Vikings sign the next Antonio Gates?
The Vikings have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Todd Lowber, who has never played organized football.
So why did the Vikings sign him?
Because they obviously see untapped potential. According to Lowber's agent, Jim Ulrich of Enter-Sports Management, Lowber is 6 feet 3, weighs 205 pounds, runs a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and has a 43-inch vertical.
Lowber won the 2006 NCAA Division III men's high jump championship with a jump of 7-0.5 for Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. He also played four seasons of basketball there.
After graduating last year, Lowber has been training to become an NFL receiver, and he was impressive enough in a workout on March 29 that several teams offered him contracts.
"I did a lot of research on the coaching staff and coach (Brad) Childress," Lowber said. "He was with the (Philadelphia) Eagles, and coach (George) Stewart is a great teacher. That really intrigued me.
"And the Vikings like to throw the ball."
Despite his inexperience, Lowber said, he can contribute immediately in the NFL.
"I have a fast learning curve," he said. "Realistically, do I think I can help this team right now? Yeah. You tell me to run this route, and catch the ball, of course I can do it. I don’t think it’ll be a problem."
Ulrich said the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Eagles were among the teams that expressed an interest in his client.
"He's a freakish athlete with unbelievable hands," Ulrich said. "There's no one on par with him athletically in the NFL right now."
So why did the Vikings sign him?
Because they obviously see untapped potential. According to Lowber's agent, Jim Ulrich of Enter-Sports Management, Lowber is 6 feet 3, weighs 205 pounds, runs a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and has a 43-inch vertical.
Lowber won the 2006 NCAA Division III men's high jump championship with a jump of 7-0.5 for Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. He also played four seasons of basketball there.
After graduating last year, Lowber has been training to become an NFL receiver, and he was impressive enough in a workout on March 29 that several teams offered him contracts.
"I did a lot of research on the coaching staff and coach (Brad) Childress," Lowber said. "He was with the (Philadelphia) Eagles, and coach (George) Stewart is a great teacher. That really intrigued me.
"And the Vikings like to throw the ball."
Despite his inexperience, Lowber said, he can contribute immediately in the NFL.
"I have a fast learning curve," he said. "Realistically, do I think I can help this team right now? Yeah. You tell me to run this route, and catch the ball, of course I can do it. I don’t think it’ll be a problem."
Ulrich said the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Eagles were among the teams that expressed an interest in his client.
"He's a freakish athlete with unbelievable hands," Ulrich said. "There's no one on par with him athletically in the NFL right now."
posted by Sean Jensen at 11:40 AM
1 Comments:
i think athletically speaking he must be taught and tested. however, i hope he realizes what the NFL is like for receivers. sure he can run a route or catch a pass, but can he do it with 3 or 4 hungry beasts running at him ready to tear his damn head off. god i hope so cause we need ya bro. GO VIKES
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