Inside The Vikings

Vikings UDFA Profile: Pace (D-II) OL Jacky Chen

Chen is a versatile small school prospect hoping to carve out an NFL career.

Will Ragatz

In this story:

Over the next couple weeks, Inside the Vikings will be taking a look at all 15 members of Minnesota's 2023 undrafted free agent class.

Vikings UDFA profile: Pace OL Jacky Chen

  • Size: 6'5", 299
  • RAS: 5.39
  • 2022 stats: N/A
Screen Shot 2023-05-15 at 5.55.43 PM

Jacky Chen is a potential small-school underdog story who will compete to earn a spot on the Vikings' practice squad. The son of Chinese immigrants, he started playing football as a sophomore in high school in Port Jefferson, NY. Chen was just 240 pounds when he got a scholarship to play football at Division-II Pace University in New York City, but he developed into a dominant player at that level.

By his sophomore season in 2019, Chen was up to 285 pounds and started eight games on an explosive Pace offense. After the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID, he started at tackle for two more seasons in 2021 and 2022. At 6'5", 300 pounds, Chen is a solid athlete who overwhelmed opponents with his size and power at the D-II level. Now he'll look to translate that success to the NFL, which will be a big test given the huge jump he'll be making in level of competition.

To earn a practice squad spot, Chen will need to show he has the athleticism and technical skill to have some upside in the NFL. His journey began this past weekend at rookie minicamp, where he and several other linemen received instruction from Vikings O-line coach Chris Kuper and assistant OL coach Justin Rascati.

Vikings' offseason offensive tackle depth chart:

  • Christian Darrisaw (LT) and Brian O'Neill (RT)
  • Blake Brandel
  • Oli Udoh
  • Vederian Lowe
  • Sam Schlueter
  • Jacky Chen (rookie)

Other Vikings UDFA profiles

Baylor TE Ben Sims

Indiana CB Jaylin Williams

Oklahoma CB C.J. Coldon

Georgia Southern CB NaJee Thompson

North Carolina State WR Thayer Thomas

Southeastern Louisiana WR/QB Cephus Johnson III

Kansas State WR Malik Knowles

Illinois DT Calvin Avery

Georgia K Jack Podlesny

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there.

Published
Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

Home/News