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Former Gopher Mitch Leidner Was Working For Bite Squad Before Vikings Signed Him

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- He starred at Lakeville South. Then he quarterbacked the Gophers for the past three seasons. And today, he's now a Viking.

Yes, the Vikings signed Mitch Leidner, and he took part in his first practice Sunday.

"Unbelievable feeling. It's been a lot of months of just grinding, and preparing, and just hoping this moment would come," Mitch Leidner said.

If you're wondering what Mitch Leidner's been up to lately...well, let's just let him fill you in.

"I train in the mornings at Inspired Athletics, a facility up in Plymouth there, and I'd go down and help out at Lakeville South at their high school football, and then I'd do a delivery service at night for Bite Squad, and haul some meals around," Leidner said. "So I hate to let those guys down, but it's good to have an opportunity out here."

That's right -- Bite Squad. So if you got a meatball sub delivered by a certain former Gophers quarterback lately, perhaps you've now got extra reason to cheer for him in his latest endeavor -- Vikings quarterback.

"They just wanted me to come in and compete, work hard, learn the system and just be a sponge and soak up as much as I could, and when I get some reps out there, take advantage of it," Leidner said.

"Well we knew him, from being over there at the U, and he did good at the combine. He did at the workout when we were there," coach Mike Zimmer said.

Leidner went undrafted and was invited to Ravens rookie minicamp, but wasn't signed. But he kept himself in shape, hoping and waiting for a call to come.

"But I mean it couldn't be any better than coming here and staying in the home state, so, but yeah, it was a long, lot of months of working hard and finally to be able to get that call, was just awesome," Leidner said.

"The big thing, from his college tape, is making sure that he's getting the ball to the right people, getting the ball out on time, making accurate throws, that was probably the thing he struggled with the most," Zimmer said.

Leidner is primarily here because right now Taylor Heinecke is hurt, and the Vikings need another quarterback to take the third string snaps. It is highly unlikely he will actually make the team. But nevertheless, he's ecstatic about the opportunity.

"Just an unbelievable opportunity, and I'm really grateful to the Vikings for giving me this opportunity," Leidner said.

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