North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Wolfpack Well-Represented in Vikings' Monday Night Win
11/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 22, 2005
By Tim Peeler
RALEIGH -The Minnesota Vikings can thank three former NC State football players for keeping their play-off hopes alive.
The trio of Dovonte Edwards, Koren Robinson and Brian Williams all made significant contributions in Monday night's 20-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, keeping the Vikings (5-5) in the hunt for the playoffs. They currently trail NFC North Division leader Chicago by two games.
Edwards, a rookie cornerback who signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in the spring, returned his first career interception 51 yards for a touchdown with a minute remaining before halftime, a dream come true for any rookie.
"It was exciting," Edwards said. "I had a dream actually last night that I would do something big today and it came true. Mike Tice said you need to dream, dream about making plays and that's what I did last night and it happened for me tonight."
Edwards is seeing increasing action for the Vikings, who host Cleveland this weekend. He made four total tackles in the Monday night game, two on defense and two on special teams.
But the game-winning field goal was set up by another former Wolfpack star, wide receiver Koren Robinson, who signed with the Vikings in September, after being let go by the Seattle Seahawks.
He caught a 35-yard pass from 37-year-old quarterback Brad Johnson, who is filling in for the injured Dauntae Culpepper, with 52 seconds remaining, rambling down to the Green Bay 6-yard line. It was Robinson's season-high third catch of the night and his eighth catch of the season. He also had three kickoff returns for 63 yards.
Finally, veteran cornerback Brian Williams also intercepted a Brett Favre pass, returning it two yards in the victory.
In other news, Arizona safety Adrian Wilson, who leads his team in tackles, had a monster game in a 38-28 victory over St. Louis on Sunday. He tied the NFL single-game record for sacks by a safety with three against the Rams. He also forced and recovered a fumble. And one of his hits against St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger knocked Bulger out of the game.
Wilson now leads all NFL defensive backs with 76 tackles on the season and has a career-high five sacks.
S Adrian Wilson
6-3, 230
Years at NC State: 1998-2000
Acquired: 3rd round draft pick, 2001
Experience: 4 years
Depth chart status: Starting safety
Note: Wilson blitzed in Arizona's 38-28 victory over St. Louis more than he dropped back in coverage, which is why he was in the Rams' backfield the entire game. He notched three sacks in the game, giving him a career-high five of the season. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and knocked St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger out of the game with a injured shoulder. He has more tackles (76) than any other defensive back in the NFL and is ranked 16th overall in tackles. Arizona (3-7) hosts Jacksonville Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
CB Lamont Reid
5-11, 203
Years at NC State: 2001-04.
Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent.
Experience: Rookie
Notes: After sitting out two of the last three games, Reid was back in action against St. Louis, making one special teams tackle for the Cardinals.
6-6, 330
Years at NC State: 2000-02
Acquired: 7th-round draft pick, 2003
Experience: 2 years
Depth chart status: Second-team right guard
Notes: Kooistra saw limited action in the Bengals' 45-37 loss to undefeated Indianapolis. Kooistra has been a reserve lineman for Cincinnati all season. The Bengals (7-3) host Baltimore at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
6-2, 208
Years at NC State: 1999-2002
Acquired: 5th round draft pick, 2003
Experience: 2
Depth chart status: Starting free safety
Notes: For the first time this season, Holt was not in the starting lineup for the Lions. In fact, he did not play at all in the 20-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys because of back spasms he suffered earlier in the week. The Lions (4-6) expect Holt to be back on Thursday when they host Atlanta on Thursday in their traditional Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field.
LB Pat Thomas
6-2, 237
Years at NC State: 2001-2004
Acquired: 6th-round draft pick, 2005
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Reserve outside linebacker
Notes: Thomas suffered a pulled hamstring during practice last week and did not play in the Jaguars' 31-28 victory over Tennessee on Sunday. Jacksonville (7-3) plays at Arizona at 4:05 on Sunday.
DB Dewayne Washington
5-11, 193
Years at NC State: 1990-93
Acquired: Signed as a free agent, July 29, 2005; drafted in the 1st round, 1994 draft, by Minnesota
Experience: 12 years
Depth chart status: Reserve right cornerback
Note: Washington had two tackles and recovered a fumble in the Chiefs' 45-17 win over Houston. The Chiefs (6-4) host defending Super Bowl champion New England at 1 p.m. Sunday.
6-0, 182
Years at NC State: 2001-04
Acquired: Signed as a free agent
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Reserve cornerback
Notes: Edwards has seen more and more action over the last two weeks and it paid off big-time Monday night. Edwards returned his first career interception 51 yards for a touchdown in the Monday night victory over Green Bay. He had four tackles in the game, two on defense and two on special teams.
WR Koren Robinson
6-1, 205
Years at NC State: 1999-2000
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Sept. 6.
Experience: 5 years
Depth chart status: Starting wide receiver
Notes: Robinson has become a steady contributor in recent weeks, after showing he can make plays for the Vikings' slumping offense. His 35-yard catch from quarterback Brad Johnson set up the game-winning field goal in the 20-17 win over Green Bay on Monday Night Football. He also had another big night returning kicks, averaging 21 yards on three returns. Robinson is ranked sixth in the NFL in kickoff return average.
5-11, 207
Years at NC State: 1998-2001
Acquired: Fourth-round pick of the Vikings in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Experience: 3 years
Depth chart status: Reserve cornerback
Notes: Williams had an interception for the Vikings' defense for the second week in a row. With the score at 17-14 and Green Bay on the Minnesota 45, the veteran cornerback picked off a Brett Favre pass in the fourth quarter, stopping a drive that could have given the Packers a lead.
TE Sean Berton
6-4, 263
Acquired: Signed off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings in September, 2005
Experience: 3 years
Depth chart status: Reserve tight end
Notes: Berton played on special teams in the Giants' 27-17 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, but did not record a tackle. The Giants (7-3) play at Seattle on Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
6-0, 207
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: Fourth-round draft pick in 2004 NFL Draft
Depth chart status: Reserve wide receiver, punt and kickoff returner
Notes: A week after his first career start, Cotchery came off the bench to make one 4-yard reception and a 13-yard punt return in the Jets' 27-0 loss to Denver. The Jets (2-8) hosts New Orleans Sunday at 8:30 p.m.
DB Andre Maddox
6-1, 206
Years at NC State: 2001-04
Acquired: Fifth-round pick of the Jets in the 2005 NFL Draft
Depth chart status: On injured reserve.
Notes: Suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason and has not played this year.
WR Alvis Whitted
6-0, 185
Years at NC State: 1994-97
Acquired: Signed by Oakland as a free agent in 2002; drafted by Jacksonville, 7th round, 1998.
Experience: 8 years
Depth chart status: Reserve wide receiver.
Notes: Whitted saw little action off the bench in the Raiders' 16-13 loss to the Washington Redskins. He had no receptions and no kickoff returns for the Raiders (4-6), who host Miami Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
6-5, 228
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: 1st-round draft pick, 2003, traded from the New York Giants
Experience: 1 year
Depth chart status: Reserve quarterback
Notes: Rivers saw his first action of the season - a single play on the Chargers last possession of the game to take a knee in the Chargers' 48-10 victory over Buffalo. Officially, he now has one carry for minus-1 yards rushing for the Chargers (6-4). San Diego plays at Washington Sunday at 1 p.m.
WR Torry Holt
6-0, 190
Years at NC State: 1995-98
Acquired: 1st round draft pick, 1999
Experience: 7 years
Depth chart status: Starting wide receiver
Notes: Holt seems to be back to 100 percent after missing two games earlier this year with a knee injury. He caught a season-high 11 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown in a 38-28 loss to Arizona on Sunday. Despite missing those two games, Holt is ranked fifth in the NFL with 59 receptions and seventh with 812 receiving yards. He also has six touchdowns. The Rams (4-6) play at Houston at 1 p.m. Sunday.
6-3, 301
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: 3rd round pick, 2004 draft
Experience: 1 year
Depth chart status: Starting right tackle
Note: Locklear made his 10th consecutive start of the season in the Seahawks' 27-25 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks (8-2) are tied with Denver for the second-best record in the NFL, and, thanks in part to Locklear's blocking, are ranked third in the league in rushing yards (159.5 yards per game). The Seahawks host the New York Giants Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
42-10
LB Corey Smith
6-3, 250
Years at NC State: 1998-2001
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Dec. 12, 2004, after two years with Tampa Bay; signed as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers in 2002.
Experience: 2 years
Depth chart status: Reserve outside linebacker
Note: Smith saw limited action on special teams in the 49ers' 27-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The 49ers (2-8) play at Tennessee at 1 p.m. Sunday.
OT Chris Colmer
6-5, 310
Years at NC State: 1999-2004
Acquired: 3rd round draft pick, 2005
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Backup right tackle
Notes: Colmer, in his first year in the NFL, was moved to the inactive list last month and has yet to return to action for the Buccaneers (7-3), who host Chicago at 1 p.m. Sunday.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
