Minnesota Vikings

Vikings sign local receiver, CFL star Zylstra

Published Jan. 3, 2018 3:55 p.m. ET

The Minnesota Vikings are taking a chance on another overlooked local.

Spicer, Minnesota native Brandon Zylstra signed a reserve/futures contract with the Vikings on Wednesday after leading the CFL with 1,687 receiving yards last season.

A 6-foot-2 product of Division III Concordia College, Zylstra racked up 1,932 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in 29 career games with the Cobbers.

He signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2016, earning CFL All-Star honors last season.

It's not the first time the Vikings have taken a flier on a local receiver.

The Vikings famously struck gold in 2013, when they signed Detroit Lakes native and former Minnesota State star Adam Thielen to their practice squad as an undrafted free agent. Thielen recently earned his first Pro Bowl nod after leading the Vikings with 1,276 receiving yards in 2017.

Fullback C.J. Ham was another such find after starring at Augustana University. The Duluth native scored his first career touchdown in Week 2, finishing the season with seven carries for 13 yards.