EAGAN, Minn. –The Vikings on Thursday **announced the signing** of wide receiver Tavarres King.

King most recently spent the 2015-17 seasons with the New York Giants.

He appeared in eight games (three starts) last season and recorded 18 catches for 240 yards (13.3 yards per reception) and three touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Giants, King had stops with the Broncos, Panthers, Buccaneers and Jaguars. He has totaled 22 career receptions for 303 yards and three touchdowns. During the 2016 postseason, King played in the Wild Card matchup against the Packers and recorded three catches for a career-high 73 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Here are five things to know about King:

1. Impressed as a Bulldog

King played in a school-record 56 games for the University of Georgia and finished his collegiate career ranked third all-time in school history in receiving touchdowns (21) and fourth in receiving yards (2,602).

The receiver notched seven 100-yard receiving games, including a career-high (and school record) 205 yards against Michigan State in the 2012 Outback Bowl.

2. 2013 rookie class

The Broncos selected King in the fifth round (161st overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the 18th wide receiver off the board that year.

King will join other members of the 2013 rookie class in Minnesota, including fellow receiver Adam Thielen, whom the Vikings signed as an undrafted free agent. Xavier Rhodes, Latavius Murray and Kevin McDermott also were rookies in 2013.

3. Georgia native

King was born and raised in Mount Airy, Georgia, and garnered attention at Habersham Central High School. As a senior, he totaled a state-record 1,632 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 99 receptions and was named the Class AAAA Offensive Player of the Year.

King joins six other Georgia natives on the Vikings current roster: RB Mack Brown (Clarkston), LB Reshard Cliett (Thomasville), DT Caushaud Lyons (Stockbridge), QB Kyle Sloter (John's Creek), DE Stephen Weatherly (Snellville) and LB Antwione Williams (Lovejoy).

4. Combine competitor

King was invited to the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, ranking 13th among wide receivers.

He finished tied for eighth among receivers in the vertical jump (36.5 inches), 10th in the broad jump (10 feet, 3 inches) and 13th in the 3-cone drill (6.91 seconds).

*5. Football is family *

Football is in the King family bloodlines.

Tavarres' father, Anthony King, played linebacker and tight end for Clemson from 1974-78.