• Highest-drafted center in Vikings history and only 1st rounder.
• Became the 1st player in Vikings history to start 16 games at center as a rookie. Only the 2nd player in franchise history to start every regular-season game at center as a rookie, as Mick Tingelhoff started all 14 games as a rookie in 1962.
• Part of an offensive line that gave up only 28 sacks in 2019, tied for 5th-fewest in the NFL and tied for the 6th-lowest single-season total in franchise history.
• Named the Rimington Award winner in 2018, honoring the top collegiate center in the country.
• In November 2019, helped give away 250 turkeys with other offensive linemen at The Salvation Army-Citadel Worship and Service Center in St. Paul.
• Earned degree in business supply operations management in 2017 and played the 2018 season as a graduate student.
• Father, Tim, played football at Eastern Washington and Montana State.
• Named the Vikings 2019 Rookie of the Year as part of annual Minnesota Football Honors program.
• The only Vikings center to be drafted in the 1st round, going #18 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
• The 3rd NC State player selected in the 1st round by the Vikings, joining RB Ted Brown in 1979 (#16) and CB Dewayne Washington in 1994 (#18).
• The previously highest-drafted center by the Vikings was Dave Huffman in the 2nd round (#43) in 1979.
• Made his NFL vs. Atlanta on 9/8/19.
• Became the 1st player in Vikings history to start 16 games at center as a rookie. Only the 2nd player in franchise history to start every regular-season game at center as a rookie, as Mick Tingelhoff started all 14 games as a rookie C in 1962.
• Joined Harrison Smith as the only current Vikings to start all 16 games as a rookie for Minnesota.
• Minnesota allowed 0 sacks in 5 total games this season, tying a franchise record. The Vikings allowed 1 sack or fewer in 11 games in 2019, a new single-season franchise record.
• Became just the 3rd rookie C in Vikings history to start a Week 1 game by doing so in his NFL debut vs. Atlanta (9/8). Was also part of a line that did not give up a sack on the day.
• Started at C as the offensive line blocked for Dalvin Cook's career-high 154 rushing yards at Green Bay (9/15).
• Started at C as Minnesota put up 490 yards of offense at NY Giants (10/6).
• Started at C vs. Philadelphia (10/13) as the Vikings offense scored 38 points.
• Started at C at Detroit (10/20) as Minnesota posted 503 total yards of offense, the most since Minnesota racked up 558 total yards vs. Atlanta on 9/28/14, and scored 42 points, the most in a game since Minnesota scored 49 points vs. the New York
was not forced to punt for the first time since the 2004 season.
• Started in 27-23 Vikings win vs. Denver (11/17) as Minnesota scored 27 2nd-half points after being down 20-0 at half.
• Caught a tipped pass to record the 1st reception of his career vs. Detroit (12/8).
• Started at C in the Wild Card win at New Orleans (1/5/20), his NFL postseason debut.
• Started at C and recorded his 2nd-career reception in the Divisional game vs. San Francisco (1/11/20), gaining 2 yards off a deflected pass. The play made him the 1st Vikings offensive lineman with a postseason reception since Ed White vs. Dallas (12/25/71).
• Started 39 of the 48 college games he played, including the final 39 straight.
• Capped college career by earning the Rimington Award as the top center in the country. A semifinalist for the Outland Trophy as a senior, the only center among the semifinalists.
• Consensus All-America and 1st-Team All-ACC as a senior.
• Served as a team captain as a senior and paved the way for the Wolfpack to have a 1,000-yard rusher (1,091 by Reggie Gallaspy), 3,000-yard passer (3,928 by Ryan Finley) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (1,186 by Kelvin Harmon and 1,047 by Jakobi Meyers).
• Awarded 1st-Team All-ACC by media as a junior and honorable mention by the ACC.
• During junior campaign, the Wolfpack's RB Nyheim Hines broke the 1,000-yard mark (1,113), Harmon had 1,017 yards receiving and Finley threw for 3,514 yards.
• Team went 9-4 as a junior and senior, ending season ranked #23 in 2017 following a win over Arizona State in the Sun Bowl.
• During final 3 seasons, he blocked for 3 different 1,000-yard rushers and protected Finley as the QB broke the 3,000-yard mark each year.
• Made transition from TE to OL as a redshirt freshman in 2015.
• Redshirted as a TE during first season in 2014.
• Was an Academic All-District selection as a senior and shared the Wolfpack award.
• Named Academic All-ACC each of his 4 years.
• Led Charlotte Christian to North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association state titles in 2012 and 2013 as a junior and senior.
• Hauled in 12 receiving TDs as a prep, 6 of those as a senior.
• Ranked as #58 TE in nation by Scout.com and #54 by ESPN.
• Standout baseball catcher.
