The Vikings made history in the 2016 NFL Draft when they selected Germany native Moritz Boehringer in the sixth round, making the receiver the first player drafted directly out of Europe without first playing college football.
After dominating in the German Football League and being selected 2015 Rookie of the Year, Boehringer is excited to **try the sport at the highest level**.
Here are five things to know about the 6-foot-4, 227-pound receiver:
Boehringer played 2015 in the GFL for the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns, where he caught 70 passes for 1,461 yards (20.9 per catch) and 16 touchdowns last season. Prior to that, he played two seasons for the Crailsheim Titans, making his first foray into "Competitive American Football" in 2013. He posted 94 catches in 19 games with the Titans, totaling 2,866 yards and 41 touchdowns.
2. Triple threat
In addition to 43 catches for 1,169 yards and 20 touchdowns for Crailsheim in 2013, Boehringer also rushed the ball nine times for 112 yards (12.4 yards per carry) with two scores and found the end zone while playing defense. He returned three of his six interceptions for touchdowns.
3. Fell for football, Vikings
Boehringer played soccer for seven years and first gained interest in American football at age 17 by watching highlight videos of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. The videos helped make the Vikings Boehringer's favorite team. He said he is looking forward to meeting Peterson and teammates.
"I heard [Adrian Peterson] has a very strong handshake. I will be prepared for that."
4. Scouts took notice
Internet video of highlights also helped Boehringer's discovery. He was invited to Florida Atlantic's Pro Day and raised eyebrows on scouts from multiple teams. Boehringer ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds, had a vertical jump of 39 inches, a 10-foot-11 broad jump, a time of 4.10 seconds in the short shuttle, a time of 11.15 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle and a time of 6.65 seconds in the three-cone drill. He also bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times. All performances would have placed in the top five among receivers at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine.
5. Studying mechanical engineering
Boehringer is majoring in mechanical engineering at University Aalen with an expected graduation of 2017. He is one of four children in his family. Father, Guenter, is an engineer, and mother, Katrin Fassmeyer, works in a museum.
