Dalvin Prepare dinner, recent off of his greatest season so far, will spend the majority of his offseason coaching for the Vikings‘ 2021 marketing campaign. He has additionally teamed up with Fan Managed Soccer, a brand new seven-on-seven, indoor soccer league the place followers select the performs which might be referred to as on the sector. 

Prepare dinner not too long ago joined the possession group for the Zappers, who misplaced a high-scoring recreation in opposition to the Beasts in Saturday’s season-opener, 48-44. Whereas the Zappers are led by former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, the crew’s roster additionally consists of Prepare dinner’s cousin, operating again Anthony Jones, who final Saturday scored the primary landing in crew historical past. 

“Seeing my cousin enjoying soccer and having enjoyable is thrilling,” Prepare dinner informed CBS Sports activities. “It was completely different for him main as much as the sport. Now after I’m speaking to him, he is able to play on Saturdays. He is excited in regards to the video games that he is bought developing. I am glad for him.” 

Prepare dinner mentioned that final Saturday was the primary time he watched Manziel, who made headlines following his debut with the Zappers. 

“Simply seeing Johnny play, it is thrilling,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “He’s who he’s, and I recognize individuals that do not [try to be] a distinct individual.” 

The forty first general choose within the 2017 draft, Prepare dinner has shortly change into one of many NFL‘s greatest operating backs. A Professional Bowler every of the final two seasons, Prepare dinner rushed for a career-high 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns in simply 14 video games in 2020. Prepare dinner completed second within the league in speeding behind Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, who received his second consecutive speeding title whereas additionally changing into the eighth participant to interrupt the two,000-yard barrier. 

“I positively wish to win the [rushing] title earlier than I am finished with soccer,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “Simply seeing Derrick Henry run the soccer so good and chasing greatness simply pushes me to a better stage. I speak to Derrick Henry quite a bit. … We joke round like, ‘Decelerate, let me within the race.’ Stuff like that that is simply enjoyable. It is stuff that I can inform my nieces, my children, stuff like that can stick with it for a lifetime.”

Prepare dinner spoke at size in regards to the significance of a robust operating recreation, even in right this moment’s passing period. He was reminded of his efficiency in Minnesota’s come-from-behind victory in Chicago on “Monday Evening Soccer” in Week 10 of the 2020 season. After being held to 32 yards within the first half, Prepare dinner’s 64 speeding yards within the second half helped the Vikings pull out a 19-13 win. 

“Proper now, after I prepare, I am making ready for a recreation in opposition to that kind of setting, that kind of crew,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “That is a gaggle that can get you higher.” 

A Florida native who starred at Florida State, Prepare dinner talked about fellow Seminole Warrick Dunn when requested about operating backs he tried to emulate rising up. 

“Simply being elusive, making performs, being up for his crew, that robust chief,” Prepare dinner mentioned of Dunn, who received a nationwide title at Florida State earlier than amassing over 15,000 complete yards throughout this 12-year NFL profession. “Delicate spoken however a tough employee, goes about his enterprise the correct approach. That affected my profession a lot. … Be a tough employee and stuff will come from it.”

Like Dunn, Prepare dinner needs his actions to do many of the speaking with regards to management. That being mentioned, Prepare dinner, after current conversations with a few of his coaches, mentioned that he needs to enhance much more as a teammate as he enters his fifth season in Minnesota. 

“I had some good video games [last season], however being a greater teammate is healthier than having a very good recreation,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “Meaning much more to me as a human being and what I stand for. Being a greater teammate to my teammates outweighs having a greater recreation. 

“I misplaced my dad this previous 12 months. It was robust, however I believe it constructed plenty of character in me and for what I stand for. Simply carrying on that legacy, being a greater human being, loving my brothers extra and pushing them as a lot as I can push them.”

The 25-year-old Prepare dinner is working in direction of having one other breakout season in 2021. He’s additionally excited to be a part of the Zappers, who on Saturday will attempt to even their file in opposition to the Glacier Boyz, whose possession group consists of veteran NFL cornerback Richard Sherman. 

“Watching this league, I believe it is thrilling,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “I believe soccer is a remedy for lots of people. When you love soccer, you’ll love this league. It is a bunch of fellows which might be desirous to make performs and present their personalities. Simply giving the blokes one other likelihood at enjoying soccer is an excellent greater expertise for this world. When you’re gong to look at, it is thrilling. And the gamers are going to have enjoyable, and the Zappers are gonna be zapp.”