A three-year workhorse at Wake Forest with legitimate breakaway speed, Demond Claiborne landed with Minnesota as a sixth-round value pick in 2026.
Demond Claiborne is a shifty, explosive running back who led Wake Forest in rushing for three straight seasons before the Vikings selected him in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite standing just 5-foot-10, he combines top-tier lateral agility with legitimate track speed, clocking one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among running backs at the combine.
Path to the league
Claiborne played four seasons at Wake Forest from 2022 to 2025, growing from a limited freshman role into the Demon Deacons' clear lead back. Minnesota selected him in the sixth round, No. 198 overall, of the 2026 NFL Draft, acquiring the pick via a trade with the New England Patriots.
Career highlights
Claiborne rushed for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior in 2024, following a 586-yard, five-touchdown sophomore season, and led Wake Forest in rushing in each of his final three years. He earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2025 after being named third-team All-ACC the year before, and he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the combine, among the fastest at his position in his draft class.
2025 season recap
In his senior season, Claiborne carried the ball 179 times for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 140 receiving yards, good for second-team All-ACC recognition. That combination of production and elite combine speed made him one of the draft's better value picks when Minnesota grabbed him in the sixth round.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Demond Claiborne
- Vikings.com: 2026 NFL Draft - Running Back Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest, Draft Pick 198
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Running Back
- Group
- offense
- College
- Wake Forest
- Hometown
- Aylett, VA, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
