Brandon Dillon (American football)

Brandon Dillon (born April 30, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Marian University.

Brandon Dillon
No. 85 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1997-04-30) April 30, 1997
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Carroll
(Flora, Indiana)
College:Marian
Undrafted:2019
Career history
Roster status:Reserve/Future
Career highlights and awards
  • NAIA National Champion (2015)
  • First-team NAIA All-American (2018)
  • 2x First team All-MSFA (2017, 2018)
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:6
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life and high school

Dillon grew up in Bringhurst, Indiana and attended Carroll High School in nearby Flora, Indiana, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. In football, Dillon was a four-year starter on both offense and defense and was named All-Area by the Kokomo Tribune twice and was a two-time Class A All-State selection. He was also a two-time All-Area selection in basketball.[1] Despite being recruited by Bowling Green, Toledo and Ohio University to join their programs as a preferred walk-on, Dillon opted to enroll at nearby Marian University, an NAIA school.[2]

College career

Dillon was a member Marian Knights for four seasons and was a freshman when the team won the 2015 NAIA National Championship. As a senior, Dillon caught 35 passes for 603 yards and five touchdowns and was named a first team NAIA All-American. After the season he was the only NAIA player to be invited to participate in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.[3] Dillon finished his collegiate career with 105 receptions for 1,661 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 42 games played.[4]

Professional career

Dillon signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019.[5] Consider a long shot to make the team, Dillon made the Vikings' 53-man roster out of training camp.[6] He made his NFL debut in the Vikings season opener on September 8, 2019.[7] He was waived on September 10, 2019 and re-signed to the Vikings practice squad the next day.[8][9] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 12, 2020.[10]

Dillon was waived by the Vikings during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[11][12] He was elevated to the active roster on November 15, November 28, and December 5 for the team's weeks 10, 12, and 13 games against the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[13][14][15] He was placed on the practice squad/injured list on December 8.[16] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 4, 2021.[17]

References
  1. "FOOTBALL: Marian's Dillon signs with Minnesota". Kokomo Tribune. April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  2. Thomasson, Chris (July 25, 2019). "More than 5,000 will be a crowd for Vikings rookie tight end". The Dickinson Press. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  3. Chappell, Mike (April 13, 2019). "Colts' local Pro Day major audition for Marian's Brandon Dillon, Purdue's Jake Thieneman, others". Fox59.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  4. "Vikings 2019 undrafted free agent capsules". Fox Sports North. April 30, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  5. "Report: Vikings sign free agent TE Brandon Dillon". Vikings Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  6. Thomasson, Chris (September 7, 2019). "Undrafted rookie Brandon Dillon, the 'Marian Flash,' defies odds by making Vikings roster". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  7. Ekstrom, Sam (September 9, 2019). "Second Look: Vikings First Half Abounded in Explosive Outside Runs". ZoneCoverage.com.
  8. "Vikings Re-Sign Brett Jones, Announce Additional Roster Moves". Vikings.com. September 10, 2019.
  9. Ratke, Kyle (September 11, 2019). "Vikings sign TE Brandon Dillon to practice squad". Vikings Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  10. "Vikings Announce Seven Reserve/Future Free Agent Signings". Vikings.com. January 12, 2020.
  11. Peters, Craig; Smith, Eric (September 5, 2020). "Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  12. "Vikings Claim LB Ryan Connelly, Add 13 Players To Practice Squad". Vikings.com. September 6, 2020.
  13. "Vikings Elevate TE Brandon Dillon and C Brett Jones To Active Roster, Provide Game Status Updates For Players and Position Coach". Vikings.com. November 15, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  14. @Vikings (November 28, 2020). "The #Vikings have elevated practice squad LS @andrewdepaola and TE @B_Dillon44 to the active roster for tomorrow's game. @swervinirvin_ has been downgraded to out" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  15. White, Jack (December 5, 2020). "Vikings elevate DE Eddie Yarbrough, TE Brandon Dillon to active roster". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  16. "Vikings Waive CB Holton Hill from Reserve/Injured; Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  17. "Vikings Sign 9 Players to Reserve/Future Deals". Vikings.com. January 4, 2021.
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