Kain Colter turning heads at Vikings training camp

Of the 16 undrafted free agents who signed with the Vikings in May, Kain Colter received the biggest signing bonus. His $8,000 is double the second-largest sum. Yet the former Northwestern quarterback began training camp last week with no assurance of making the team's roster. UDFAs typically have a tough time earning a spot on the final 53, and Colter is operating at a position (WR) he played only sparingly in college. Early reports suggest he has at least put himself in the mix.

Our friends over at Daily Norseman wrote Saturday that Colter and Minnesota State-Mankato product Adam Thielen have created some separation from the other receivers competing for the fifth receiver spot, behind Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings, Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright. Colter was also seen fielding punts during special teams drills. Vikings Corner's Daniel House wrote about Colter's performance at practice Saturday.

Colter opens some eyes

Kain Colter is a name many people were keeping an eye on entering training camp. Today, Colter caught about six passes, two of which were rather impressive. Teddy Bridgewater found him and with a defensive back draped over him, he leaped and made a difficult catch. Later in practice, Bridgewater found Colter again over the top of the defense on a corner post. Colter didn't see much time at wide receiver and was a hybrid player at Northwestern, but his skills at the position have impressed. He is more fluid at the position and his footwork and technique is far ahead of where I anticipated it would be

Ted Glover of DN caught up with Colter.

DN: What's the biggest adjustment going from college to the NFL so far?

KC: Being a receiver, you have to be an expert at your craft. All the defensive backs are good, and there's really not much room for error.  You have to run great routes, have strong hands, and for me only playing receiver it's going to take some time.  In college, I was never doing receiver individual drills, because I was playing quarterback and in the quarterback room, so that been the biggest difference.

In January, when Colter was turning heads at Senior Bowl practices, his chances of getting drafted and making an NFL roster seemed decent. At least a few scouts believed he was deserving of a mid-to-late-round selection. An ankle injury forced him to miss the Senior Bowl and hampered him during his pro-day. Colter was not cleared to partake in the vertical jump and was clocked at 4.71 in the 40-yard dash, about two tenths of a second slower than the average time run by wideouts at the combine.

Even though he went undrafted, Colter drew plenty of interest from teams. He reportedly chose the Vikings over seven others. It’s too early to predict whether Colter will make Minnesota's Week 1 roster, but he at least could be in the conversation come final cuts. Colter's versatile, has a high football IQ and and, when healthy, is a quick and elusive runner. Plus, he’d be joining perhaps the most high-profile non-O'Bannon plaintiff suing the NCAA. Colter and Sharrif Floyd should have plenty to talk about.

For more information on Colter and other NU alums fighting for NFL roster spots, check out our roundup from last week.