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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Hitting the Field at the Combine: DE, DT & LB

The tone for the third day of timing and testing drills of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine will turn defensive.

Sunday's session features defensive ends, defensive tackles and linebackers who will showcase their abilities for personnel departments and coaches in televised workouts. Players who could be a defensive end in a 4-3 or outside linebacker in a 3-4 are designated as edge rushers.

A pair of former Eden Prairie stars — Blake Cashman from the Gophers and Ryan Connelly from the Badgers — are scheduled to participate with the linebackers.

View NFL Scouting Combine drills with quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends on Saturday.

The following 94 players are scheduled to participate Sunday:

Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, Florida Atlantic

Al-Shaair, the Conference USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, tore his ACL in October.

Otaro Alaka, ILB, Texas A&M

Alaka had three consecutive seasons with at least 74 tackles and 9.0 or more for losses to cap his career with the Aggies.

Dakota Allen, LB, Texas Tech

Allen spent three of his four collegiate seasons with the Red Raiders, but went to East Mississippi Community College as a sophomore. The school is featured on the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U.

Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky

Allen, a projected top-five pick, the edge rusher tallied 31.5 sacks in 51 career games for the Wildcats.

Zach Allen, DE, Boston College

Allen's tackles went from 36 in 2016 to 100 in 2017 to 61 in 2018, but he had at least 6.0 sacks in each of those seasons.

Bryson Allen-Williams, LB, South Carolina

Allen-Williams had 176 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 49 games for South Carolina, despite injuries in 2017 and 2018.

Jeff Allison, LB, Fresno State

Allison ranks 10th in school history with 279 career tackles.

Ben Banogu, EDGE, TCU

Banogu ranked 17th in FBS with 1.4 tackles for loss per game in 2018 (18 in 13 games). He finished with 49 tackles for loss and 22 sacks in 40 career games.

Cody Barton, LB, Utah

A veteran of 50 games at Utah, Barton had 23.5 career tackles for loss with 9.0 sacks in college.

Terry Beckner, DT, Missouri

Beckner led the Tigers with 9.5 tackles for loss as he earned Second-Team All-SEC honors as a senior.

Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Bosa, a projected top pick, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors despite playing in just three games in 2018. He missed most of the season with an injury.

Jordan Brailford, EDGE, Oklahoma State

A First-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2018, Brailford led the conference with 10 sacks.

Austin Bryant, EDGE, Clemson

Bryant recorded 153 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 20.0 sacks and won two national titles at Clemson.

Isaiah Buggs, DT, Alabama

Buggs had 51 tackles in each of his two seasons with the Crimson Tide, but his tackles for loss went from 4.0 to 13.5, and his sacks went from 1.5 to 9.5 from 2017 to 2018.

Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

Burns had 23 sacks and 38.5 tackles for loss in three seasons with the Seminoles.

Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington

Burr-Kirven became the first player to be named both the Pac-12's Scholar of the Year for football and the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

A consensus All-American, Bush had 79 tackles and 5.0 sacks as a junior.

Malik Carney, EDGE, North Carolina

Carney was suspended for four games in 2018 but still piled up 12 tackles for loss for the second straight season.

Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota

Cashman, an Eden Prairie native, led the Gophers with 104 tackles (62 solo), 2.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in 2018.

Demarcus Christmas, DT, Florida State

Christmas totaled 105 tackles (48 solo), 10.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks and 13 pass breakups in 52 games.

L.J. Collier, DE, TCU

Collier went from 4.5 sacks in each of the 2016 and 2017 seasons to 11.5 in 2018. He had 42 of 82 career tackles with the Horned Frogs this fall.

John Cominsky, DE, Charleston

Cominsky ranked second in Division II in 2017 with 2.3 tackles for loss per game. He was 16th in the category with 1.7 per game in 2018, bringing his career total to 48.5 in 42 games. Cominsky had 16 sacks and 10 pass breakups.

Te'Von Coney, ILB, Notre Dame

Coney had 116 tackles (56 solo) and 12.5 for loss in 2017 and followed with 123 (63 solo) and 9.5 sacks in 2018.

Ryan Connelly, LB, Wisconsin

Connelly hails from Eden Prairie and had 251 career tackles for the Badgers.

Byron Cowart, DE, Maryland

Cowart transferred to the Terrapins for his final season after opening his college career at Auburn. He had 38 tackles (5.0 for loss) and two interceptions.

Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan

Crosby ended his college career ranked second in school history with 41 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.

Deshaun Davis, ILB, Auburn

Davis ranked 52nd in FBS with 8.9 tackles per game in 2018 when he had 15 of his 29 career tackles for loss.

Jamal Davis, EDGE, Akron

Davis led the Zips with 16 tackles for loss and was a First-Team All-MAC selection.

Tyrel Dodson, LB, Texas A&M

Dodson had 202 career tackles and four interceptions in 39 games for the Aggies.

T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin

Edwards had at least 80 tackles in his four seasons at Wisconsin and tallied 367 total for the Badgers.

Emeke Egbule, LB, Houston

Egbule scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in his college career.

Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson

A three-year starter, Ferrell had 166 tackles, 50 tackles for loss and 27.0 sacks in his Clemson career.

Greg Gaines, DT, Washington

Gaines totaled 148 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks and three pass breakups in 54 games with the Huskies.

Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan

A projected top-10 pick, Gary had 23 sacks in three seasons for the Wolverines.

Joe Giles-Harris, LB, Duke

Giles-Harris racked up a career-high 125 tackles (71 solo) and 4.5 sacks in 2017. Over nine games in 2018, he totaled 80 tackles (46 solo).

Kevin Givens, DT, Penn State

A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Givens stayed in-state for college. He recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks as a redshirt junior in 2018.

Carl Granderson, EDGE, Wyoming

Granderson totaled 77 of his 172 career tackles and 9.5 of his 17.5 sacks in 2017.

Gerri Green, EDGE, Mississippi State

Green totaled 161 tackles (59 solo), 20.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, six pass breakups and three interceptions, including one he returned 84 yards for a touchdown, in 52 games.

Dre Greenlaw, LB, Arkansas

Greenlaw started nine games as a senior in 2018 and totaled 80 tackles (38 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.

Porter Gustin, EDGE, Southern Cal

After playing just four games due to injury as a junior, Gustin suited up for six contests in 2018 as a senior. Despite limited action, the Utah native totaled 28 tackles (18 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and a pass broken up.

Nate Hall, LB, Northwestern

Hall started nine games during his senior campaign in 2018, recording 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions, which tied for the team high.

Terez Hall, LB, Missouri

Hall started 13 games for Mizzou in 2018, during which he totaled 74 tackles (46 solo), 9.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and a pass broken up.

Terrill Hanks, OLB, New Mexico State

Hanks ranked 10th in FBs with 11.2 tackles per game in 2018 and finished his career 101 or more in three consecutive seasons to total 396 in 46 games.

Chase Hansen, LB, Utah

Hansen started 13 games for the Utes in 2018, totaling 114 tackles (70 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, four passes broken up and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He received First-Team All-Pac 12 honors.

Trysten Hill, DT, UCF

In 12 games for the Golden Knights, Hill totaled 36 tackles (20 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He also recorded two rushes for one yard and a touchdown on offense.

Justin Hollins, EDGE, Oregon

Hollins was one of six Oregon defenders to start all 13 games in 2018. His five forced fumbled ranked fourth in FBS.

Albert Huggins, DT, Clemson

Huggins recorded 23 total tackles (16 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 15 games for Clemson in 2018.

Joe Jackson, DE, Miami

Jackson started 12 of 13 games played for Miami in 2018, totaling 47 tackles (19 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and nine passes broken up.

CeCe Jefferson, EDGE, Florida

Jefferson started eight of 11 games played for Florida in 2018. He totaled 18 tackles (eight solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one fumble recovery and two passes broken up. As a junior in 2017, he tallied a career-high 4.5 sacks.

Jalen Jelks, EDGE, Oregon

Jelks had 59 tackles in 2017 and followed with 57 in 2018. He had 15 of his 29.5 career tackles for loss and 6.5 of his 15 sacks in 2017.

Darryl Johnson, EDGE, North Carolina A&T

Over 12 games for the Bulldogs, Johnson totaled 50 tackles (31 solo), 19 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes broken up.

Gary Johnson, LB, Texas

Johnson started all 13 games played for Texas in 2018, leading the team with 90 tackles (58 solo). He racked up 16.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass broken up.

Dre'Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State

Jones started 14 games for the Buckeyes in 2018 and totaled 43 tackles (26 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes broken up.

Jordan Jones, LB, Kentucky

Jones started all 12 games played for Kentucky as a junior in 2018. He totaled 68 tackles (31 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and four passes broken up.

Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida

Joseph started 11 of 13 games played for the Gators in 2018. He recorded 93 tackles (40 solo), 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and five passes broken up.

Kingsley Keke, DT, Texas A&M

Keke had 105 of his 150 career tackles and 13.5 of his 21 career TFL in the past two seasons. He had a career-best 7.0 sacks in 2018.

Joseph Kendall, LB, Clemson

Voted a season-long team captain, Kendall started all 14 games for Clemson in 2018. He recorded 81 tackles (38 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and one pass broken up.

Tre Lamar, LB, Clemson

Over 14 games for Clemson in 2018, Lamar totaled 80 tackles (39 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception returned for 43 yards and one pass broken up.

Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

Lawrence played 13 games for Clemson in 2018 and recorded 37 tackles (17 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three passes broken up.

Jonathan Ledbetter, DE, Georgia

Ledbetter increased his tackles from 24 in 2016 to 38 in 2017 and 56 in 2018. He totaled 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

David Long, ILB, West Virginia

Long ranked seventh in FBS in solo tackles per game (6.3) and tackles for loss per game (1.6) in 2018.

Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M

Mack totaled 108 tackles (52 solo), 27 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and two pass breakups in 51 games.

Christian Miller, EDGE, Alabama

Miller played 14 games for Alabama in 2018 after missing all but four games the previous season with an arm injury. He totaled 36 tackles (16 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and one pass broken up.

Shareef Miller, EDGE, Penn State

Miller started 12 of 13 games played for Penn State in 2018. He recorded 41 tackles (25 solo), 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His .58 sacks per game ranked 10th in the Big Ten.

Anthony Nelson, DE, Iowa

Nelson ranked 20th in FBS with .73 sacks per game in 2018. He totaled 119 tackles, 31 TFL, 23 sacks and six pass breakups in 39 games with the Hawkeyes.

Bobby Okereke, ILB, Stanford

Okereke totaled 96 tackles and 7.5 for loss in each of the past two seasons. He also had three consecutive seasons with at least 3.0 sacks.

Ed Oliver, DL, Houston

Oliver became the first three-time All-American in Cougars history in 2018 when he had 14.5 tackles for loss despite missing four games with an injury. Rather than go for a fourth, the 2017 Outland Trophy winner opted to declare for the NFL Draft.

Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas

Omenihu totaled 18 of his 30.5 career tackles for loss and 9.5 of his 17 sacks in 2018. He ranked 29th in FBS in sacks per game and 31st in tackles for loss per game.

Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida

Polite led FBS with six forced fumbles, tying a school record, and added 11 sacks in 2018 before opting to forgo his senior season. The edge rusher finished his career with the Gators with 78 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in 32 games.

Germaine Pratt, ILB, North Carolina State

After missing 2016 because of shoulder surgery, Pratt shifted from safety to linebacker. He had 69 tackles (5.5 for loss) in 2017 and 104 (10.5 for loss with 6.0 sacks) in 2018.

Wyatt Ray, EDGE, Boston College

After posting 7.5 sacks in his first 37 career games, Ray notched 9.0 in 12 games as a senior.

Dontavius Russell, DT, Auburn

Russell totaled 153 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks in 53 games with the Tigers.

Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois

From 2017-18, Saunders totaled 129 tackles, 25 TFL and 14 sacks. He also had one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown.

Chris Slayton, DT, Syracuse

Slayton started 42 of the 49 games he played and totaled 107 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Cameron Smith, ILB, USC

According to NCAA statistics, Smith ranked 15th in FBS with 5.8 solo tackles per game in 2018 (58 in 10 games). He finished his career with 211 solo tackles in 47 games.

Sutton Smith, EDGE, Northern Illinois

Smith had 56 tackles for loss and 29 of his 30 career sacks in the past two seasons for the Huskies.

Ty Summers, LB, TCU

Summers totaled 319 tackles (168 solo), 23.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 11 passes defended and two interceptions in 51 career games for the Horned Frogs.

Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State

Sweat ranked 10th in FBS with .81 sacks per game in 2017 and sixth in the category with .88 per game in 2018. In 26 games with the Bulldogs, Sweat totaled 22 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss.

Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU

Takitaki totaled 237 tackles (143 solo), 32.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and five passes defended in four seasons with the Cougars.

Jahlani Tavai, LB, Hawaii

Tavai totaled 391 tackles (220 solo), 41 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, seven passes defended and two interceptions. He forced three fumbles and recovered three in 47 games.

Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame

Tillery totaled 135 tackles (70 solo), 24.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 50 career games.

Drue Tranquill, OLB, Notre Dame

Tranquill recorded three consecutive seasons with 80 or more tackles and went from 2.0 for loss in 2016 to 10.5 in 2017 and 9.0 in 2018.

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB, Wisconsin

The Rock Valley, Iowa, native began his college career at South Dakota in 2015 and spent the next season at Iowa Western before joining the Badgers in 2017. He totaled 99 tackles (64 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, five pass breakups and two interceptions in 27 games for Wisconsin.

D'Andre Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Walker totaled 113 tackles (65 solo), 27.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 54 games.

Armon Watts, DT, Arkansas

Most of Watts' production occurred in 2018 when he had 49 tackles (25 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Devin White, LB, LSU

White was selected as the Team MVP, a permanent team captain and as the Butkus Award winner in 2018 after totaling 123 tackles (61 solo), 3.0 sacks, six passes defended and three forced fumbles in his junior season.

Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

Wilkins totaled 250 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 56 quarterback pressures, 16 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 59 career games (45 starts). He was a three-time All-American, garnering unanimous designation in 2018, three-time All-ACC selection and the second four-time All-ACC Academic selection in school history.

Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

Williams, who redshirted in 2016, increased his production notably from 2017 to 2018 when he upped his tackles totals from 20 to 71, his tackles for loss from 6.5 to 19.5 and his sacks from 2.0 to 8.0. He won the Outland Trophy (top interior lineman on offense or defense) and was a unanimous All-American.

Gerald Willis III, DT, Miami

Willis ranked 13th in FBS with 1.5 tackles for loss per game in 2018. He had 4.0 sacks and totaled 59 tackles in his final season with the Hurricanes.

Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama

Wilson's production increased with his playing time. He totaled 71 tackles (36 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two interceptions in 2018. Wilson had a career-best four interceptions in 2017.

Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan

Winovich totaled 184 tackles (72 solo), 44.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks in 44 games for the Wolverines.

Daniel Wise, DT, Kansas

Wise totaled 150 tackles (105 solo), 43.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and three pass breakups in 47 games for the Jayhawks.

Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State

Wren boosted his tackles from 21 in 2017 to 43 in 2018. He totaled 14.5 TFL and 3.0 sacks for the Sun Devils.

Oshane Ximines, EDGE, Old Dominion

Ximines ranked fifth in FBS by averaging a sack per game (12) in 2018. He finished with 33 sacks, 51.5 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles and 12 pass breakups in 49 games.

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