Ex-NDSU star Barika Kpeenu lands Vikings rookie minicamp invite

Barika Kpeenu turned a dominant final season at North Dakota State into a shot with the Minnesota Vikings, earning a rookie minicamp invite that puts the West Fargo native in the first NFL proving ground after the draft. For a back who piled up 1,005 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2025, the invitation is more than a courtesy look. It is a real step into the league’s roster-churn machine, where drafted rookies, undrafted free agents and tryout players all compete for attention in Eagan.

Kpeenu’s college résumé gave Minnesota plenty to evaluate. North Dakota State lists him as a third-team FCS All-America selection from both FCS Football Central and Phil Steele, along with first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. He started all 13 games for the 12-1 Bison, who went 8-0 in league play, and his 20 rushing touchdowns ranked fourth in the FCS. It was also the most by an NDSU rusher since 2014, a useful marker for how productive he was in the role.

The numbers explain why the Vikings are taking a closer look. ESPN lists Kpeenu at 5-foot-10 and 213 pounds and credits him with 191 carries for 1,005 yards and 20 scores in 2025, a 5.3-yard average that forced defenses to account for him every week. NFL.com’s prospect profile pushes the story beyond box-score production, noting that he scored once every 9.55 carries and may need to make his case on special teams to win a roster spot. That is the next hurdle now: translating FCS dominance into value on coverage units and in camp drills.

Kpeenu’s path has been building for years in North Dakota. He grew up in West Fargo and played at West Fargo Sheyenne High School, where he was a three-year starter, a senior captain and a two-time all-state selection. His senior year there included 1,052 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in nine games, and his high school career finished at 2,650 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on 310 carries. For NDSU, it is another familiar bridge from Fargo to the NFL, and for Kpeenu, it is the chance to turn one more productive season into a roster spot.