EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Thursday announced they have signed half of their 2018 draft class.
Minnesota has signed kicker Daniel Carlson, guard Colby Gossett, defensive end Ade Aruna and linebacker Devante Downs.
Carlson, a fifth-round selection out of Auburn, made 21 of 31 field goals attempted in 2017, including 4-for-8 on field goals from 50 or more yards. He was perfect on all 57 extra point attempts.
He was 92-of-114 (80.7 percent) on field goal attempts and made all 198 extra points during his college career. Carlson had 156 of his 222 kickoffs result in touchbacks.
Gossett was drafted with the 213th overall pick in the sixth round out of Appalachian State.
Gossett started all 13 games at right guard in 2017 and helped lead Appalachian State to a 9-4 season, after which he received First-Team All-Sun Belt honors for the second consecutive season.
After redshirting in 2013 and missing the first four games of 2014 with an injury, Gossett started the final 46 games of his career, a streak that began when he was a redshirt freshman. He played both right guard and right tackle during that stretch.
Minnesota used the 218th overall pick — the final selection of the sixth round — on Aruna.
He played four seasons at Tulane, appearing in 44 career games (with 34 starts). He recorded 107 total tackles (70 solo) with 19 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during his time with the Green Wave.
The native of Nigeria also has a basketball background, as he played against Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins **in high school**.
Downs was the Vikings eighth and final selection in the 2018 draft when he was taken with the 225th overall pick in the seventh round.
Downs was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week twice in the first three weeks of the 2017 season after helping Cal defeat North Carolina (13 tackles, interception, forced fumble, quarterback hurry) and Mississippi (14 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception).
Even though Downs missed almost half of the season with an injury, he was chosen as Cal's Defensive MVP and garnered All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors after finishing second on the team with 65 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, four quarterback hurries and two interceptions.
