The Vikings have added two new players to their offseason roster.
Minnesota has signed fullback Zach Ojile and offensive lineman Sam Schlueter, the team announced Monday. Both participated in the Vikings rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
Ojile (Blaine) and Schlueter (Victoria) are both Minnesota natives, and they played collegiately for the University of Minnesota – Duluth Bulldogs and University of Minnesota Gophers, respectively. Ojile attended Spring Lake Park High School, becoming a Minnesota Mr. Football finalist in 2016, and Schlueter attended Mayer Lutheran High School.
Last season for the Bulldogs, Ojile totaled 25 catches for 289 yards and five touchdowns as a tight end; he also added 12 carries for 53 yards and three rushing touchdowns. A two-time captain for UMD, he was named First-Team NSIC All-Conference and Second-Team CCA All-Super Region following the 2022 campaign.
Ojile is listed at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds. He joins fullback C.J. Ham, another Minnesota native who made the roster as a tryout in 2016, on the Vikings roster.
Schlueter spent some time with the 49ers last summer after signing with San Francisco as an undrafted free agent. He played two preseason games for the Niners but was released with an injury settlement. He was signed to the Jets practice squad in December.
In 2021 for the Gophers, Schlueter started all 13 games and blocked for an offense that recorded 4,681 total yards and averaged 25.5 points per game. He received Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Schlueter played right and left tackle for the U of M.
