Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Kenny Willekes Selected by Minnesota Vikings in Seventh Round of NFL Draft
4/25/2020 6:27:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State All-American defensive end Kenny Willekes was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (No. 225 overall) of the 2020 National Football League Draft on Saturday, April 25.
A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Willekes finished his Spartan career ranked No. 1 in school history with 51 tackles for loss and third with 26 sacks. He also earned second-team All-America honors twice from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and was a first-team All-America choice by The Athletic in 2018 after he was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year as a junior with a league-leading 20.5 tackles for loss.
The high-motor defensive end recorded 229 career tackles, fourth-most ever among Spartan defensive linemen, and played in 40 career games, including 38 starts and 31 consecutive to close out his career. He also compiled five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and four pass break-ups.
A 2019 Spartan graduate with a degree in chemistry, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. He entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season but emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation during his time in East Lansing. Willekes' improbable journey came full circle on Dec. 9, 2019, when he was named the winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's best player who was a former walk-on.
Willekes led the team and ranked fifth in the Big Ten with a career-high 10.5 sacks as a senior in 2019 and became the first defensive player in program history to be voted the winner of the Governor's Award (team MVP) twice. He also led the team with 16.5 tackles for loss, tied for sixth in the conference, and tied his career high with 78 tackles, most among all Big Ten defensive lineman. Willekes capped his sensational Spartan career with nine tackles, including for 1.5 sacks, in MSU's win over Wake Forest in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and was named to The Associated Press All-Bowl Team for his postseason performance.
Below is a transcript of a media conference call with Kenny Willekes following his draft selection:
Opening…
"First off, just like to thank the Wilf family, the entire Vikings organization for giving me this opportunity. You know, I'm excited and I'm ready to get to work."
On tackles for losses in his career and how he got so good at it...
"I'd say it was part of our scheme at Michigan State. They allowed me to be a little bit of a free player and they stunted me a lot inside. Something we worked on every day with Coach (Chuck) Bullough, you know, our one-gap footwork, our two-gap footwork. It's something we focused on each and every day. So when I got the ability to do it in games, when they gave me the opportunity to stunt, I got in there and made plays."
On working his way up from being a walk-on and now a seventh round pick...
"Yeah no doubt. Went through the same thing, kind of, walking on at Michigan State University. I'm no stranger to adversity, I'm no stranger to hard work and it doesn't matter to me. I've said this many times in the process, it doesn't matter to me where I get picked, whatever team picks me, whatever team takes a chance on me, I'm going to be all in. I'm going to be ready to work."
On maintaining agility and flexibility on his way to the National Football League...
"Just staying consistent with my workouts, with my stretching. I believe, you know, being a defensive end, stretching's a key to being a successful defensive end in the NFL and college. I have a consistent stretching (routine) that I do every single day to keep myself loose, keep myself flexible and have the ability to do those things."
On his high-motor on the field and if it translates to off the field...
"I'd say yes, I'm very competitive in everything I do. I grew up with seven very competitive siblings. Whether I'm in the backyard playing pickup football, or playing on Sunday's in front of millions of people, I'll be giving it everything I got in everything I do."
On moving to outside linebacker at Senior Bowl...
"I enjoyed it. It was definitely a little bit different, standing up...I had a little different footwork, they had my front foot forward. I've been stepping with by back foot most of my career so when I switched that up it was a little bit different, but standing up, I can see a lot more which I did like. I think I have the ability to do both."
On what he knows about the Vikings defensive line and the history there...
"Yeah you know, the 'Purple People Eaters' were an incredible defensive line. John Randall was actually with us at the combine, I had the ability to talk to him...one of the all-time greats. The Vikings had a great d-line over the past few years, you know, there always one of the better defensive lines in the NFL, and I'm excited to play for them."
On what order he is in his siblings...
"I'm the fifth one."
On being able to be teammates with former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins...
"Most definitely. He's definitely a Michigan State legend. He kind of set the path, showed the way to get from Michigan State to the NFL. Not only that, he's also from west Michigan. I had the opportunity to go to his Holland Christian football 7-on-7 and meet him there when I was in high school. Having the opportunity to play with him in Minnesota is kind of like a dream come true. He's someone I looked up to a lot growing up."
A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Willekes finished his Spartan career ranked No. 1 in school history with 51 tackles for loss and third with 26 sacks. He also earned second-team All-America honors twice from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and was a first-team All-America choice by The Athletic in 2018 after he was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year as a junior with a league-leading 20.5 tackles for loss.
The high-motor defensive end recorded 229 career tackles, fourth-most ever among Spartan defensive linemen, and played in 40 career games, including 38 starts and 31 consecutive to close out his career. He also compiled five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and four pass break-ups.
Kirk and Kenny? We like the sound of that‼️@kennyw97 𝙓 @Vikings 🟣🟡#GoGreen | #SKOL | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/emIeS4hKoD— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 25, 2020
A 2019 Spartan graduate with a degree in chemistry, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. He entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season but emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation during his time in East Lansing. Willekes' improbable journey came full circle on Dec. 9, 2019, when he was named the winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's best player who was a former walk-on.
Willekes led the team and ranked fifth in the Big Ten with a career-high 10.5 sacks as a senior in 2019 and became the first defensive player in program history to be voted the winner of the Governor's Award (team MVP) twice. He also led the team with 16.5 tackles for loss, tied for sixth in the conference, and tied his career high with 78 tackles, most among all Big Ten defensive lineman. Willekes capped his sensational Spartan career with nine tackles, including for 1.5 sacks, in MSU's win over Wake Forest in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and was named to The Associated Press All-Bowl Team for his postseason performance.
You won't regret this pick Skol Nation 💪 #GoGreen #SKOL https://t.co/UdCGWfemiE— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 25, 2020
What an amazing family! Congrats to @kennyw97 on getting selected by the @Vikings! Watch the 2020 @NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/mCPWptvhwg— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 25, 2020
Below is a transcript of a media conference call with Kenny Willekes following his draft selection:
Opening…
"First off, just like to thank the Wilf family, the entire Vikings organization for giving me this opportunity. You know, I'm excited and I'm ready to get to work."
On tackles for losses in his career and how he got so good at it...
"I'd say it was part of our scheme at Michigan State. They allowed me to be a little bit of a free player and they stunted me a lot inside. Something we worked on every day with Coach (Chuck) Bullough, you know, our one-gap footwork, our two-gap footwork. It's something we focused on each and every day. So when I got the ability to do it in games, when they gave me the opportunity to stunt, I got in there and made plays."
On working his way up from being a walk-on and now a seventh round pick...
"Yeah no doubt. Went through the same thing, kind of, walking on at Michigan State University. I'm no stranger to adversity, I'm no stranger to hard work and it doesn't matter to me. I've said this many times in the process, it doesn't matter to me where I get picked, whatever team picks me, whatever team takes a chance on me, I'm going to be all in. I'm going to be ready to work."
On maintaining agility and flexibility on his way to the National Football League...
"Just staying consistent with my workouts, with my stretching. I believe, you know, being a defensive end, stretching's a key to being a successful defensive end in the NFL and college. I have a consistent stretching (routine) that I do every single day to keep myself loose, keep myself flexible and have the ability to do those things."
On his high-motor on the field and if it translates to off the field...
"I'd say yes, I'm very competitive in everything I do. I grew up with seven very competitive siblings. Whether I'm in the backyard playing pickup football, or playing on Sunday's in front of millions of people, I'll be giving it everything I got in everything I do."
On moving to outside linebacker at Senior Bowl...
"I enjoyed it. It was definitely a little bit different, standing up...I had a little different footwork, they had my front foot forward. I've been stepping with by back foot most of my career so when I switched that up it was a little bit different, but standing up, I can see a lot more which I did like. I think I have the ability to do both."
On what he knows about the Vikings defensive line and the history there...
"Yeah you know, the 'Purple People Eaters' were an incredible defensive line. John Randall was actually with us at the combine, I had the ability to talk to him...one of the all-time greats. The Vikings had a great d-line over the past few years, you know, there always one of the better defensive lines in the NFL, and I'm excited to play for them."
On what order he is in his siblings...
"I'm the fifth one."
On being able to be teammates with former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins...
"Most definitely. He's definitely a Michigan State legend. He kind of set the path, showed the way to get from Michigan State to the NFL. Not only that, he's also from west Michigan. I had the opportunity to go to his Holland Christian football 7-on-7 and meet him there when I was in high school. Having the opportunity to play with him in Minnesota is kind of like a dream come true. He's someone I looked up to a lot growing up."
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