Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Kene Nwangwu
Rank: 49
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 210 lbs
Experience: 5 years
College: Southern Miss
Stats (In NFL): 28 games, 22 caries, 75 yards, 53 kick returns, 1,499 yards, 28.3 YPR, 3 touchdowns
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 47
Kevin Fielder: 49
Judd Zulgad: 46
Saivion Mixson: 49
Average: 47.75
Best case scenario
After only carrying the ball 143 times in college, Nwangwu was viewed as a project. The raw skills were there and developing him was always key. During mandatory minicamp, Nwangwu was getting the lion share of the RB2 snaps, which is a good sign. He wasn’t a player that you could trust in 2022
Worst case scenario
He wasn’t a player that you could trust in 2022 in the backfield. The vision and decision-making hasn’t been there. That has shown up in his limited touches out of the backfield. Despite getting the RB2 touches in mandatory minicamp, there is a real chance that it doesn’t translate once the pads come on.
What to expect in 2023
The Vikings are going to be shifting to a running back by committee approach this season with multiple players getting regular touches. Nwangwu with a solid preseason could catapult himself to getting 10+ touches per game. If he doesn’t have a great preseason, his return skills being among the best in the league will help him keep a roster spot.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
