The Minnesota Vikings signed a wide receiver Friday who happens to be a former adversary of Green Bay Packers rising star Christian Watson. According to a statement by the Vikings Friday, the team signed undrafted rookie free agent Garett Maag to their roster this spring.
The #Vikings have signed WR Garett Maag (@MaagGarett).
📰: https://t.co/olVbSyP2ak pic.twitter.com/pB6pHhQwoM
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 2, 2023
The Minnesota Vikings signed a North Dakota wide receiver
Per their statement, Maag is a Minnesota native who was a standout playing college football at North Dakota:
“Maag played in 49 games at North Dakota from 2018-22. He totaled 162 receptions for 2,152 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Fighting Hawks and was selected as a team captain in each of the past two seasons.”
Christian Watson was a college rival to, Maag
Maag might be a memorable name for Watson, who played in college for North Dakota State before being taken by the Packers in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. North Dakota and North Dakota State are rivals and play for bragging rights that used to include the Nickel Trophy. (The trophy was officially retired in 2018.)
Maag and Watson played against each other during the 2019, 2021 spring, and 2021 fall seasons. Their final matchup in 2021 was a defensive struggle that saw North Dakota State escape with a 16-10 win. Maag had the only catch between the two future NFL wide receivers in the game, and that was for four yards.
Watson’s team was the victor in all three of his games against North Dakota. North Dakota has not won the Nickel Trophy rivalry game since 2003.
With Maag joining the Vikings, he and Watson are set to become rivals once again.
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