Kansas State LB Elijah Lee headed to Minnesota

The news that Elijah Lee had chosen to forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft a year early came as a shock to Wildcat fans. Never mind their desire to see Lee come back for one more shot; many questioned whether Lee was making a mistake.

Maybe not so much now. With the 14th pick in the 7th round, the Minnesota Vikings selected the former Wildcat linebacker.

Lee, a 6’3” 230 lb junior from Blue Springs, Mo., was a rarity three years ago, playing significant defensive snaps for K-State as a true freshman. Indeed, it’s perhaps Lee’s success in so doing which caused the coaching staff in Manhattan to start giving more opportunities to true freshmen on defense; previously, Bill Snyder had been very reluctant to trust newcomers to have a handle on the system.

For the Vikings, this is a key factor to bear in mind. Lee’s physical ability is readily apparent, but it’s his ability to digest the playbook and execute which makes that talent useful. Still, Vikings fans will appreciate one big thing about Lee: he hits, and he hits hard.

A plus for Lee in this situation is joining two former Wildcats in CB Terence Newman and LB Emmanuel Lamur who should be able to assist Lee in his transition to the NFL.

To see what Minnesota fans think about the pick, be sure to visit our SB Nation colleagues at Daily Norsemen.