A perceived lack of speed might be what kept South Dakota State wide receiver Jake Wieneke from being drafted, but the newest member of the Minnesota Vikings certainly isn’t lacking in the production department.
Wieneke, a Maple Grove, Minnesota native, is one of the most decorated football players in SDSU history.
- 4-time All-Missouri Valley Conference
- 4-time All-American, including First Team honors in 2015
- All-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdown catches at SDSU and in the Missouri Valley Conference
- Topped 100 yards receiving 25 times
- 1,472 receiving yards in 2015 is the conference record
His pure statistics are staggering: 288 catches for 5,157 yards and 59 touchdowns.
Dear @Vikings,
You're gonna love @jake_wieneke.
Sincerely, Jackrabbit Football. #GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/1tqFLRi2eK
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) April 29, 2018
“I’m excited to help them,” Wieneke told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader after signing as an undrafted free agent on Saturday. “My goal is to come in and earn a spot, whether it’s special teams, as a wide receiver, practice squad, whatever.”
We wrote about Wieneke last year, calling him one of the biggest recruiting misses in the Jerry Kill era at the University of Minnesota.
“Kid is a stud,” ex-Vikings linebacker Ben Leber told BMTN last August. “His game definitely translates but he’s relied on his big body to gain position rather than quickness and route running. But I believe he will have a great chance to be successful in the league.”
WOW!! The Lord works in mysterious ways, but trust His plan and you will Prosper!! I dreamt of this day. I prayed for this day. And now I can say, I’m officially a part of the @Vikings organization! #SKOL #HometownTeam pic.twitter.com/QW5TPOBoHh
— Jake Wieneke (@jake_wieneke) April 29, 2018
The beauty of Wieneke going undrafted and landing in Minnesota is that he has a chance to take the same path that Adam Thielen has.
Thielen, a Detroit Lakes, Minnesota native, went undrafted out of Division 2 Minnesota State-Mankato and has turned himself into one of the best receivers in the league.
