Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings' Brian Peters successfully transitioning from DB to LB, CFL to NFL

Published Jul. 2, 2015 1:28 p.m. ET

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Brian Peters was a safety in college at Northwestern. He, then, made the transition to linebacker in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Now, Peters is trying to become a longterm member of the Minnesota Vikings.

After two seasons in the CFL, Peters was signed by the Vikings this offseason. He's far from a lock to make the 53-man roster, but injuries at the linebacker position led to increased snaps for Peters during early offseason workouts, according to Master Tesfatsion of the Star-Tribune.

So far, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer likes what he's seen from Peters.

"Brian is doing a nice job with all the coverage aspects of where he’s supposed to be, you’d expect that from a converted safety," Zimmer told the Star-Tribune. "The question is, when he gets the pads on how will he be in that area, so again, the physicality. But in shorts he’s doing a good job, he knows where to be, he can run, he’s pretty smart."

Last season with the Roughriders, Peters recorded 78 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a touchdown, according to the Star-Tribune. At 6-foot-4 and only 235 pounds, it'll be tough for him to replicate those numbers as a linebacker in the NFL.

(h/t Star-Tribune)

Photo Credit: Bruce Thorson/USA TODAY Sports