The Minnesota Vikings announced on Apr. 25 that they have selected Gavin Gerhardt, a center from the University of Cincinnati, with the 235th pick in the 2026 National Football League Draft.
Gerhardt’s selection adds to a growing group of former Bearcats on the Vikings roster, joining linebackers Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace Jr., as well as recent draft pick Jake Golday. Joe Huber, another lineman, also began his college career at Cincinnati before transferring to Wisconsin.
“That’s awesome,” Gerhardt told Twin Cities media members via a virtual call Saturday evening. “Cincinnati truly means a lot to me. That’s a place that will forever be in my heart.” He added, “I know quite a few familiar faces there and really looking forward to being teammates again.”
During his six-season tenure at Cincinnati from 2020-25, Gerhardt started 49 out of 54 games for the Bearcats. His total starts are the most by any player at center in program history and tie for third-most among all positions for the school. In his final season, he started all 13 games and contributed to an offensive line that earned Big 12 Line of the Week honors three times.
Reflecting on his pre-draft visit earlier this month to Minnesota, Gerhardt spoke positively about his interactions with coaches: “[The coaches] were just genuine, good human beings,” he said. “Obviously I think highly of them coaching-wise, but they were all very good people.” He noted spending significant time with offensive line coach Keith Carter during classroom sessions and walk-throughs.
Although originally recruited as a guard before switching positions after his second year in college, Gerhardt explained how learning new systems increased his confidence: “That’s not something I came into college to do,” he said about playing center. After making adjustments under new coaching staff and learning how to make calls as center, he realized playing professionally was possible.
Looking ahead to training camp and competition for roster spots as a seventh-round selection, Gerhardt said: “I understand I’m a new guy to the franchise and to the team, but I also have the mindset that I’m going to come in and earn a position…and make sure the Vikings know they made the right pick.”
