Sep 27, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons working again Demond Claiborne (1) runs the ball towards the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets through the third quarter at Allegacy Federal Credit score Union Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Zachary Taft-Imagn Photographs
When the Minnesota Vikings entered the 2026 NFL Draft, there have been various positions they wanted to handle. They focused each side of the soccer and did a very good job of grabbing expertise all throughout the board. One of many positions they couldn’t afford to disregard any longer was working again.
Kevin O’Connell has grown synonymous with an absence of a working recreation. He has leaned into Aaron Jones and the working joke that has grow to be Cam Akers (who’s, once more, obtainable, by the best way).
Claiborne Has a Clear Path to Snaps
It could have been enjoyable to see Minnesota-native Emmett Johnson in a Vikings uniform, however they infused youth by selecting Wake Forest product Demond Caliborne.
Enjoying loads as a freshman, Demond Claiborne has 44 profession video games below his belt on the collegiate stage. He ran for 1,049 yards as a junior two seasons in the past, earlier than bumping his yards per carry common as much as 5.1 this previous season. Claiborne has 26 profession speeding touchdowns, of which 21 got here up to now two seasons.
Jul 23, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Wake Forest working again Demond Claiborne solutions questions from the media throughout ACC Media days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Necessary Credit score: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Photographs
Claiborne isn’t a one-trick pony both. After hauling in 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns as a junior, he caught 28 passes final season. Whereas Wake Forest is hardly a blue blood, he performed towards loads of stout expertise within the ACC and was a transparent outlier on a program that in any other case struggled.
When coping with the underwear Olympics, Claiborne balled out as properly. He turned in a blazing 4.37 40-yard sprint with a 1.59 10-yard break up. His broad leap was spectacular at 10’2″, and he has typically been recommended as a ridiculously twitch expertise.
Oct 11, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons working again Demond Claiborne (1) runs the ball through the second half towards the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Photographs
The Minnesota Vikings wanted to reset the youth at working again. Ty Chandler didn’t pan out, and neither Mason nor Jones is a long-term reply. Claiborne can cycle on this 12 months whereas getting some run on particular groups, and he might very properly be the man sooner or later subsequent season.
Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based mostly blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing ideas continually on Twitter, … Extra about Ted Schwerzler
