Name: Antone Exum

Position: S

School: Virginia Tech

Background:

  • In 2011, his sophomore year at Virginia Tech, Exum was an honorable mention All-ACC selection as a safety. The Hokies moved him to cornerback the next year and he was named second-team All-ACC.
  • Exum made 186 tackles, forced five fumbles and picked off six passes during his Virginia Tech career. His best season was in 2012, when he had five interceptions and defended 21 passes.
  • Tore the ACL and lateral meniscus in his right knee during a pickup basketball game in January 2013. Dr. James Andrews rebuilt his knee but he missed the first seven weeks of the season. He played three games before missing the rest of the season with a sprained ankle.
  • Exum was born and raised in the Richmond, Virginia area. He starred as a dual-threat quarterback and defensive back at Deep Run High School in Glen Allen, Virginia.
  • Exum received a gift card as part of the schwag bag players received during the Russell Athletic Bowl. Instead of using it for himself, he bought three youngsters in the store a Playstation 3 and a Blackberry.
  • Exum recently collaborated musically with Hokies teammate Josh Stanford. The music has apparently not been released yet, though, so you'll have to wait to download it.
  • Exum was scarfing down McDonald's when the Vikings called him last weekend to welcome him to Minnesota. He told a reporter he got tired of watching the draft on TV and ran out to grab some grub.

On tearing up his knee while playing basketball

"The first thing that went through my mind was, 'Why was I out here?' But it was the same reason that everybody was out there, it was just a recreational game of basketball and it was just an unfortunate event. I came down on it wrong and suffered an injury, but I just see it as an adversity that made me stronger in the long run."

On the kind of role the Vikings envision for him

"They see me as a hybrid type guy. I am just ready to get on the field and contribute in any way I can with whatever they want me to do. It is primarily going to be safety, if that is what they need me to step in and do, then that is what I will do. I am just trying to get on the field as quickly as possible and help us win games."

On his skill set and how it will translate to the NFL

"My strengths are my speed, my size, ball skills, physicality, point of attack, and tackling. I feel like I have a unique covering ability and also to make the big play at the big moment. That is something I did a lot in college and I hope to carry on to professional level."