Head Coach Kevin O'Connell opens up on Sam Darnold's Minnesota Vikings redemption and reveals what sets him apart from other quarterbacks.
"'Can you take me back to the offseason and your initial impression when you got Sam Darnold in the building?""My first impressions with Sam go back much, much longer further than that," he tells talkSPORT.
"I got a chance to be around Sam in his senior year of high school," O'Connell continues in an extended video call with UK journalists."He was one of the elite 11 quarterbacks and I had just gotten done playing. I got a chance to be one of the counsellors and coaches at that camp."You can't sit there and say, I knew at that point that Sam was going to throw for 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns. I did not know that, but I became a fan.
Six years on from being taken with the third overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, to be the face of the franchise for the starcrossedDarnold was a free agent and signed a one-year deal in Minnesota, backing up what many expected to be a highly-touted draft prospect. "I shared with him the idea 'you've had a wide variety of experiences in this league during your journey, but I believe that all experience is good experience
Darnold responded and enters the post season with 4,319 yards and 35 passing touchdowns and with the 14-3 Vikings a legitimateBoth men have strong ties to California, Darnold was born in Dana Point Orange County , went to High School and college at USC in the state.They'll be a decision to make in the offseason. McCarthy will be fully fit and Darnold has shown he can carry an offense, he will be out of contract a big-money bad day, in Minneapolis or elsewhere looms.
NFL American Football Sam Darnold Kevin O'connell NFC North Wild Card Quarterback Draft Elite 11 Coach
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