Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Here are five things to know about the Vikings newest receiver:
1. In good company
Johnson marks the sixth player out of Colorado State to be selected by Minnesota. He joins RB Oscar Reed (167th overall) and DE Mark Mullaney (25th overall), who were drafted in 1968 and 1975, respectively.
P Mike Deutsch (240th) and RB Ron Harris (299th) were drafted in 1978, and DE Gary Paulson (372nd) was picked in 1976.
2. Proud of his heritage
Johnson’s father, Bode, is Nigerian; his mother, Traci, is from Iowa. But interestingly, Johnson’s birth name wasn’t given to him by his parents.
According to a 2017 article by the Coloradoan’s Kelly Lyell, Olabisi Johnson was named by Ola Fadeyi, an elder in Denver’s Nigerian community. Johnson wrote:
Johnson … is proud of his name, which means “to bring prosperity to your family,” and his Nigerian heritage. He traveled to the African nation several times as a child to visit his grandparents, aunts and uncles and their families.
Johnson is one of five players on the Vikings roster — and two selected in 2019 (tackle Olisaemeka Udoh) — who are of Nigerian descent. Brothers Ifeadi and Tito Odenigbo, and 2018 draft pick Ade Aruna are the other three.