April 19, 2024
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Bolingbrook’s Borland signs with Vikings

By Steve Soucie

Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland (32) plays against Michigan in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)

With a college career as productive as Tuf Borland’s it only stood to reason that at least one NFL franchise would see the value in getting the Bolingbrook graduate into camp to see what he might be able to offer to their team.

Although the Ohio State linebacker went undrafted in the seven-round NFL draft held this weekend, Borland quickly landed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent Saturday night.

Concerns about Borland’s speed likely kept him getting drafted over the weekend, but his ability as a run stopper as an inside linebacker and potential use as a special teams player make it more than possible he could find his way onto Minnesota’s roster.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, from left, quarterback Justin Fields and linebacker Tuf Borland hold up the trophy after their teams win against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. Ohio State won 49-28. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (John Bazemore/AP)

There’s opportunity there as Minnesota’s linebacker ranks are not flush with experienced players and they have added limited depth in free agency. 2019 Pro Bowler Eric Kendricks leads the group, but missed the final five games of the season last year with a calf injury, and Eric Wilson was the only member of the group to make it through the season unscathed by injury as expected starter Anthony Barr didn’t play after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2.

The Vikings were forced to spot fill at the position and ended up with undrafted free agent, Blake Lynch, starting the final game of the season.

Borland recorded at least 50 tackles in every season from 2017 to 2019 in full seasons for Ohio State and then added 48 tackles in seven games in the shortened 2020 campaign. He finished his Ohio State career with 228 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and six and half career sacks.

Borland was a three-time All-Big Ten honorable mention choice at Ohio State and was one of only two players in the program’s history to be a three-time captain.