Inwood Iowa — Iowa Hawkeye kick returner and receiver Kyle Groeneweg was among the non-drafted players invited to rookie minicamp by the Minnesota Vikings following the NFL Draft.
The former West Lyon standout from Inwood joined the Hawkeyes after transferring from University of Sioux Falls in 2016 and sitting out the 2017 season. With Iowa the 5-10 186 pound Groeneweg Ranked second in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation with 9.9 yard average on 24 punt returns.In the 63-0 win at Illinois he returned six punts for 103 yards including a 61-yard touchdown for Iowa’s first punt return score in two years.
While at the University of Sioux Falls Kyle Played in 36 games totaling 36 receptions for 635 yards and six TDs. Groeneweg returned 50 kickoffs for 1,282 yards and two touchdowns including 99 yard return against Wayne State. He averaged 25.6 yards per return on kickoffs for the Cougars.
As a high school player he starred for state champion West Lyon, in 2013 helping to lead the team to a 14-0 record. West Lyon posted 46-7 overall record during his career, also winning a state title in 2010. During his final three years in high school he had 213 rushing attempts for 1,325 yards and 17 touchdowns, 28 receptions for 543 yards and eight touchdowns.
Following the draft Viking General Manager Rick Spielman said the team would look to add undrafted free agents and get the total roster number to 90 before rookie minicamp opens next week. Spielman said, “We’re going to get the best 90 guys in here, and once they get here we’re going to play the best players,” “We’re here to win football games”.
Spielman added the goal is to bring in the best possible players and create the most competition around. Spielman also noted that just because a guy isn’t drafted, it doesn’t mean he has no chance to make the roster pointing out the cases of Adam Thielen and CJ Ham among others who made the team via the undrafted free agent route.
