EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Looking for more help at linebacker, the Minnesota Vikings went back to UCLA.
A year after selecting Anthony Barr with the ninth-overall pick, Minnesota drafted Eric Kendricks in the second round on Friday.
Kendricks, 23, won the Butkus Award last season as the nation's top college linebacker. Kendricks, the younger brother of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, is the first second-round pick by Minnesota since tight end Kyle Rudolph in 2011.
Kendricks was a second-team All-American last year and a two-time team captain for UCLA. After leading the Bruins in tackles each of the past three seasons, Kendricks finished his collegiate career with 481 tackles, the most by any UCLA player since 1975.
An athletic linebacker with coverage ability, Kendricks had five interceptions in his career for the Bruins, including three last season. He added 10 total sacks and 26 tackles for loss in 52 college games, starting 41 during his four seasons.
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