EAGAN, Minn. — It's impossible for Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to talk about football without smiling.

Even after a hot and humid Vikings Training Camp practice, he grins widely throughout this interview, beads of sweat rolling down his nose and dripping silently onto the pavement.

Ingram-Dawkins is entering his second season in Purple; he's committed to his craft and confident in the steps he's taken over the 16 months since Minnesota drafted him in the fifth round.

Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores liked what he saw on tape from Ingram-Dawkins at Georgia, where he lined up at multiple spots within the Bulldogs front seven. Though Ingram-Dawkins played just 250 defensive snaps in 2025, Flores similarly moved him around.

He recorded 12 defensive tackles as a rookie, as well as two pressures, a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage and his first career sack, a takedown of Browns QB Dillon Gabriel in Week 5. It was a starting point from which Ingram-Dawkins wants to build.

"Last season was, I had a lot of growing up to do. There were a lot of things I had to fix within my game to thrive at the next level. It was a lot for me," he said. "I don't think last season was bad, but I definitely there was a lot of room for improvement, which I'm going to step into this year."

Flores expressed similar sentiments about his debut season, noting he "saw glimpses" of the player he's confident Ingram-Dawkins can be.

"There was a lot of growth from him during that time," Flores echoed. "He learned a lot from his rookie year — what to do, what not to do. How to get the most out of this setting — meeting, walk-throughs, practice — and he's been great."

Ingram-Dawkins asked shortly after the season for a cut-up of every snap he played. He pored over the tape, studying each rep and taking notes on things on successes and areas to change.

"The things I did really well, I want to keep strengthening those things," Ingram-Dawkins said. "And the things I didn't do really well, I want to make up and come back and fix those things, fill in the loose ends.

"Being in different positions wasn't really new for me, but I think it was just being at the next level and a little bit faster pace," Ingram-Dawkins later added. "It was small things for me, like knowing, 'OK, this guy's in motion,' stuff like that. Being able to recognize and anticipate certain things before the snap."

Knowing he might be asked to rush even more from the outside this season and wanting to be as prepared as possible, the 23-year-old also focused on tweaking his diet and training regimen.

Ingram-Dawkins said he decided midseason after "feeling a little heavy" to pay extra attention to his core strength.

"I felt that was a weakness in my game last year," he said. "I tackled a lot with meal prep and doing certain workouts with my trainer, Casser Middleton. I feel like we did really well, and it's paying off here in training camp."

Though he's playing at the same weight (290) as last season, Ingram-Dawkins notices the changes in his body composition.

This summer was spent dialed in to bettering himself on the field, but Ingram-Dawkins also took moments to unplug from the game. How did he mentally reset?

By taking up art.

"I'm definitely into it a lot now," he emphasized.

Ingram-Dawkins admired woodwork a close friend crafted and decided to try his hand at it. Turns out, his talents aren't only on the gridiron.

"I'll go to Home Depot, pick out a square slab, and then I'll look up a picture of something I really want to draw," he explained. "My friend got me into the hobby because he was doing it, and he actually did a few pieces for my house. I was like, 'Man, I'd love to do this in my off time.' "

The art is on hold now, though, as he's back to the training camp grind — and catching attention of fans and teammates alike.

Veteran pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, whom Ingram-Dawkins said he's leaned on immensely to grow his own game, told media members Monday he expects the younger defender to "take a big step forward this year."

"I'm excited to see him play, because these first four or five practices, he's made a play every single day," Van Ginkel said. "He's … eager to learn, and he's truly bringing it on a day-to-day basis. So I think he's going to be a guy to watch this preseason."

Flores expects similar strides.

The Vikings defensive coordinator can be tough on players — "Flo' was really on me last year," Ingram-Dawkins quipped — but they understand and appreciate his recognition of a player's potential and ability to tap into it.

"At first I was like, 'Man, he won't let me breathe.' But as time went on, it was, 'OK, this is how Flo' coaches. He just wants to see the best in me,' " Ingram-Dawkins said. "Me and him have definitely developed our relationship over the time I've been here, and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

"I truly feel like he's one of the better coaches I've had," he added.

Ingram-Dawkins also is grateful to learn from outside linebackers coach Thad Bogardus, assistant defensive line coach Pat Hill and Minnesota's new Defensive Running Game Coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell likes what he's seeing from Ingram-Dawkins and is excited for the way Flores will be able to utilize him during the upcoming season.

"We're trying to run the ball out at that C-D gap out there, and then he's out there setting the edge — that's different. And then his versatility to kick inside," O'Connell said in June. "I don't know if we'll see him get much tighter than maybe a 3, but from a 3-technique all the way out to the edge, that's a really versatile player.

"Then you pair that with what Caleb [Banks] can be from a versatile standpoint, really, from that 4-I/5-technique on down, it's exciting," O'Connell added. "[Ingram-Dawkins] has had a really good spring. And in that year two jump we're hoping [for], it's happening right now."

Flores noted after OTAs and minicamp that Ingram-Dawkins had been stacking positive days — which is exactly what he's doing now.

"He's had a great attitude, and we've really added to his menu," Flores said. "Like I tell all our guys, 'Your role's gonna be what you make it.' If you're playing in one grouping, that's great; it helps our team. But if you're a guy who can play in one, two, three, four groupings like [Joshua] Metellus, like Van Ginkel, we'll give you as much as you can handle."

Ingram-Dawkins is embracing the opportunity and ready for any responsibility that comes his way.

"I'm doing everything day by day," he said. "Everything I do, I'm very intentional with it. Making sure I do it the right way. There's just no time to waste."

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