William Connor Fries (born April 4, 1998)[1] is an American professional football guard for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft.
![]() Fries with the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2018 | |||||||
Minnesota Vikings | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Guard | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Staten Island, New York, U.S. | April 4, 1998||||||
Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 305 lb (138 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Cranford (Cranford, New Jersey) | ||||||
College: | Penn State (2016–2020) | ||||||
NFL draft: | 2021: 7th round, 248th pick | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
| |||||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| |||||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||
|
Early life
editRaised in Cranford, New Jersey, Fries played prep football at Cranford High School.[2]
Fries is currently dating women's basketball player Isabella Therien.[3] His younger brother plays college football for Monmouth University.[4]
Professional career
editHeight | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 6+3⁄8 in (1.99 m) |
309 lb (140 kg) |
32+7⁄8 in (0.84 m) |
10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) |
5.36 s | 1.81 s | 3.03 s | 4.51 s | 7.75 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) |
9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) |
24 reps | |
All values from Pro Day[5][6][7] |
Indianapolis Colts
editFries was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round, 248th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.[8] On May 6, 2021, Fries officially signed with the Colts.[9]
After beginning the 2022 season as a backup, Fries was named the starting right guard in Week 10, and started the remainder of the season.[10] In 2023, Fries was named the Week 1 starting right guard, and started the entire season.[11]
Fries returned as the starting right guard in 2024, but suffered a fractured right tibia in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 7, 2024.[12]
Minnesota Vikings
editOn March 12, 2025, Fries signed a five-year, $88 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.[13] The signing was finalised shortly after the Vikings signed Fries' Colts offensive line teammate Ryan Kelly.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Will Fries - Football". Penn State Athletics.
- ^ Gould, Brandon (February 3, 2016). "Will Fries of Cranford signs to play football at Penn State University of National Signing Day". NJ.com. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ "'Exactly what I needed': Entrepreneur finds fit, flexibility in launching Zionsville-based I.T. Home Improvement • Current Publishing". youarecurrent.com. October 24, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ Hunt, Todderick (October 16, 2023). "N.J. native and NFL offensive lineman says THIS big junior (who he knows well) has the goods". NJ.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- ^ "Will Fries Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "2021 Draft Scout Will Fries, Penn State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "Will Fries 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ Stankevitz, JJ (May 1, 2021). "Colts 2021 Draft: Colts Pick Penn State OG Will Fries 248th Overall". Colts.com. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Sam (May 6, 2021). "Colts Sign Kwity Paye, 4 Other Draft Picks". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Will Fries 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
- ^ "Will Fries 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
- ^ "Colts place G Will Fries on injured reserve, waive CB Dallis Flowers". Colts.com. October 7, 2024.
- ^ Peters, Craig (March 12, 2025). "Vikings Open 2025 Free Agency with Additions of Kelly, Fries, Rodgers & Thomas". Vikings.com.
- ^ Leiker, Emily (March 20, 2025). "New Vikings offensive linemen Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, teammates with the Colts, meet again". Minnesota Star Tribune.
External links
edit- Media related to Will Fries at Wikimedia Commons
- Indianapolis Colts bio
- Penn State Nittany Lions bio