Vikings Nab Demmings in Fifth Round
4/25/2026 3:07:00 PM | Football, General
Mesquite, Texas native becomes seventh Lumberjack since 2000 to hear name called on draft weekend
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – It was just a matter of time before former Stephen F. Austin All-American cornerback Charles Demmings' name was off the boards during day three of the 2026 National Football League Draft. The call came from the Land of 10,000 Lakes as the Minnesota Vikings selected the Mesquite, Texas native with the 23rd pick of the fifth round, 163rd overall.
Demmings' appointment to the NFC North franchise makes him the seventh Lumberjack since 2000 to hear his name called on draft weekend and the 37th SFA player all-time. He was the third FCS player to be selected on Saturday following fellow Southland Conference defensive standout Kaleb Proctor of Southeastern Louisiana (Cardinals, 4-104) and wide receiver Bryce Lance (Saints, 4-136) of North Dakota State.
As a senior, Demmings held the third-highest passes defended average (1.00) in Southland Conference games. Despite minimal targets, he defended eight passes (3 INTs, 5 PBUs) including pass breakups in four games with two vs. McNeese. A vocal leader, Demmings' presence aided an SFA defense that ranked second in total defense in FCS along with a top three scoring defense and third down defense. He earned all-conference and all-American honors this past fall and finished his career as the program's all-time leader in pass breakups (35).
The shutdown corner becomes the second Lumberjack to be drafted by the Vikings joining defensive back Bob Pearce who Minnesota selected in the 13th round of the 1970 NFL draft. He is the third-straight Lumberjack and the ninth overall to be selected in the first five rounds of the draft and the first Lumberjack defensive back taken since 1995 when San Diego picked Terrance Shaw with the 34th overall pick.
The Vikings will host rookie minicamp during the first part of May (to be announced) with organized team activities scheduled for May 26, 27 and 29 and June 1, 2, 4 and 15-18. The NFL will release preseason and regular season schedules in May.
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For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Chucky Dee is headed to Minnesota! ????#EastTexasTough x #AxeEm x #Skol pic.twitter.com/Dh2EiRBeC0
— Lumberjack Football (@SFA_Football) April 25, 2026
Demmings' appointment to the NFC North franchise makes him the seventh Lumberjack since 2000 to hear his name called on draft weekend and the 37th SFA player all-time. He was the third FCS player to be selected on Saturday following fellow Southland Conference defensive standout Kaleb Proctor of Southeastern Louisiana (Cardinals, 4-104) and wide receiver Bryce Lance (Saints, 4-136) of North Dakota State.
As a senior, Demmings held the third-highest passes defended average (1.00) in Southland Conference games. Despite minimal targets, he defended eight passes (3 INTs, 5 PBUs) including pass breakups in four games with two vs. McNeese. A vocal leader, Demmings' presence aided an SFA defense that ranked second in total defense in FCS along with a top three scoring defense and third down defense. He earned all-conference and all-American honors this past fall and finished his career as the program's all-time leader in pass breakups (35).
HOW DID WE MISS ON THIS GUY ??
— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) April 25, 2026
If there's one thing we know about @SFA_Football's Charles Demmings is that he will compete! Louis Riddick breaks it down! pic.twitter.com/vGbLoE1lNv
The shutdown corner becomes the second Lumberjack to be drafted by the Vikings joining defensive back Bob Pearce who Minnesota selected in the 13th round of the 1970 NFL draft. He is the third-straight Lumberjack and the ninth overall to be selected in the first five rounds of the draft and the first Lumberjack defensive back taken since 1995 when San Diego picked Terrance Shaw with the 34th overall pick.
The Vikings will host rookie minicamp during the first part of May (to be announced) with organized team activities scheduled for May 26, 27 and 29 and June 1, 2, 4 and 15-18. The NFL will release preseason and regular season schedules in May.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
CB
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