Ex-Gopher Marcus Sherels survives Vikings roster cuts

Jun 11, 2013; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Marcus Sherels (35) returns kicks in drills at the Minnesota Vikings Minicamp at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher defensive back Marcus Sherels survived the final roster cuts to make the 53-man roster entering the regular season for the Minnesota Vikings.

Sherels, a Rochester native, went undrafted in 2010 and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings that year. He has been with the Vikings ever since, recording 36 career tackles and one sack entering into his fourth season in the NFL.

But playing defense isn’t why the Vikings kept Sherels. The 5-foot-10, 175 pound athlete is a kick and punt return specialist who had been on the bubble up until last week when he returned a kick-off 109-yards for a touchdown in the final game of the Vikings preseason against the Tennessee Titans. He also made an interception on defense to bolster his stock, which was enough merit for the Vikings coaching staff to keep him on the active roster heading into Week 1 against the Detroit Lions.

Sherels was one of 10 defensive backs on the roster announced on Saturday.

On Sept. 30 of 2012,  Sherels scored his first, and only, regular season NFL touchdown on a 77-yard punt return against the Detroit Lions to give the Vikings the lead and the eventual win.

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