The Vikings are adding depth to their outside linebackers room.
Minnesota has signed Benton Whitley to its active roster, the team announced Wednesday.
Whitley was signed to the Chiefs active roster on Sept. 21 but waived and signed to their practice squad last week. He initially joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent this spring.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings newest edge rusher:
1. Former Crusader
Whitley played collegiately at Holy Cross, where as a fifth-year senior in 2021 he started all 13 games at defensive end. According to the Crusaders website, he totaled 49 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Whitley got his start at Holy Cross as a backup linebacker in 2017 but moved to defensive end in as a sophomore in 2018.
Whitley attended Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, where he earned All-State honors as a senior on the football team and was a two-time First-Team All-Western Massachusetts selection.
In addition, Whitley broke the school record with 14 career sacks.
He didn't only excel at football, though. Whitley also lettered in wrestling, posting a 49-1 record in 2016 and winning state and Western Massachusetts titles.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 14, 2023.
1 K Greg Joseph
1 K Greg Joseph
2 RB Alexander Mattison
2 RB Alexander Mattison
3 CB Cameron Dantzler
3 Cam Dantzler
4 RB Dalvin Cook
4 RB Dalvin Cook
5 WR Jalen Reagor
7 CB Patrick Peterson
7 CB Patrick Peterson
8 QB Kirk Cousins
8 QB Kirk Cousins
12 QB Nick Mullens
12 QB Nick Mullens
66 P Ryan Wright
17 WR K.J. Osborn
17 WR K.J. Osborn
18 WR Justin Jefferson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
19 WR Adam Thielen
19 WR Adam Thielen
22 S Harrison Smith
22 S Harrison Smith
24 S Camryn Bynum
24 S Camryn Bynum
25 S Theo Jackson
25 S Theo Jackson
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
27 CB Kalon Barnes
27 CB Kalon Barnes
29 CB Kris Boyd
29 CB Kris Boyd
30 FB C.J. Ham
30 FB C.J. Ham
32 RB Ty Chandler
32 RB Ty Chandler
33 LB Brian Asamoah
33 LB Brian Asamoah
39 CB Chandon Sullivan
39 CB Chandon Sullivan
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
43 LB Luiji Vilain
43 OLB Luiji Vilain
44 S Josh Metellus
44 S Josh Metellus
45 LB Troy Dye
45 LB Troy Dye
47 LB William Kwenkeu
47 LB William Kwenkeu
54 LB Eric Kendricks
55 LB Za'Darius Smith
55 OLB Za'Darius Smith
56 C Garrett Bradbury
56 C Garett Bradbury
58 LB Jordan Hicks
58 LB Jordan Hicks
62 G/C Chris Reed
62 G/C Chris Reed
63 T Vederian Lowe
63 T Vederian Lowe
64 T Blake Brandel
64 T Blake Brandel
67 G Ed Ingram
71 T Christian Darrisaw
71 T Christian Darrisaw
72 G Ezra Cleveland
72 G Ezra Cleveland
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
83 WR Jalen Nailor
83 WR Jalen Nailor
84 TE Irv Smith Jr.
84 TE Irv Smith Jr.
86 TE Johnny Mundt
86 TE Johnny Mundt
90 DL Esezi Otomewo
91 OLB Patrick Jones II
91 DE Patrick Jones II
92 DT James Lynch
92 DT James Lynch
93 DL Jonathan Bullard
93 DL Jonathan Bullard
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
96 DT Ross Blacklock
96 DT Ross Blacklock
97 DL Harrison Phillips
97 DL Harrison Phillips
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
99 OLB Danielle Hunter
99 DE Danielle Hunter
3. Interest in STEM
Whitley graduated from Holy Cross with a degree in biology.
During his final year at the school, he worked as an undergraduate research assistant at Holy Cross' virology/immunology lab.
He also completed a technology internship with Dell EMC in 2020.
4. Admirable work ethic
Whitley has garnered a reputation for hard work that's gotten him to the NFL.
In May, Western Mass News spoke with Whitley's high school football and wrestling coach, Will Nickerson, who called him "the hardest worker in the room."
"You hear that analogy a lot, but that is Benton Whitley," Nickerson said.
The coach noted that Whitley and other students used to wager cookies at lunchtime on who would receive the highest grade on an exam.
"He was competitive in everything he did," Nickerson said.
5. New England addition
Whitley joins Vikings practice squad center Josh Sokol (Hopkinton) as the two Massachusetts natives in Minnesota's locker room.
