Rookie linebacker Brian Asamoah's Ghanaian heritage is at the forefront of every step he takes during Vikings practices.
An outline of Africa is printed on his custom thigh pads, a symbol visible through his thin white practice pants that represents not only his Ghanaian-born parents and many family members there but also an increasing number of NFL players who are African immigrants or whose parents emigrated from African countries.
"I'm showcasing it all," said Asamoah, a third-round pick. "This means everything, just to carry on a tradition and a legacy. I feel like this is bigger than me. This is for all the kids in Africa, especially Ghana, to see that I made a way out of this, and they can also do the same thing."
