James Lynch

• 2019 1st-Team All-American (Walter Camp, USA Today, The Athletic) and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after setting a Baylor single-season record with 13.5 sacks.

• Helped resurgence of Baylor program that improved from 1-11 campaign in 2017 to a bowl win over Vanderbilt in 2018 and peaked with an 11-3 season in 2019, including an OT loss in Big 12 title game against Oklahoma and Sugar Bowl loss to Georgia.

OFF THE FIELD

• Father, Tim, played LB at the University of Nebraska. Brother, Dustin, played at Texas State.

• Middle name is Husker, in honor of his dad's career there.

• Partnered with Uplifting Athletes during the 2020 NFL Combine to raise money for the rare disease community.

• 2019 1st-Team All-American (Walter Camp, USA Today, The Athletic) and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after setting a Baylor single-season record with 13.5 sacks.

• Helped resurgence of Baylor program that improved from 1-11 campaign in 2017 to a bowl win over Vanderbilt in 2018 and peaked with an 11-3 season in 2019, including an OT loss in Big 12 title game against Oklahoma and Sugar Bowl loss to Georgia.

OFF THE FIELD

• Father, Tim, played LB at the University of Nebraska. Brother, Dustin, played at Texas State.

• Middle name is Husker, in honor of his dad's career there.

• Partnered with Uplifting Athletes during the 2020 NFL Combine to raise money for the rare disease community.

PRO

• Drafted by Minnesota in the 4th Round (#130) of the 2020 NFL Draft with a pick acquired in a trade with New Orleans.

• The 5th Vikings player drafted from Baylor and the 1st since LB Ray Berry in 1987 and a pair of RBs, Alfred Anderson and Allen Rice, in 1984.

COLLEGE

• Set a Baylor record and finished 5th in the FBS with 13.5 sacks as a junior in 2019. Added 19.5 TFL (3rd most in Baylor history).

• Played for Matt Rhule at Baylor, the current head coach of the Carolina Panthers, who play at the Vikings on 11/29/20.

• 2019 honors included 1st-Team All-American, 1st-Team All-Big 12, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Texas College Player of the Year (DCTF).

• Finished Baylor career with 27 starts in 38 games, had 33.5 career TFL, 22.0 sacks (Baylor record) and 3 blocked kicks.

• Helped lead Baylor to a 11-3 record and a berth in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2019.

• Led Baylor with 5.5 sacks and 9 TFL as a sophomore in 2018, earning 2nd-Team All-Big 12 honors.

• Played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2017 as a reserve DL and led all Big 12 freshman with 3.0 sacks on the season.

PREP

• A 3-time All-District choice at Round Rock (Texas) High as a DL and TE. Round Rock is near Austin.

• Racked up 46 tackles, 14 TFL, 8.0 sacks, 3 PBU, 3 FR and 1 FF as a senior in 2016.

• Earned District Defensive Lineman of the Year and 2nd-Team All-Central Texas as a junior in 2015.