Linebacker DeMarquis Gates showed glimpses of promise at Ole Miss and the Houston Roughnecks. Now, the Vikings have reportedly taken notice enough to try and sign the linebacker.
According to Fox 26 Houston’s Mark Berman, the Vikings have signed Gates after his time with the Roughnecks. A league source also told Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune the same thing.
Gates had two sacks and three quarterback hurries in just five games in the XFL. He also had three pass deflections and an interception. With Ole Miss, Gates had 10 tackles for a loss and 114 total tackles in his senior season.
I like this addition, and if Gates’ ability in pass defense for the Roughnecks can translate to the NFL, he’ll fit in with the current linebacking core well. Pro Football Focus gave Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks a 90 rating (out of a possible 100) when it came to pass coverage as a linebacker. Kendricks was also named most-improved player by PFF.
