James Lynch (American football)

James Husker Lynch (born January 20, 1999) is an American football Defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Baylor.

James Lynch
refer to caption
Lynch with the Vikings in 2022
No. 92 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1999-01-20) January 20, 1999
Round Rock, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:Round Rock
College:Baylor (2017–2019)
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 4 / Pick: 130
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2022
Total tackles:53
Sacks:2.0
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Lynch grew up in Round Rock, Texas and attended Round Rock High School, playing defensive line and punter on the school's football team. He was named the District 13-6A lineman of the year in each of his final two high school seasons. As a senior, Lynch recorded 46 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 3 fumbles recoveries and a forced fumble and punted 27 times for an average of 43.7 yards.[1] He initially committed to play college football at Texas Christian before switching his commitment to USC. Lynch de-committed again during his senior year before deciding to play at Baylor.[2]

College career

Lynch played in 11 games during his true freshman season as a member of the Bears' defensive tackle rotation and was named a Freshman All-American by ESPN after making 20 tackles (five for loss), three sacks (most among Big 12 freshmen) and a fumble recovery.[3][4] As a sophomore, he led the team with 5.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss and was named first-team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press and to the second-team by the league's coaches.[5]

Lynch was named preseason first-team All-Big 12 and to the Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist entering his junior season.[6] Lynch was named first-team All-Big 12, the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, the conference Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-America selection after finishing the regular season with 41 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and a conference-high 13.5 sacks along with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, five passes defended and two blocked kicks.[7][8][9] Lynch announced that he would forgo his senior season to enter the 2020 NFL Draft.[10]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3+5⁄8 in
(1.92 m)		 289 lb
(131 kg)		 31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m)		 9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		5.01 s1.73 s2.92 s4.39 s7.39 s29.0 in
(0.74 m)		9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		23 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11]

Lynch was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 130th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.[12] He made his NFL debut on October 11, 2020, against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football and recorded his first career sack on Russell Wilson during the 27–26 loss.[13]

On August 4, 2023, it was announced that Lynch had suffered a torn ACL in practice and would miss the entirety of the 2023 season.[14] He was placed on injured reserve two days later.[15]

Personal

Lynch's father, Tim, played linebacker for the University of Nebraska and gave him the middle name "Husker" after the school's mascot.[16]

References
  1. Jeyarajah, Shehan (October 10, 2017). "Baylor might use 285-pound defensive tackle at punter". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  2. Trevino, Chris (December 10, 2016). "3-star DT Lynch decommits from USC". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  3. "Baylor defensive tackle James Lynch named ESPN Freshman All-American". WacoTrib.com. December 11, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. Werner, John (September 13, 2018). "Lynch thriving on Baylor defensive line". WacoTrib.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  5. Kaut, Kendall (December 7, 2018). "James Lynch and Drew Galitz Named A.P. First Team All-Big 12". OurDailyBears.com. SB Nation. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  6. "Baylor's Lynch, Johnston named to Big 12 preseason team". KXXV.com. July 9, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  7. "OK State's Chuba Hubbard, Baylor's James Lynch named Big 12's top players". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  8. Tavares, Chris (December 4, 2019). "Texas lands two on All-Big 12 first team, Lynch earns multiple honors". KXAN.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  9. Kosko, Nick (January 13, 2020). "Baylor defensive end James Lynch declares for NFL Draft". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  10. Khan Jr., Sam (January 13, 2020). "Baylor star lineman James Lynch declares for draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  11. "James Lynch Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  12. Seats, Alex (April 25, 2020). "Minnesota Vikings draft James Lynch". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  13. Craig, Mark (October 12, 2020). "Five extra points: Maybe Russell Wilson has made his last red zone mistake". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  14. "Source: Vikings DL James Lynch tears ACL, likely out for '23". espn.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  15. "Vikings Sign Receiver N'Keal Harry; Place James Lynch on IR". Vikings.com. August 6, 2023.
  16. Cantu, Rick (November 21, 2016). "Faces Off the Field: James Lynch, senior defensive tackle, Round Rock". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
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