In what comes as a bit of a surprise coming off what was, by most accounts, another successful Minnesota Vikings draft, one of the architects is stepping down.
Scott Studwell, the former Vikings' linebacker who has been the team's Director of College Scouting for the last 12 years, announced that he was stepping down from the position on Sunday. He cited the desire to spend more time with his family and cutting down on the travel that comes with being a scout.
To call Studwell a "long-time employee" of the Minnesota Vikings would be a vast understatement. He has spent a total of 38 years as a part of the organization, starting with the 14 seasons he spent here as a player from 1977 to 1990. He spent 1991 as a player relations rep, and was the team's Player Personnel Coordinator from 1992 until 2001. In 2002, he took the job as the team's Director of College Scouting, and held that position until stepping down on Sunday.
According to Vikings' General Manager Rick Spielman, Studwell would be staying on with the team "in a smaller capacity."
The team also has Studwell's replacement all lined up, as his assistant, Jamaal Stephenson, will take over the hot seat. Stephenson has been with the team for 13 years, and has been the Assistant Director of College Scouting since 2009. He was also named the NFC Scout of the Year in 2012.
We at the Daily Norseman would like to say congratulations to Scott Studwell on a job well-done, and thank him for his devotion to the Minnesota Vikings' franchse. He's certainly earned the right to relax a little bit.