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Stefon Diggs Shows Flashes of Brilliance in 1st Preseason Game

By Brandon Austin

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Aug 9, 2015; Canton, OH, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) dives for the end zone during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Former Maryland Terrapins standout wide receiver Stefon Diggs saw his first real NFL game action in the Hall of Fame Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last night and he made a big play that opened plenty of eyes.

The Vikings fifth-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft lined up to return a punt in the third quarter. Diggs fielded the punt just inside Minnesota’s 40-yard line, found a seam and showed off his blazing speed in open space for 62 yards. He dove towards the end zone line, but under further review, it was determined that Diggs came up just short of pay dirt.

His younger brother and current Terps recruiting target, Trevon Diggs, took to Twitter to celebrate the highlight-reel play.

While the punt return was certainly Diggs’ shining moment, he made his presence felt in other ways throughout the course of the game. Late in the first half, he made a solid block to spring tight end Mycole Pruitt for the Vikings’ first touchdown of the 2015-16 season. Diggs also caught two passes for 14 yards, including a bubble screen pass in the third quarter. 

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Diggs is just one member of one of the most dangerous receiving corps in the league. Minnesota features a host of players who can take a 5-yard reception and turn it in to 50 at the snap of a finger. Being a rookie, Diggs still must prove himself to belong in the rotation, which already features Mike Wallace, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright and Charles Johnson.

When simply analyzing talent, Diggs could have (and should have) been drafted no later than the third round. However, he battled injuries throughout his career at Maryland, which is likely why he was selected so late. But if you ask around the Vikings locker room, you’ll quickly find out that Diggs has been one of the most impressive players in training camp.

If Diggs continues to make plays like he did last night, he could have a solid chance to overtake cornerback Marcus Sherels for kick return duties, or at the very least, split reps.

Of course, it’s still much too early to make a judgment on how good Diggs can be, but the fact remains that he is turning heads around the league. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that he has the potential to be an electrifying game-breaker in the NFL. Having played against Diggs in high school, I can attest firsthand to how good he is.

Barring any injury setbacks, Diggs’ future is extremely bright, and so too is that of the Minnesota Vikings.

Next: Melvin Keihn a Future Star For the Terps?

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