Vikings Sign UDFA David Reese II
Zeke Warren-Weigmann
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Looking to further shore up their linebacking depth, the Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday, August 26th, that they have signed rookie linebacker David Reese II. A native of Farmington, Michigan, Resse spent his four-year FBS career at the University of Florida, during which he played 46 games for the Gators, starting 38 of them. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Reese was picked up by the Carolina Panthers. However, despite being with the team for their virtual offseason and the beginning of camp, Resse was released by the Panthers this past weekend, leaving him teamless until given a second chance by the Vikings.
While it is true that Minnesota boasts one of the most impenetrable linebacking corps in the league, headlined by such talents as pro-bowlers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr, they lack any meaningful depth at the position, especially after injuries to the majority of their backup linebackers with any NFL experience, including 2017 4th round draft pick Ben Gedeon, 2019 5th round draft pick Cameron Smith, and recently signed journeyman Quentin Poling.
The Vikings have reinforced their linebacking core to some extent in recent weeks, notably with the signing of former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Hardy Nickerson Jr, but still need significant help at the position. Apart from Nickerson and fourth-year player Eric Wilson, all other backup linebackers are rookies, with Vikings fourth round draft pick out of the University of Oregon Troy Dye, and undrafted free agents Jordan Fehr out of Appalachian State and Blake Lynch out of Baylor University occupying prominent spots on the roster. Reese will compete with Fehr, Lynch, and Nickerson for a spot on the 2020 Vikings.
In order to make space for Reese on the 80-man training camp roster, the Vikings have cut safety Brian Cole II. A team captain during his 2019 senior season at Mississippi State University, Cole was selected by the Vikings with the 249th pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Despite showing enough promise during his time at Mississippi State to warrant one of Minnesota’s 15 2020 draft picks, Cole was cut from the Vikings roster on August 26th, and remains a free agent at press time. He is the first member of the 2020 draft class to be cut from the team.