Zemaiah Vaughn is a former Utah walk-on cornerback who turned a 39.5-inch vertical into a Vikings roster spot.
Vaughn began his college career as a walk-on quarterback-turned-defensive back at Utah and left five years later as a 31-game starter. He went undrafted in 2025 but stuck with the Vikings through a full rookie-year grind, from roster cuts to a practice squad promotion.
Path to the league
Born in Beaumont, Texas, Vaughn played quarterback at Beaumont United High School before walking on at Utah in 2020 and moving to the defensive side of the ball. He played 56 games over five seasons for the Utes, closing his career with 31 consecutive starts.
Career highlights
Vaughn finished his Utah career with 144 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, 27 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. At his pro day he showed off elite athleticism for a defensive back, posting a 39.5-inch vertical jump, the best mark among defensive backs in attendance.
2025 season recap
Vaughn went undrafted in 2025 but signed with the Minnesota Vikings on April 26 of that year. He was waived in final roster cuts on August 26, immediately re-signed to the practice squad the next day, and earned a promotion to the active roster on December 29, appearing in his first NFL game wearing number 34.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Zemaiah Vaughn
- ESPN: Zemaiah Vaughn
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- Utah
- Hometown
- Beaumont, TX, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
