Vikings training camp: The bromances continue

Something that is common among training camp, especially with joint practices are usually two former teammates bonding. Today was another example of that.

Former college teammates Xavier Rhodes and Telvin Smith Sr., were able to have some fun with one another in Friday’s joint practice.

Both Smith and Rhodes attended Florida State University. Obviously, Rhodes played cornerback for the Seminoles and Smith played linebacker.

Although Rhodes was drafted a year before Smith, they clearly had a pretty positive bond between the two. In 2012 the two had a pretty good year with FSU, even though Smith was a backup linebacker, he still played in 14 games and tied for 18th in the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) with tackles for a loss (TFL).

That same season, Rhodes was the top cornerback in the NCAA that year. He was the only one in the ACC to be a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. The award represents the top defensive back in college. The award has been around since 1986.

In 2012, Johnathan Banks won the Thorpe Award, he was a cornerback for Mississippi State. However, now he’s a free agent. If they had an award for best college cornerback who is now in the NFL, Rhodes would win, just my opinion.

It wasn’t until Smith’s senior year when he really showed he had NFL potential. He was FSU’s leading tackler with 90 tackles. He helped lead FSU to the BCS National Championship game. He recorded a career-high 15 tackles in that game.