There were 967 draft-eligible wide receivers in 2013. Five years later, only 12 of them play in the NFL. One of those players comes from a Division II college program.
Adam Thielen’s rise from Minnesota State-Mankato to Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowler is rooted in determination, hard work and making the most of every opportunity. It's the basis of what led him to an NFL-record eight straight games with 100 yards receiving and leading the league with 925 yards receiving.
His underdog story is a tale of perseverance, but there’s one under-reported element of Thielen’s journey: How he got on the Vikings roster in the first place.