It's no secret the Vikings are looking for depth along the offensive line after losing veteran Artis Hicks in free agency, and Wake Forest's Chris DeGeare hopes to provide that.
The Vikings took DeGeare in the fifth round with the No. 161 overall pick. DeGeare played three seasons at guard before moving to left tackle last season.
"I think I'm a great run blocker," he said in a conference call. "But I'm very versatile. I can play guard or tackle. They can plug me in wherever they need me."
DeGeare said he is more comfortable at guard because he played it longer in college. He said the Wake Forest coaching staff moved him to left tackle last season out of necessity.
"My coach always told me that he puts his best athletes at left tackle," he said. "He's always told me that I was the best pass protector on the team. He had the idea to put me at left tackle, try it out in the spring coming into my senior year. I dominated so he left me there."
DeGeare missed the 2008 season while he improved his academics after coping with the death of his mother, Genetria.
"She was my inspiration, my everything," he said. "She was my best friend, the person I went to. It was very tough to lose someone that you're that close to."
DeGeare caught back up on his schoolwork and graduated this past December. He said Saturday's draft brought mixed emotions because he wishes he could experience it with his mother.
"It's very tough," he said. "I think about her constantly. I know if she was here with me know she would be very proud of me. But I have a great family and a great supporting cast. That's the No. 1 thing in life is your family. I'm very blessed to have them."
