gave him a composite speed grade of "great."

Claiborne was a sprinter on his high school track-and-field team, winning the 2021 Virginia Class AA 100-meter dash title — and setting a Class AA record — with a time of 10.67 seconds. He finished second in the 200.

2. Big star at a small school

Claiborne grew up in the small town of Aylett, Virginia, and attended King William High School, which had an enrollment of fewer than 700 students.

He played on varsity as a freshman (running back and wide receiver); as a sophomore, he earned 2019 Region AA Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-State honors after racking up 1,318 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns.

Claiborne recorded 42 carries for 522 yards in a pandemic-shortened junior season. He served as a team captain during his senior campaign and helped lead King William to a 13-1 finish and the program's second state title. He impressed during that final season with a whopping 2,946 rushing yards and 52 touchdowns (47 rushing, four receiving and a kickoff return). In the state title game, he posted 242 rushing yards and 109 receiving yards.

3. Grateful for mother's sacrifice

Claiborne's mother, Tomeka, worked three jobs to provide for him and his four brothers — including twin brother Damien — and did whatever she could to fulfill her sons' needs.

Claiborne "swore to himself" at a young age that he would work hard to get Tomeka out of such a difficult situation.

"That's still definitely a big part of my life," he said leading into his senior season at Wake Forest. "It's the driving point in my life to not let her outwork me."

In another interview with *North State Journal*, Claiborne said the following:

"Ma Dukes is gonna outwork me every time, but I ain't gonna let it stop me from continuing to try to reach that goal. I mean, my mom raised five boys, so her story is just a little different. Regardless, she's gonna be the hardest working person I've ever come in contact with, so I don't know if I'll ever reach that goal, but it's not gonna stop me from trying to."

4. Not taking experience for granted

When Claiborne took the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine, he initially had just one reporter — Sam Brown of Chat Sports — waiting to speak with him; a second later joined. (The running backs' media sessions, along with those of the QBs and WRs, were scheduled on the second-to-last day of availability when several media members have already departed Indianapolis.)

NFL media personality Kay Adams interviewed Claiborne in March on her Up and Adams podcast and asked about the experience, and he maintained an authentically positive attitude.

"I'm grateful for those two reporters and being able to have that conversation with those guys," Claiborne told Adams. "There were so many [athletes] who were at home wishing to talk to one reporter, and they were talking to their family or coach about how they should be at the combine — and I was there. Just being able to understand, 'Hey, my story's been my story.' I've been underrated in a lot of ways. Those will be the first two guys when I retire that I reach out to write a story or write a report on it.

"I understand how it is, and I'm grateful to be able to just be at the combine," he added with a smile.

5. Proud of country roots

Ask Claiborne about his hometown, and he'll give you one word — maybe multiple times.

"Country, country, country," he told North State Journal. "Really country. We've got cows at my [high] school, chickens at my school, turkeys at my school.

"Growing up in that environment definitely was cool," Claiborne added, "but those country folks — they teach you how to work and go get it. That's definitely something that's embedded in me, and I'm ready to continue to roll with how I was taught coming from the country."

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