Letroy Guion surprised many when he decided to enter the NFL draft.
The defensive tackle from Florida State had started only 14 of 32 games in three seasons and had 66 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His collegiate career ended on less-than-auspicious note as he was among 36 FSU football players suspended for the Music City Bowl last Dec. 31 because of an academic cheating scandal.
On top of that, Guion failed to impress at the NFL Scouting Combine and had the worst 10-yard times of any defensive tackle. A quadriceps strain kept him from completing agility tests.
The Vikings, however, selected Guion in the fifth round of last month's draft. Guion admits that off-the-field matters caused him to make a decision that likely came a year early.
"When we grew up, we didn't have everything and now we struggle," Guion said. "That was the reason why I came out because I had family issues in my household that needed to be taken care of. I came out because I felt like my potential and everything would be good enough to play in the NFL."
Guion, who is 6-4, 303, likely will open training camp behind Kevin Williams and Ellis Wyms on the depth chart. He doesn't appear big enough to be considered a candidate to step in and backup Pro Bowl nose tackle Pat Williams.
Asked where Guion might fit, Vikings coach Brad Childress said: "I think we assess that when he comes in the door and see what an ideal weight is. It doesn't necessarily have to be 300 pounds. He may move around better if he is 294 or 295. Big is not necessarily better for us. We just want to make sure he can handle the weight that he has."
Childress and his coaching staff got a chance to look at Guion this month during a three-day rookie minicamp. Guion, for one, knows that bulking up will be key to his development.
"I have to add 15 to 20 pounds, my body can take it," he said. "I've got a big frame and I'm sure that it will develop out well."
Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
i seen this and thought i would share with my Viking Brothers!
Add former Oakland and MVP quarterback Rich Gannon to the people at Winter Park who look for quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to have a great 2008 season. "I'm excited. I got a chance to go out there a little bit, and I watched -- really, I wanted to
I just joined this and it's fun, games every 2 day's and lots of training to build your player up after you create them, tons of teams to play. come and join it's free and fun.
I heard this the other day and it was so funny to me i felt i should share it.
A teacher in a classroom asked her 2nd grade class, how many of them were Packers fans; well, all of the hands went up except for Suzy. So the teacher asked Suzy, why she didn't raise her hand. And she said because my parents are
(POLL)
I'm bored with T-Jack and Booty, and I'm really bored with those boring packer posts, so I'm asking which backup Viking linebacker will have the greatest impact on the Purple this coming season including special teams. I'm going to leave off Vinny Cirutu, and Heath Farwell because I consider them strickly special teams players.
I have begun to notice an influx of Packers fans coming onto OUR board, and insulting every player and position on our team. They are even going as far as insulting our AD, and Jarred Allen. Players that DONT even deserve to be mention in a sentence with "Bad" and "overated".
By spending more than $70 million on new talent, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is telling Coach Brad Childress that his third season better include a playoff berth. Unless Tavaris Jackson doesn't improve a lick, the Vikings have the team to beat in the NFC North. If Jackson continues to make strides along with runner