Tackle Walter Rouse, drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round (177th overall) on Saturday, saw a high standard for security at an early age.
Rouse was in the same 2019 graduating class as Sasha Obama, the daughter of former President Barack Obama, at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.
“Sasha had about two secret service men follow her just about everywhere she went,” Rouse said Saturday. “When you’re walking past, they’re just standing outside the door. Or when she’s arriving in a four-, five-car caravan. You got bomb-sniffing dogs every now and then coming out, so it’s – it became normal for us.”
Rouse went on to start 52 games at left tackle, protecting quarterbacks for four seasons at Stanford and one at Oklahoma. He is expected to provide depth at tackle behind Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill and primary backup David Quessenberry, a 34-year-old journeyman who re-signed with the Vikings on a one-year deal.
A biomedical engineering major, Rouse said he picked Stanford at an early age for its academics. Along the way, he fell in love with football and the possibility of making it to the NFL. He transferred to Oklahoma last season to focus on football.
Rouse said he initially wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon, specializing in pediatrics, but he has since adjusted his medical career plans — “more work with engineering,” he said — and postponed them until his playing career is done.
“Understanding a playbook will not be an issue for him,” said Mike Sholiton, the Vikings director of college scouting.
From NAIA to NFL
The bright lights won’t be too big for the Vikings’ last draft pick.
