James Lynch selected by Minnesota Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft

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James Lynch—Baylor’s all-time sacks leader and the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year—is heading to the NFL, as the as the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday selected the defensive lineman in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-4, 289-pound Lynch was the 130th overall pick and the second selection from Baylor. Receiver Denzel Mims was chosen by the New York Jets in the second round (No. 59 overall) Friday evening.

A product of Round Rock (Tex.) High School, Lynch announced in January that he was forgoing his senior season to turn pro. The decision was certainly understandable following a banner junior campaign in which he accumlated a Big-12 leading 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. Lynch was particularly effective against Power 5 competition, as 10.5 of his sacks came either against conference opponents or against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Lynch had 22 sacks in this three-year college career and 33.5 tackles for loss.

Former Baylor coach Matt Rhule made Lynch one of his biggest recruiting priorities when he took the job in December of 2016. Lynch had been committed to USC but the Trojans pulled his scholarship offer that month after learning that Lynch had undergone shoulder surgery.

Things couldn’t have worked out better for either side, as Lynch helped Baylor go from 1-11 his fresham season to 11-3 in 2019. Rhule capitalized in January when he was hired as head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. And now Lynch is in the NFL, too.

“There is no doubt,” Rhule told SicEm365 earlier this month, “that his unique combination of size and athleticism—as well as his elite production, rare football intelligence and superb feel for the game—will make him a great addition to a team. He will have a long and productive career.”

Some draft pundits said that Lynch could be selected as high as the third round. But Lynch told SicEm365 two weeks ago that he didn’t care where he was selected.

“I’d obviously like to be a higher pick,” Lynch said. “But it’s not going to bother me if it doesn’t happen.

“I feel like I’ve kinda been overlooked and doubted my entire career. People have said I shouldn’t be able to do this or that. So honestly, it wouldn’t bother me one bit if I went lower. It’ll just give me a chance to prove myself again, which is all I can really ask for.”

Lynch is the first Bears defensive lineman chosen in the draft since the Cincinnati Bengals picked Andrew Billings in fourth round in 2016.