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Minnesota Vikings UDFA Profiles (Current: Dan Chisena WR/Penn State)


RpMc

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I thought it might be interesting, given the dead time that we are currently in, to spend some time learning about the long shots to make the team or even the practice squad - while putting together a depth chart this morning, I looked up Dan Chisena, wide receiver, from Penn State, and does he have a darn interesting back story.

Dan Chisena - Football - Penn State University Athletics

He red-shirted as a true freshmen, and then decided to run for Penn State's track team instead.  In High School, he won state championships in the 100, 200, and 4x100 relay.

However, he decided that he missed football and walked back on to the team in 2018 for his junior season, he appeared in two games in 2018 on special teams, earned multiple scout player of the week honors, and then had this happen for him during Penn State's spring game in 2019.

For his senior year, he was given a full scholarship, appeared in 12 games for Penn State playing largely special teams.  He was selected Academic All-Big 10, earned the Ridge Riley Memorial Award (for sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership, and friendship), earned the John Bruno Award (for most outstanding member of special teams), and tied for highest GPA for a senior on the team.

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His HWS may earn him a spot on the practice squad while he develops his game as a receiver, but he might be a fun one to watch develop given his physical traits and character.

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4 minutes ago, RpMc said:

His HWS may earn him a spot on the practice squad while he develops his game as a receiver, but he might be a fun one to watch develop given his physical traits and character.

Sounds like he was a good special teams player at Penn State, so even if that is all he ever turns into in the NFL, having a gunner or return guy with that sort of speed is great.

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12 hours ago, RpMc said:

For his senior year, he was given a full scholarship, appeared in 12 games for Penn State playing largely special teams.

Wait, so he barely even played WR in college? Was he a returner or just a punt gunner?

Is this a Mobitz situation where he's fast but doesn't really know how to play the position?

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7 minutes ago, Krauser said:

Wait, so he barely even played WR in college? Was he a returner or just a punt gunner?

Is this a Mobitz situation where he's fast but doesn't really know how to play the position?

Correct, it’s similar. 

He went to PSU for football after playing in HS, decided to run track, and didn’t play until his RS Junior year - he has only a handful of catches in his college career. I don’t believe he was a return man. 

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8 hours ago, RpMc said:

He went to PSU for football after playing in HS, decided to run track, and didn’t play until his RS Junior year - he has only a handful of catches in his college career. I don’t believe he was a return man. 

so for us, he might be  gunner on special teams?

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11 minutes ago, RpMc said:

If he made the team, most likely - but his odds are about as long as a longshot gets. 

well sonny, one of our best special team players ever was a wr named Chris Walsh who played eight or so seasons for us and was spectacularly reliable and impactful. he was drafted in the 9th round.

so long shots do make it sometimes....

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6 minutes ago, vike daddy said:

well sonny, one of our best special team players ever was a wr named Chris Walsh who played eight or so seasons for us and was spectacularly reliable and impactful. he was drafted in the 9th round.

so long shots do make it sometimes....

Walsh played 44 games in college, caught nearly 150 passes, and had a near thousand yard season; he had 4 years at Stanford training as a receiver. 

Chesina played 14 games at Penn State, and caught three passes. 
 

He’s going to need a little seasoning before he can even realistically be called a long shot. 

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