EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. —The Vikings on Tuesday announced the signing of third-round pick Pat Elflein, sixth-round selections Bucky Hodges and Stacy Coley and seventh-rounders Elijah Lee and Jack Tocho.
Minnesota now has 10 of its 11 2017 draft picks under contract.
Elflein, a center, was selected with the 70th overall pick. Hodges, a tight end, was tabbed with the 201st overall selection, and Coley, a receiver, came off the board at 219. Lee, a linebacker, was picked from the 232nd spot. Tocho, a cornerback who is transitioning to safety, was selected 245th overall. Elflein, Hodges and Lee all handled position switches during their college careers.
Elflein began at Ohio State as a guard but moved to the middle to play center in 2016. He garnered the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center and help the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff semifinals. Elflein also won the Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2016 and was thrice selected First-Team All-Big Ten selection.
The native of Pickerington, Ohio, finished his college career as a graduate student after earning a communications degree. He was a captain for the Buckeyes and for his high school team.
Hodges began his career with the Hokies as a quarterback. He played tight end for the scout team as a redshirt freshman, however, and transitioned to tight end in 2014 when he caught 45 passes for 526 yards and seven touchdowns.
The native of Virginia Beach followed with 40 receptions for 530 yards and six touchdowns in 2015 and added 48 catches for 691 yards and seven scores in 2016. Hodges opted to enter the draft with a year of eligibility remaining.
The 133 receptions, 1,747 yards and 20 touchdowns are all school records by a tight end.
Coley played in 49 games at Miami and earned All-ACC Second or Third Team designations in three of four seasons. Coley caught 167 passes for 2,222 yards and 20 touchdowns. Coley returned 25 punts a total of 325 yards and 47 kickoffs a total of 1,142 yards. He also returned a punt and kickoff for scores.
Lee played defensive end in high school and was the Missouri Class 6 Defensive Player of the Year but transitioned to linebacker at Kansas State and twice garnered All-Big 12 selections.
He started 26 of 39 games played, totaling 209 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five interceptions, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. The five interceptions are the most by a Wildcats linebacker during Head Coach Bill Snyder's tenure.
Tocho started 36 of 49 games played in four seasons with North Carolina State. He recorded 122 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, 26 pass breakups and six interceptions, was a team captain in 2016 and invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game. Tocho also was a two-time Academic All-ACC selection.
Receiver Rodney Adams **became the first** member of the class to sign last Thursday and was **followed by** defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo.
Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, linebacker Ben Gedeon and guard Danny Isidora **signed on Friday**.
Second-round selection running back Dalvin Cook remains the only draft pick not to sign.
