This time a year ago, the immense hype trailed Cordarrelle Patterson to Mankato like a lockdown cornerback chasing him down the sideline.
Before he snapped on his helmet for his first padded practice since his thrilling rookie season, Patterson was hailed as one of the NFL's biggest breakout candidates and a surefire fantasy football star. The Vikings promoted him heavily, too, and he had to shake free of screaming autograph seekers every day at camp.
But when the actual games started, Patterson was more dud than stud.
He caught only one touchdown pass as the Vikings got off to a 2-5 start. After Week 1, the designed plays to get the ball in Patterson's hands with handoffs and screen passes were snuffed out by defenses. By November, he was relegated to backup duty.
"Last year is last year," Patterson said recently. "I'm trying to put that in the past."
Last year, the 2013 first-rounder lacked consistency and an attention to detail, leading to legitimate questions about whether he will ever become a reliable, starting-caliber wide receiver. But the Vikings remain committed to the 24-year-old, pointing out that talented young man is, well, still young and talented.
Patterson, meanwhile, says he is humbled and hungry to get his career back on track.
"I tell everybody, I feel like this is the make-or-break-me year, man," he said. "I've got a lot to prove. I need to get back to the old me and have fun and not get too serious like I did last year."