Jurgens Taken in Seventh Round by the Vikings
4/27/2024 7:05:00 PM | Football
The three selections are the most in the Clawson era and the most since four Deacs were taken in the 2012 NFL Draft.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The #ProDeacs family added its newest member when the Minnesota Vikings chose offensive lineman Michael Jurgens with the 230th overall pick in the seventh round.
Jurgens is just the fourth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the Vikings and the first since offensive lineman Chris DeGeare was chosen in 2010 in the fourth round.
This is the fourth offensive lineman selected in the Dave Clawson era, all coming since 2019. Phil Haynes was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round in 2019, Justin Herron was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2020 draft and Zach Tom was chosen by Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017, the second-longest streak in the common NFL Draft era (since 1967). That streak matches the program's record of now seven-straight bowl berths. Additionally during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 44 players sign NFL contracts.
This is the Deacs third draftee in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining San Francisco fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha and Dallas Cowboys fifth-round pick Caelen Carson. The three selections are the most in the Clawson era and the most since four Deacs were taken in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Additionally, this marks the fifth time in the Clawson era that multiple players have been selected in the same draft. It joins the 2023 NFL Draft that saw defensive lineman Kobie Turner go to the Los Angeles Rams and AT Perry to the New Orleans Saints, 2022 NFL Draft that saw offensive lineman Zach Tom go to the Green Bay Packers and Ja'Sir Taylor to the Los Angeles Chargers, the 2020 NFL Draft that saw linebacker Justin Strnad go to the Broncos and offensive lineman Justin Herron go to New England Patriots and the 2018 NFL Draft where defensive back Jessie Bates III was chosen by Cincinnati Bengals and defensive lineman Duke Ejiofor was taken by Houston Texans.
From Coach Clawson
"Michael Jurgens, who was a three-time captain for us and was a two-time semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, is a smart, tough and physical football player that can play at multiple positions on the offensive line. He was so instrumental in our success going to five bowl games, winning three bowl championships and capturing the 2021 Atlantic Division title. Michael jumps off the film and his production speaks for itself. The Minnesota Vikings just got a player who will impact their franchise in a positive way."
From Matt Miller of ESPN
"He can play center or guard. He has experience at both and will likely step inside and be a snapper at the next level. That's where I liked him the best. He has accurate hands, is very consistent and knows where to put his hands to control guys. He's not the biggest player but he understands leverage and angles. That experience is going to be great for him. He understands how to combo block. He is very poised. You can see times where his teammates struggle and he comes over to help. The poise and the football IQ are exceptional."
More on Michael Jurgens
In his six seasons at Wake Forest, offensive lineman Michael Jurgens was one of the winningest players in program history, leading the Demon Deacons to 42 wins, five bowl trips, three bowl wins and a 2021 ACC Atlantic Division title.
During his redshirt senior season after a switch from center to guard, he became the seventh Demon Deacon offensive player in the last six years to be named an All-American.
In addition to earning Phil Steele All-America and All-ACC honors, he was also named to the official All-ACC team as voted on by media and coaches, the Associated Press All-ACC Team and the Pro Football Focus All-ACC Team.
He only allowed one sack all season and committed just three penalties. Additionally, he ranked as the highest-graded Power-5 interior lineman according to Pro Football Focus with a grade of 83.7. Also the highest grade of his career. He also owned the highest offensive grade out of any qualified ACC offensive lineman with a rating of 83.7, the next closest is 77.3.
He also had the highest run-blocking grade out of any offensive lineman in the ACC with a grade of 87.2, the next highest is 76.6.
Jurgens tallied 841 snaps this season, the second-most by any Demon Deacon on the team. He started all 12 games with 11 coming at guard and one coming at center.
The All-American has played and started in 46 of the Deacs 48 games dating back to the start of the 2020 season, earning All-ACC honors each of the last three seasons. Additionally, he was named a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist for the second consecutive season and was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List ahead of the season.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Michael Jurgens being selected by the Vikings.
EMBEDDED TWEETS/SOCIAL POSTS
Jurgens is just the fourth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the Vikings and the first since offensive lineman Chris DeGeare was chosen in 2010 in the fourth round.
This is the fourth offensive lineman selected in the Dave Clawson era, all coming since 2019. Phil Haynes was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round in 2019, Justin Herron was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2020 draft and Zach Tom was chosen by Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017, the second-longest streak in the common NFL Draft era (since 1967). That streak matches the program's record of now seven-straight bowl berths. Additionally during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 44 players sign NFL contracts.
This is the Deacs third draftee in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining San Francisco fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha and Dallas Cowboys fifth-round pick Caelen Carson. The three selections are the most in the Clawson era and the most since four Deacs were taken in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Additionally, this marks the fifth time in the Clawson era that multiple players have been selected in the same draft. It joins the 2023 NFL Draft that saw defensive lineman Kobie Turner go to the Los Angeles Rams and AT Perry to the New Orleans Saints, 2022 NFL Draft that saw offensive lineman Zach Tom go to the Green Bay Packers and Ja'Sir Taylor to the Los Angeles Chargers, the 2020 NFL Draft that saw linebacker Justin Strnad go to the Broncos and offensive lineman Justin Herron go to New England Patriots and the 2018 NFL Draft where defensive back Jessie Bates III was chosen by Cincinnati Bengals and defensive lineman Duke Ejiofor was taken by Houston Texans.
From Coach Clawson
"Michael Jurgens, who was a three-time captain for us and was a two-time semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, is a smart, tough and physical football player that can play at multiple positions on the offensive line. He was so instrumental in our success going to five bowl games, winning three bowl championships and capturing the 2021 Atlantic Division title. Michael jumps off the film and his production speaks for itself. The Minnesota Vikings just got a player who will impact their franchise in a positive way."
From Matt Miller of ESPN
"He can play center or guard. He has experience at both and will likely step inside and be a snapper at the next level. That's where I liked him the best. He has accurate hands, is very consistent and knows where to put his hands to control guys. He's not the biggest player but he understands leverage and angles. That experience is going to be great for him. He understands how to combo block. He is very poised. You can see times where his teammates struggle and he comes over to help. The poise and the football IQ are exceptional."
More on Michael Jurgens
In his six seasons at Wake Forest, offensive lineman Michael Jurgens was one of the winningest players in program history, leading the Demon Deacons to 42 wins, five bowl trips, three bowl wins and a 2021 ACC Atlantic Division title.
During his redshirt senior season after a switch from center to guard, he became the seventh Demon Deacon offensive player in the last six years to be named an All-American.
In addition to earning Phil Steele All-America and All-ACC honors, he was also named to the official All-ACC team as voted on by media and coaches, the Associated Press All-ACC Team and the Pro Football Focus All-ACC Team.
He only allowed one sack all season and committed just three penalties. Additionally, he ranked as the highest-graded Power-5 interior lineman according to Pro Football Focus with a grade of 83.7. Also the highest grade of his career. He also owned the highest offensive grade out of any qualified ACC offensive lineman with a rating of 83.7, the next closest is 77.3.
He also had the highest run-blocking grade out of any offensive lineman in the ACC with a grade of 87.2, the next highest is 76.6.
Jurgens tallied 841 snaps this season, the second-most by any Demon Deacon on the team. He started all 12 games with 11 coming at guard and one coming at center.
The All-American has played and started in 46 of the Deacs 48 games dating back to the start of the 2020 season, earning All-ACC honors each of the last three seasons. Additionally, he was named a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist for the second consecutive season and was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List ahead of the season.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Michael Jurgens being selected by the Vikings.
EMBEDDED TWEETS/SOCIAL POSTS
Jurgs is a Viking, @Michael_jurgens ‼️#NFLDraft | #ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/FfL4G98D6R
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 27, 2024
Getting stronger up front 💪
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 27, 2024
The #Vikings have selected OL @Michael_jurgens. pic.twitter.com/GhSy8Jnxth
Third #ProDeac of the day 📈
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 27, 2024
📺: 2024 #NFLDraft – April 25-27 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/H38ddieyWG
SKOL 👏 SKOL 👏 SKOL 👏 SKOL 👏 pic.twitter.com/G1Asg4Kz1C
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 27, 2024
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