Troy Stoudermire has had a unique pro football journey since graduating from the University of Minnesota in May 2012, and now he's made it back here as a free-agent signee with the Vikings.
Stoudermire signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2013 as a defensive back; there, he got his first experience working under then-defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, but he was released in training camp. He then went to the Canadian Football League, first spending the rest of 2013 on the Saskatchewan Roughriders practice roster, then joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2014. He played on offense, defense and special teams for Winnipeg. But he said that even though he had success there, he never thought he would make it back to Minnesota as a pro.
"Actually, me and my fiancée drove by [U.S. Bank Stadium] when I was playing in Canada," Stoudermire said. "I was like, 'Man, it would be great if I could play in that stadium.' But I knew I had to go back to Canada. Being here is just awesome. It's a great experience."
Stoudermire played in only one preseason game for the Bengals, getting some action in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans, before being released. He was asked if he could recall anything about Zimmer at that time.
"I never really got a chance to talk to Zimmer, but like from his demeanor you know he's a real serious guy," he said. "He wants things done his way, wants things done right. Never really got a chance to talk to him at Cincinnati but I heard he remembered me from Cincinnati. I was really shocked about that because he never really came and talked to me. But he's a great coach, and I'm excited to play for him."
Fond memories of Minnesota
Stoudermire was recruited to the Gophers by Tim Brewster, who was fired during Stoudermire's junior season of 2010. Jerry Kill came in as coach that December.
"Kill was amazing," said Stoudermire, who redshirted in 2011 due to a broken arm. "When he came in, he could have just got rid of all the seniors that were there, but he took me under his wing. He called me into his office and we talked for a really long time and he was just telling me how he was going to take care of me. He told me how he had heard bad things about me before he came in, but as things went on with the Gophers season he found out I was a really good kid. He put his wing around me and I respect Kill and I love him forever for that."
He also had good things to say about Tracy Claeys, Kill's successor as coach.