Adam Thielen

Adam Thielen (born August 22, 1990) is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013.

High School

Born the son of Pete and Jayne Thielen, Adam attended Detroit Lakes High School where he participated in three sports (football, basketball and golf). He helped lead the Lakers to a 9-1 season in football and was an all-conference and all-state selection in his senior season. He also was a member of Detroit Lakes golf team who won the state championship while Thielen was a senior.^[1]

College career

Minnesota State

After redshirting the 2008 season at Minnesota State, Thielen caught 21 passes and a touchdown as a freshman in 2009. In 2010, he led the team with 686 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. In 2011 and 2012, he became the main target for Minnesota State's passing attack and was the team's starting kick and punt returner. He finished near the top of several career receiving categories after his four years at MSU including finishing second in receiving yards (2,674), second in receptions (192) and third in touchdown catches (19). He also tallied a career-high 167 receiving yards against Southwest Minnesota State (10/13/12). He notched five 100-yard receiving games as a Maverick. During the 2012 season, Thielen helped MSU to a 13-1 record, as the Mavericks advanced to the NCAA Semi Finals. He led MSU's receiving corps with 74 receptions, for a total of 1,176 yards and eight touchdowns. For his efforts, Thielen was named NSIC South Division All-NSIC First Team, the Daktronics Super Region #3 Second Team and Don Hansen Super Region Three Second Team.

Professional career

Pre Draft

At his pro day, Thielen ran a 40 yard dash in 4.46 seconds.^[2]

Minnesota Vikings

After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, Thielen attended a rookie tryout and evaluation session at Winter Park with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings liked what they saw and on the following Monday after the minicamp took place, they signed Thielen to a contract. Thielen was released by the Vikings on August 31, 2013 (along with 18 others) to get to a 53 man roster^[3] and signed to the practice squad the next day.

In the Vikings 2014 preseason opener vs. the Oakland Raiders, Thielen had one catch for 15 yards and three punt returns, including one 26-yard return.^[4] Thielen was one of the 53 Players that made it in the 53 Man Roster.

Thielen scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 13 of the 2014 NFL season on a special teams play in which he blocked Carolina Panthers' punter Brad Nortman's kick and returned the ball 30 yards to the end zone.^[5] Thielen briefly held the record for the longest blocked punt returned for a touchdown in franchise history, but was bested just minutes later by Everson Griffen as the Vikings had 2 blocked punts returned for TDs in the game.

Thielen scored his first receiving touchdown in week 17 of the 2014 NFL Season on a 44-yard reception from Teddy Bridgewater, after which he promptly threw the ball to his fiancée Caitlin Graboski.

References

External links

• Minnesota Vikings bio
• Minnesota State Mavericks bio