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Minnesota Vikings: Kene Nwangwu Becoming A Special Teams Ace

By Jacob Schyvinck

Nov 21, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu (26) kneels before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu (26) kneels before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Vikings might have found a new special teams ace in rookie Kene Nwangwu.

It wasn’t the result that the Minnesota Vikings wanted on Sunday, as they fell to the 49ers out in Santa Clara. Minnesota continued their streak of holding a seven point lead in every game this season, yet they still sit at 5-6 on the season. The defense struggled to contain the complex running game of the 49ers and they didn’t make enough plays late, including a wild fourth and goal sequence with Kirk Cousins lining up for a snap from the right guard.

Not all is lost for this Vikings team. Four of their final six games come against the Lions, Bears (twice), and Steelers. The postseason is well within reach in a cluster of teams fighting for the final couple spots.

One thing that the Vikings should be happy about is seeing the success in the return game. Rookie returner Kene Nwangwu had his second kick return for a touchdown this season, and it came at an opportune time with the Vikings trailing by two scores. The return got the Vikings back in the game.

Nwangwu, a fourth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was a running back in his time with the Iowa State Cyclones. He didn’t have a ton of touches in his Cyclones career until his 61 carries in 2020 (in which he had 5.6 yards per carry), but those touches always seemed to generate big plays. His top notch play speed earned him chances on special teams as well, where he averaged nearly 29 yards per return in his final season.

He’s only had eight returns this season, but Kene Nwangwu scoring on two of them and averaging 41 yards per return should offer him more opportunities in the future. Hopefully, he gets more opportunities down the stretch to help the Minnesota Vikings change momentum and give them good field position.

It will be interesting to see if he can develop as a gunner as well, and maybe earn some offensive snaps at some point (just two carries in 2021). Still, a potential special teams ace, one the Vikings have had in Cordarrelle Patterson and Marcus Sherels before Nwangwu, is a good thing going forward.

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