West Virginia QB White raises 'Wildcat' possibilities

Although it's unclear if the interest is genuine or just a smokescreen in an attempt to throw other teams off the track, the Vikings reportedly conducted a private workout Tuesday with West Virginia quarterback Pat White.

White is projected by many to end up as a wide receiver and possibly a return specialist in the NFL. The Fox Sports website cited a source as saying the Vikings have interest in White as a quarterback and receiver.

White has the potential to cause havoc for opponents by lining up in the backfield in the trendy "Wildcat" formation, but Vikings coach Brad Childress expressed little interest in running that formation last season after a few teams began using the offense in which a running back takes a direct snap. White also could be developed long-term as a slot receiver.

White didn't hurt his value by having an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, playing quarterback at that all-star event and earning MVP honors.

Mike Mayock, draft analyst for the NFL Network, recently said the Vikings should take White in the second round. "[I would] line him up as a Wildcat with Adrian Peterson," Mayock said. "I think that would give defensive coordinators nightmares."

Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, who has been projected by some to go to the Vikings with the 22nd pick in the first round Saturday, tested positive for marijuana in February at the NFL scouting combine, Fox Sports reported on its website. The website Profootballtalk.com originally reported last week that Harvin had failed a drug test.

Rick Spielman, the Vikings' vice president of player personnel, said this month that the Vikings had put a "red dot" on 78 players for either character issues or health reasons but did not reveal any names. That means the Vikings would not take those players under any circumstance. Teams did not see the list of players who failed their drug test at the combine until this week.

Fox Sports reported that North Carolina wide receiver Brandon Tate also tested positive for marijuana at the combine. Tate has been projected as a first-day pick.

A source told Fox Sports that Harvin and Tate were the only high-profile players to flunk their combine drug tests and that fewer than a dozen players tested positive for recreational drugs.