Houston Roughnecks’ LB DeMarquis Gates has signed with the Vikings

The former AAF’s leading tackler and Houston Roughneck DeMarquis Gates has seen his dream come true once again. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday evening that the former Ole Miss linebacker has been signed by the Minnesota Vikings.

Gates dominated the AAF, piling up 72 tackles and a sack for the Memphis Express and was signed by the Redskins in 2019 before eventually being cut. Before that, the 6’2, 221-pounder had spent just a short month with the Browns in the summer of 2018 before being cut.

The Hampton, Ga. native led Ole Miss in tackles the last three seasons as a Rebel, capping off an impressive career making 114 tackles and adding 10 tackles for loss in his final season in 2017 despite battling injuries and playing on an average 6-6 team.

Gates’ knack for being around the football at almost every opportune time created quite the playmaking hobby...

...which also led to sporting a fantastic mustache on national television.

The newest Viking was a terror on the field this year for Houston, making 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass deflections, two sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. His consistent pressure on the quarterback and knack for always being in the right place in the right time almost certainly attracted Mike Zimmer and the Vikings.

He was finally able to play injury-free this year in the XFL and it paid off.