Vikings look south for linebacking help, sign FIU’s Manuel, UM’s Cloyd as undrafted free agents
Donovan Manuel has a chance.
Manuel, FIU’s star inside linebacker the past two years, signed on Saturday with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Donovan will make their team,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said Sunday. “He has worked extremely hard to get here.”
Manuel is one of 17 undrafted free-agent signees by the Vikings, who play a 3-4 defense.
Manuel has extensive experience in the 3-4, including at FIU.
The Vikings signed six undrafted linebackers — three for the outside and three on the inside.
Former Miami Hurricanes inside linebacker
K.J. Cloyd was also signed by Minnesota, making for an interesting competition against Manuel.
Minnesota did not select any inside linebackers in the draft, although they did pick outside linebacker Dallas Turner in the first round out of Alabama.
Manuel led FIU last season in total tackles
(121) and tackles for losses (15 1⁄2).
He led in solo tackles (68) and assists (53), too, making second-team AllConference
USA.
He also proved to be a playmaker, tying Georgia Southern’s Isaac Walker for the national lead in forced fumbles with five.
In 2022, Manuel led
FIU in tackles for losses (8 1⁄2), and he finished second in total stops (97).
If he doesn’t make the Vikings’ roster out of camp this fall, Manuel would be a candidate for the practice squad.
Interestingly, Minnesota’s defensive coordinator is former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, and the Vikings’ starting inside linebackers are Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace
Jr.
The key to Manuel’s making the team is likely to be special teams.
In another irony, the Vikings’ special-team coordinator is Matt Daniels, whom MacIntyre recruited to and coached at Duke.
“I also gave Matt his first job in coaching as a graduate assistant [in 2017] at Colorado,” MacIntyre said of Daniels. “Matt is going to love Donovan.”
Manuel covered punts and kickoffs at FIU, so his upcoming tasks won’t be anything new for him.
“Donovan is physical, and he runs well,” MacIntyre said. “He has a chance to be a good NFL linebacker.”