Vikings' pick at No. 236: West Texas A&M receiver Stephen Burton
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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings rounded out their first 10-pick draft in more than a decade by selecting West Texas A&M receiver Stephen Burton with the 236th overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Burton (6-foot-1, 221 pounds) racked up 132 receptions for 1,909 yards and 13 touchdowns over two seasons in West Texas A&M's high-octane spread offense after transferring from Long Beach Community College.
"I was eventually going to go to the University of Oklahoma, but I would have had to sit out the 2009 season to get the two classes necessary to transfer from my junior college," Burton said in a conference call.
"Why I decided to not sit out the 2009 season was because I love the game of football too much. My mother, she said, 'If you are good you are going to be seen regardless of where you go.' That is when I made my decision to not go to Division I and West Texas approached me and me being a receiver, I just felt like that would be home for me."
An outside receiver who compares himself to Miami's Brandon Marshall, Burton first spoke to the Vikings at the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game. He also was invited to the NFL scouting combine, where he officially was clocked at 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said the team clocked Burton at 4.44 -- a solid time for a big receiver -- and believes he has return ability has well, even though he only returned 12 kickoffs (for a 21.6 average) and 10 punts (9.8) at the Division II level.
Burton admitted he didn't even think he'd be drafted but expressed confidence about his chances.
Asked to describe himself as a receiver, Burton said, "I would say big, physical, aggressive workhorse. I am very persistent."
The Vikings needed depth at receiver, with only three experienced players -- Percy Harvin, Greg Camarillo and Bernard Berrian, who may not make the team -- under contract.
The last time the Vikings selected 10 players in a single draft was 2000.
The vitals
• 40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds.
• Bench press: 19 reps of 225 pounds.
• Vertical jump: 34½ inches.
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 9 inches.
• 3-cone drill: 7.04 seconds.
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.31 seconds.
