Meet the Vikings-Halfbacks

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#21 Moe Williams 6-1, 203 lbs Kentucky

Games and Starts

(reg. season, playoffs): 1996 (9/0,0/0), 1997 (14/0, 2/0) 1998 (12/1, 0/0), 1999 (14/0, 2/0), 2000 (16/0, 2/0). Total - 65/1, 6/0.

Professional Info

Will battle for starting tailback spot in 2001 left by the retirement of Robert Smith...Had most durable season of his career in 2000, playing in all 16 games...One of the Vikings' top special teams players, having amassed 74 career special teams tackles...Became the ninth player to return a kickoff for a touchdown in team history when he took a kick back 85 yards at N.Y. Giants (12/26/99)...Kickoff return for touchdown at N.Y. Giants (12/26/99) gave the Vikings three special teams return touchdowns on the season, a new team record (two kickoff returns, one punt return)...Started first NFL game vs. Chicago (12/6/98).

2000: Tied career-high with four catches on the season and his 23 carries were the second-most of his career...Ran for 67 yards, the second-highest total of his career...Ranked fourth on the team with 16 special teams tackles...Had most productive offensive day vs. Arizona (11/12), with a season-high five carries for 14 yards and a season-long 12-yard catch...Caught a critical two-point conversion vs. Buffalo (10/22) that cut the Bills' lead to 24-21 en route to a Vikings 31-27 comeback win...Tied his career-high with a 10-yard run vs. Carolina (11/19)...Tied career-high with three special teams tackles at Detroit (10/1)...Had a pair of kickoff returns in NFC Championship game at N.Y. Giants (1/14/01)...Had a carry and returned a kickoff 23 yards in regular season finale at Indianapolis (12/24)...Had a pair of catches for 14 yards, a 1-yard carry, and posted two special teams tackles vs. Detroit (11/30)...Carried two times for 14 yards, including a 10-yarder vs. Carolina (11/19)...Had a pair of rushes for nine yards, returned a kickoff 21 yards, and tied for the team-high with two special teams tackles at Green Bay (11/6) on Monday Night Football...Caught first pass of the season for five yards and returned a kickoff 21 yards at Tampa Bay (10/29)...Had a pair of kickoff returns for 50 yards with a long of 34, caught a two-point conversion pass from Daunte Culpepper, and notched a special teams tackle vs. Buffalo (10/22)...His two-point conversion was the Vikings' first since 1998...Posted first career fumble recovery when he jumped on an Aaron Stecker miscue on special teams vs. Tampa Bay (10/9) on Monday Night Football that led to a Viking touchdown...Carried four times for 12 yards at Detroit (10/1)...Posted two special teams tackles and returned his first kickoff of the season at New England (9/17).

1999: Tied career-high by playing in 14 games on the season...Ranked second on team with 21 special teams stops, a career-high...Forced a pair of fumbles on special teams during the season...Set career-highs for carries (24) and rushing yards (69) on the season...Posted his second career rushing touchdown vs. San Francisco (10/24) on a 9-yard run...Career-long 10-yard run came vs. Dallas (11/8) on Monday Night Football...Returned a kickoff 23 yards at St. Louis (1/16) in Divisional Playoff game, the longest postseason return of his career...Returned a kickoff 16 yards in regular-season finale vs. Detroit (1/2)...Forced a fumble and posted two special teams tackles at Kansas City (12/12)...Had a 22-yard kickoff return and a special teams tackle at Tampa Bay (12/6) on Monday Night Football...Notched a special teams tackle to go along with his 19-yard kickoff return vs. San Diego (11/28)...Had season-high three kickoff returns at Chicago (11/14) and added a pair of special teams tackles...Tied season-high with six carries vs. Dallas (11/8) for 20 yards and returned a kickoff 26 yards...Had season-best rushing day with six carries for 25 yards and a touchdown vs. San Francisco (10/24)...Had three special teams stops at Detroit (10/17)...Saw first game action of season at Green Bay (9/26) since breaking his foot vs. Chicago (12/6/98), carrying two times for 10 yards, including converting a fourth-and-one with a 2-yard leap.

1998: Inactive vs. Detroit (9/20) with hamstring injury...Had season high two special teams tackles vs. Tampa Bay (9/6) and at Detroit (10/25)...Recovered a David Palmer fumble on kickoff return on Thanksgiving day at Dallas (11/26)...Caught a Randall Cunningham screen pass and turned it into a 64-yard gain on the first play of the game vs. Chicago (12/6), the second longest pass play of the season for the Vikings and his career-long play. Injured his foot on the same screen play...Placed on injured reserve (12/8) with a foot injury suffered vs. Bears...Recorded eight total special teams tackles, despite playing in only 12 games.

1997: Had longest kickoff return by a Viking since Herschel Walker vs. Philadelphia (11/19/89) with a 74-yarder vs. New England (11/2)...First NFL carry vs. Carolina (10/12)...Was the feature back vs. New England (11/2)...Scored his first NFL rushing touchdown vs. New England (11/2) and gained 43 yards on 19 carries...Had 137 yards in kickoff yardage vs. New England (11/2)...Finished second on the team in kickoff returns with 16 for 388 yards (24.3 avg.).

1996: Excelled on special teams his rookie season...Tied for sixth on the squad in special teams tackles (9)...Missed almost half of the season with an injured ankle...Had season-high three special teams tackles and batted a punt out of the end zone that was downed at the three-yard line vs. Detroit (9/1)...Downed punt at 1-yard line vs. Chicago (9/15). The Vikings intercepted a pass to set up a touchdown on the next play...Sprained ankle vs. Chicago (10/28)...Missed the following seven games...Was tied for team lead in special teams tackles at time of injury...Drafted in the third round with the 75th overall choice...Seventh running back taken in '96...Selected with the highest pick used on a running back from Kentucky since 1985, when George Adams was chosen in the first round by the New York Giants.

College Info

Tied Kentucky career records for touchdowns (27) and rushing touchdowns (26)...Finished just .03 shy of the school career mark for yards per carry (5.40)...Ran for the second-most yards in Wildcats history...Never missed a game in collegiate career...Started 27 of the 34 games he played at Kentucky...Honorable-mention All-America in '95...Consensus All-SEC pick in '95...Finalist for the Doak Walker Award in '95..Set a freshman single-game rushing record with 159 yards, including a 29-yard score at Georgia (10/23)...Set school freshman rushing record (986 yards) in '93...Earned freshman All-SEC and second-team All-SEC honors.

Personal Info

Maurece Jabari Williams...All-America at Spencer High School in Columbus, GA...Georgia Player of the Year as senior...Led school to its first playoff berth in 24 years in '92...Rushed for 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior...Rushed for 1,107 yards and eight scores as a junior...Honorable-mention all-state as a junior...Participates with Camp Heartland charity...Took part in the Viking Children's Fund Arctic Blast snowmobile rally in February 2001...Majored in social work at Kentucky...Served as a mentor to students at Russell Cave Elementary School while attending college.

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#34 Doug Chapman 5-10, 211 lbs Marshall

Professional Info

Will compete for starting tailback spot following the retirement of Robert Smith in the 2001 offseason.

2000: Inactive for all 16 regular season games and both playoff contests...Selected by Minnesota with the 26th pick in the third round (88th overall) in the 2000 Draft...Highest selection the Vikings had used on a running back since taking David Palmer in 1994 (second round, 40th overall)...Teammate of Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss at Marshall University. College Info

Only player in Marshall school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in his first three seasons...Second in school history in rushing yards with 4,293, topped only by Chris Parker with 5,931...Ranks third on the school's all-time list with 5,156 all purpose yards...His 61 total touchdowns rank second on school's all-time list, behind Parker with 71.

1999: All-Mid American Conference second-team selection by SportsPage.com...Named offensive captain...Played in 11 games, leading the team with 686 yards and 12 touchdowns...Also caught 24 passes for 321 yards...Ran for 68 yards and a score vs. Liberty (9/11)...Gained 81 yards on 18 carries vs. Bowling Green (9/18)...Had 80 yards rushing and two scores of 3 and 19 vs. Toledo (10/16)...Suffered a knee injury vs. Northern Illinois (10/30) and sat out the following week vs. Kent (11/6)...Finished the last two games rushing for 75 yards and two scores in the MAC Championship game vs. Western Michigan (12/3) and then had his best game of the year when he gained 133 yards and two scores of 1 and 87 yards on 14 carries and added four catches for 40 yards including a 30-yard score vs. Brigham Young (12/27) in the Motor City Bowl.

1998: All-MAC first-team selection...Led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with an average of 97.3 yards-per-game...Had 278 carries for 1,265 yards and 17 touchdowns...His 1,265 yards were good enough for the seventh-best single-season rushing record in school history...Added 26 catches for 279 yards and three touchdowns...His 20 total touchdowns ranks sixth on the Thundering Herd's single-season list...Joined three other players in school history, including Randy Moss, as the only players to score 20 times in a single-season...Recorded 151 yards rushing vs. South Carolina (9/19) on 29 carries and added a 7-yard Compaq Offensive Play of the Week scamper in which he drug multiple defenders in the endzone for a score...Gained 113 yards and a 14-yard score vs. Miami, Ohio (10/3)...Gained 125 yards on 21 carries and scores of 3 and 25 yards vs. Kent (10/17)...Scored four rushing touchdowns vs. Ball State (10/24)...Had 116 yards on 13 carries vs. Bowling Green (10/31)...Rushed for a season-high 161 yards with scores of 4 and 18 yards vs. Wofford (11/21)...Picked up 106 yards in the MAC Championship game vs. Toledo (12/4).

1997: All-MAC second-team selection...Missed close to three games with a knee injury...Gained 1,060 yards (6.0 avg.) with 11 scores...Rushed for 100-plus yards in seven of the final eight games of the season...Added 17 catches for 108 yards and a score...Rushed for a career-high 180 yards on 14 carries vs. Akron (10/11)...Ran for 122 yards on 15 carries and had scores of 25 and 34-yards vs. Eastern Michigan (10/25)...Had 115 yards and a score in the MAC Championship game vs. Toledo (12/5)...Finished the season with 152 yards on 19 carries including a 9-yard score vs. Mississippi in the Motor City Bowl (12/26) as well as a score on a 6-yard reception.

1996: Set a school season-record for freshman as he gained 1,238 yards (6.3 avg.) and 15 touchdowns, despite only starting in two contests...Ran for an 8-yard score in his first collegiate game vs. Howard (9/7)...Had 130 yards rushing and a score in his first career start vs. Georgia Southern (9/21)...Followed with a 131-yard rushing performance, including a 19-yard score vs. Western Kentucky (9/28)...Had 115 yards on 19 carries vs. Appalachian St. (10/26)...Ran for 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns and added another score on a 29-yard grab vs. Delaware (11/30) in the first round of the Division 1-AA Playoffs...Added 125 yards on the ground vs. Northern Iowa in the second round of the Playoffs (12/14)...Rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns, including a run of 61 yards in the 1-AA Championship Game vs. Montana (12/21).

1995: Redshirted and moved to running back after being recruited as a defensive back.

Personal Info

All-Region and All-State selection during his three-year career at Lloyd C. Bird (Chesterfield, VA) High...Adult Fitness major...Father played football at St. Paul's (VA) College...Resides in Chesterfield, VA.

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#23 Michael Bennett 5-9, 204 lbs Wisconsin

Professional Info Minnesota's first-round choice (27th overall) for 2001 and the first running back taken by the team in the first round since Robert Smith in 1993...First Wisconsin player drafted by the Vikings since tackle Brady Pierce in the 10th round of the 1991 draft (259th overall)...The first Badger player ever drafted by the Vikings in the first round...Follows 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne as back-to-back first-round running back selections from Wisconsin...Went one pick after teammate Jamar Fletcher, the 26th overall choice by the Miami Dolphins.

College Info

Exceptionally fast player who has a top-flight track background, winning the Big Ten indoor 60m and 200m titles and the outdoor 100m and 200m titles in 2000...Member of three Big Ten team titles during the 1999-2000 school year as a member of the football, indoor and outdoor track teams...Ran for 1,681 yards in his only season as a starter with the Badgers in 2000, ranking second only to Ron Dayne in team history for single-season rushing yards...Played in 23 career games at Wisconsin with 11 starts...Ranks 10th in Badger history with 1,979 career rushing yards...Has run personal bests in the 100m dash of 10.18 and in the 200m of 20.66 during his college track career.

2000: All-American Dream Team selection by the NFL Draft Report...Third-team All-America choice by College Football News...All-Big Ten Second-Team pick...Semi-finalist for Football News' Offensive Player of the Year...Ranked third in the nation in rushing (152.8 yards per game) and ninth in all-purpose yards (170.6 yards per game)...Gained over 100 yards in eight of the 11 games he played in on the season...Ran for 1,680 yards on 310 carries (5.4 avg.) with 11 TDs...Only Ron Dayne's 2,034 yards in 1999 and 2,109 yards in 1996 rank higher in Wisconsin history...Only Dayne and Brent Moss had more rushing attempts in a season for the Badgers than Bennett's 310 in 2000...Reached the 1,000-yard mark faster than any other Badger player, making it in 159 attempts...Caught four passes for 23 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 173 yards (24.7 avg.)...Ran for 290 yards on 28 attempts (10.4 avg.) with a 59-yard TD and returned three kickoffs for 46 yards vs. Oregon...Had an 83-yard run vs. Oregon, the fifth longest run in school history while his 290 yards in the game is the fifth-best in team history and his 336 all-purpose yards ranks behind only Dayne's 347 vs. Hawaii in 1996...Named CNN/SI National Player of the Week and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his performance vs. Oregon...Carried 30 times for 128 yards and had 48 yards on a pair of kickoff returns vs. Western Michigan...Ran for 293 yards on 48 carries vs. Northwestern, the fourth-best rushing performance in school history...Carried 30 times for 123 yards vs. Michigan...Joined Moss as the only Badgers ever to rush for over 100-yards against both Michigan and Ohio State in a season with 106 yards on 20 carries, including a 35-yard TD...Had 188 yards on 28 carries with a 33-yard TD vs. Purdue...Carried 29 times for 81 yards before leaving the game in the second half with an ankle sprain...Missed game vs. Minnesota with ankle sprain...Gained 112 yards on 22 carries and scored a 3-yard TD vs. Indiana...Carried 36 times for 218 yards vs. Hawaii...Ran for 83 yards on 16 carries and posted 79 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, including a 54-yarder in college finale vs. UCLA in the Sun Bowl, helping Wisconsin to a 21-20 win.

1999: Started season playing primarily on special teams...Moved into backup role at tailback at midseason...Finished season with 57 carries for 298 yards (5.2 avg.) and rushed for four TDs...Caught a pass for 29 yards...Led Badger special teams with 10 tackles along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery...Ran 10 times for 44 yards vs. Murray State...Carried six times for 27 yards and scored his first collegiate TD on a 2-yard run...Had 11 yards on three carries vs. Cincinnati...Ran for 27 yards on four attempts vs. Ohio State...Saw time as a decoy receiver and notched three tackles at Minnesota (10/9)...Had first career 100-yard game with 122 yards on six carrries with TDs of 73 and 18 yards while catching his lone pass of the season vs. Indiana...Ran for 45 yards on nine carries with a 1-yard TD vs. Michigan State...Had a carry for six yards vs. Stanford in the Badgers' Rose Bowl victory.

1998: Redshirted for the season.

Personal Info

Raised in Milwaukee, WI...All-State selection in football as a senior at Milwaukee Tech High School...Ranked as the top player in the state of Wisconsin as a senior...Ran for over 4,200 yards in high school career and had 20 interceptions as a defensive back...Two-time team captain and MVP...Set state records in the 100m and 200m dashes at the 1998 state meet...Consumer science major...Nephew of former Green Bay Packer and Indianapolis Colt defensive end/linebacker Tony Bennett...Son of Linda Bennett.

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#44 James Wofford 6-0, 200 lbs University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Professional Info

Signed by the Vikings as a rookie free agent on April 26, 2001...Will compete for time at tailback...Was converted from tailback to fullback during college career...Rejoins college teammate Talance Sawyer with the Vikings.

College Info

Ended his college career as UNLV's sixth-ranked rusher of all time with 1,861 yards, 64 yards shy of Ickey Woods in fifth place.

2000: Saw time in all 12 games for the Running Rebels...Ranked fourth on the team in rushing with 189 yards on 31 carries, a 6.1 yard per carry average...Caught five passes for 66 yards on the season...Ran for 138 yards on just 10 carries at Mississippi in a game that was decided in overtime...Game at Ole Miss was his fourth career 100-yard rushing performance and his first since 1998...Scored his lone TD of the season at Mississippi...Rounded out his college career playing in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl against Arkansas where he carried four times for 44 yards and caught a 2-yard pass.

1999: Started six games at fullback...Led UNLV in rushing at New Mexico with 57 yards on nine carries, including a long of 33...Caught 10 passes on the season for 86 yards, including a 10-yard TD in the season finale at Colorado State.

1998: Started all 11 games at tailback in the Rebels' one-back set...Led team with 816 yards on 173 carries, both career-highs, and scored five rushing TDs...His 816 yards ranks 11th in UNLV single-season history...Ranked 10th in the Western Athletic Conference with 74.2 yards per game...Led the team in scoring with 30 points...Caught four passes for 33 yards on the season...Ranked second on the team with 849 all-purpose yards...Ran for career-high 184 yards on 28 carries against Wyoming, the 18th- best performance in UNLV history...Ran for 114 yards on 22 carries at Rice...Had a career-long 55-yard TD run against Nevada-Reno, the longest Rebel run of the season.

1997: Started final five games of the season...Ranked second on the team with 624 yards and led the team with four rushing TDs...Rattled off the longest catch of his career with a 68-yarder that put the ball on the San Diego State 1-yard line and he scored on the next play.

1996: Redshirted after suffering a leg injury during fall camp.

Personal Info

Ran for over 1,500 yards and caught more than 200 yards in passes as a senior at Bakersfield High in Bakersfield, CA...An All-league and All-area choice as a senior...Named the Southeast Yosemite League's Offensive MVP as a senior...Older brother, Steve, was a standout running back at Southern University...Majored in communications.

IZ



-- Iz (izmorrow@yahoo.com), June 07, 2001


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