Mortiz Boehringer became the first player in NFL Draft history to be drafted that never played a snap of college football.
The Minnesota Vikings made NFL Draft history with their sixth round pick (No. 180 overall) by taking the first player in a draft that never played a snap of college football in wide receiver Mortiz Boehringer of the German Football League.
Boehringer hadn’t played football until four years ago, but his outstanding play in the German Football League playing for Schwabisch Hall Unicorns helped him catch the notice of NFL scouts. In 2015, Boehringer had 59 receptions for 1,232 yards and 13 touchdowns in 16 regular season.
Boehringer ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at his pro day at Florida Atlantic University. At 6’4″, 227 pounds, he projects as an NFL tight end and could be a huge boost in the Vikings passing offense with Teddy Bridgewater as their quarterback.
Since Boehringer’s entry into the NFL was a bit unorthodox as the first truly international player, here is how Twitter handled his sixth-round selection by the Vikings on Saturday.
I hope this Mortiz Boehringer that just got drafted out of Germany tears up the NFL. Dude is dope.
— Isaiah Klenovich 👽 (@Izz_Fizz27) April 30, 2016
Mortiz Boehringer to the #Vikings... I am a huge fan. Hope he can make an impact. To be drafted from Germany to your favorite team? Awesome.
— Richie Bradshaw (@RichieBradz36) April 30, 2016
That Mortiz Boehringer/Keenan Reynolds back-to-back drafting has just all fired up here @nflnetwork studio. Cool moment right there.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) April 30, 2016
Mortiz Boehringer. Awesome freakin' moment.
— Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) April 30, 2016
Achtung! #Vikings make history drafting German receiver Mortiz Boehringer in Round 6https://t.co/5SfbBlA1g5
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 30, 2016
Vikings take WR Mortiz Boehringer at #180. He is an interesting story. Has only played football for a few years, in GERMANY.
— Benjamin Clark (@therealbenclark) April 30, 2016
mortiz boehringer will be a problem in the NFL sheesh
— TallHandsomeGuy (@That_guyDorian) April 30, 2016
Mortiz Boehringer is going to score some Tor's for the Vikings. Or whatever you call a touchdown in Deutsch.
— Chase Ruttig (@ChaseRuttig) April 30, 2016
The #Vikings drafted Mortiz Boehringer. I was hoping the #Cowboys drafted him and made him a project opposite Dez Bryant #NFLDraft2016
— P. Against The World🤘🏿🕊 (@chillin662) April 30, 2016
Vikings just selected an international player with no CFB experience. WR Mortiz Boehringer. From "East"
— James (@iKezims) April 30, 2016
On the whole, it seems that the Twitter-verse thinks it’s really cool that a player with no college football experience from Germany will have his opportunity to play for an NFL team. Boehringer’s impressive pro day had the eye of several teams, as other fans were hoping that their club would use a sixth or seventh round pick on this foreign receiving project.
While this was a great moment in the NFL Draft on Saturday, coupled with Navy Midshipmen running back Keenan Reynolds being taken the very next pick by the Baltimore Ravens, it’s up in the air if Boehringer can stick in the NFL after a successful stint in the German Football League?
For more 2016 NFL Draft coverage, please check out our NFL Draft hub page.