North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Robinson Has Another Big Day For Vikings
12/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 7, 2005
By Tim Peeler
RALEIGH - The Minnesota Vikings are on a roll, and former NC State wide receiver Koren Robinson is one of the reasons.
The former Wolfpack star was a late addition to the Viking roster in September, having been released by the Seattle Seahawks following last season because of off-the-field problems.
Robinson vowed to straighten himself out, with the help of former NC State teammate Brian Williams, who is in his fourth year with the Vikings.
And, in Sunday's 21-16 victory over Detroit, Robinson continues to make big-play contributions for the resurgent Vikings. He had an 80-yard touchdown reception from veteran quarterback Brad Johnson, who has led the Vikings to five straight victories since taking over for the injured Daunte Culpepper. It was Robinson's first receiving touchdown of the year and second overall. He had an 86-yard kickoff return earlier this season.
Robinson has helped out on offense and special teams. He has started three of the Vikings' last five games and has more passes in the last two contests than any receiver on the team. His four catches for 148 yards against the Lions was the fourth-best receiving day of his career.
He has also been the team's primary kickoff returner, ranking eighth in the NFL with a 25.9-yard average.
Now, after a 2-5 start and the infamous party-boat incident, the Vikings have won five in a row and are back in the hunt for a berth in the playoffs. They currently trail the Chicago Bears by two games in the NFC North.
In other news from NC State's 18 former players in the NFL, Williams almost had his second career interception for a touchdown for the Vikings. He picked off a Jeff Garcia pass and returned it 36 yards to the end zone, but it was called back by a penalty.
Defensive end Corey Smith recovered a blocked punt for the San Francisco 49ers in their loss to Arizona. Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson had a sack, a fumble caused and a fumble recovery in that game.
Detroit safety Terrence Holt, in his first year as a starter with the Lions, missed his second game of the season after suffering an elbow injury on Thanksgiving Day. Jacksonville rookie linebacker Pat Thomas returned to action after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
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 had another outstanding game for the Cardinals in a 17-10 victory over San Francisco. The NFL's top tackling defensive back had seven tackles on the day, had six solo tackles in the Cardinals' 24-17 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, increasing his NFL-leading tackle total for defensive backs to 82. He is ranked No. 17 overall in tackles. The Cardinals play at San Francisco on Sunday.
CB Lamont Reid
5-11, 203
Years at NC State: 2001-04.
Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent.
Experience: Rookie
Notes: Reid again played on special teams for the Cardinals, but did not record any tackles in the win over San Francisco.
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 as an offensive guard in the Bengals' 38-31 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday. The AFC North-leading Bengals (9-3) host Cleveland Sunday at 1 p.m. If the Bengals win and Pittsburgh loses to ???, Cincinnati will clinch its first division title in 15 years.
6-2, 208
Years at NC State: 1999-2002
Acquired: 5th round draft pick, 2003
Experience: 2
Depth chart status: Starting free safety
Notes: Holt missed his second game of the season due to injury Sunday, when the Lions lost 21-16 to the Minnesota Vikings. Holt missed his first game against Dallas because of back spasms and he was inactive against the Vikings because of an elbow injury. The team has not yet announced whether Holt will be available for Sunday's 1 p.m. game at Green Bay.
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 returned to action after missing two straight games because of a hamstring injury. He assisted on one special teams' tackle in the Jaguars 20-10 victory at Cleveland. Jacksonville (9-3) plays at undefeated Indianapolis (12-0) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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 played but didn't make any tackles in the Chiefs' 31-27 victory over the Denver Broncos, a win that pulled Kansas City into a tie with San Diego for second place in the AFC West, one game behind the Broncos. The Chiefs (8-4) play at Dallas Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
 Brian Williams is a regular starter at cornerback for the Vikings.  |
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6-0, 182
Years at NC State: 2001-04
Acquired: Signed as a free agent
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Reserve cornerback
Notes: Edwards had two special teams' tackles in the Vikings' 21-16 victory over Detroit on Sunday. The Vikings (7-5) host St. Louis on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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 had another big game for the Vikings, who are on a five-game winning streak. Robinson caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brad Johnson, who his now 5-0 since taking over for the injured Daunte Culpepper. It was the Vikings' longest play of the season. In the game, Robinson had a team-high four catches for 148 yards, the fourth biggest receiving day of his five-year career. He also had one rush for nine yards and three kickoff returns for 71 yards. He is eighth in the NFL with a 25.9 yard 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 a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown negated by a penalty in the win over the Lions. It would have been the second touchdown of Williams' NFL career, however, it was called back. Williams has two interceptions this season and 10 in his four years as an NFL cornerback. He did record four tackles and one pass defended in the game.
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' 17-10 victory over Dallas Sunday. The Giants (8-4) play at Philadelphia Sunday at 1 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: Cotchery continues to contribute on offense and special teams for the Jets. He had two pass receptions for 16 yards, two punt returns for 14 yards and a kickoff return for 19 years in the Jets' 16-3 loss to New England. New York (2-10) hosts Oakland on Sunday at 1 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 came off the bench to catch one 11-yard pass in the Raiders' 34-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers. The Raiders (4-8) play at the New York Jets at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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 did not participate in the Chargers' 34-10 victory over Oakland. The Chargers (8-4) host Miami Sunday at 4:15 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 had a team-high six catches for 75 yards in the Rams' 24-9 loss to the Washington Redskins. The performance gave Holt his sixth consecutive season with at least 1,000 yards receiving. He remains in the top 10 in the NFL for receptions, yards receiving and touchdown catches. The Rams (5-7) play at Minnesota Sunday at 1 p.m.
 Sean Locklear has started all 12 games for the NFC West-champion Seattle Seahawks. |
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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 12th consecutive start of the season in the Seahawks' 42-0 victory over Philadelphia in the Monday Night Football game. The Seahawks (10-2), who have already clinched the NFC West Division title, host San Francisco on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
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, a former Wolfpack defensive end now in his third year in the NFL, recovered a blocked punt in San Francisco's 17-10 loss to Arizona. He played throughout the game on special teams, but did not record any tackles or assists. The 49ers (2-10) play at Seattle on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
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 in October and has yet to return to action for the Buccaneers (8-4), who beat New Orleans 10-3 Sunday. The Buccaneers play at Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
