Terrapin Station
Fansided

Maryland Football: Stefon Diggs is off to a hot start in 2017

By Chris Bengel

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 11: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after catching a touchdown at the end of the first half of the game against the New Orleans Saints on September 11, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 11: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after catching a touchdown at the end of the first half of the game against the New Orleans Saints on September 11, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

On a night that the Minnesota Vikings inducted Randy Moss into their Ring of Honor, Stefon Diggs put together a performance that would’ve made the All-Pro wideout proud.

On Monday night, Diggs absolutely torched the New Orleans Saints’ secondary to start off the 2017 campaign on a strong note.

The former Maryland star hauled in seven passes for 93 yards and found the end zone twice in a 29-19 Minnesota Vikings win. Diggs combined with fellow wideout Adam Thielen to record 16 receptions and 250 receiving yards on the evening.

Diggs was the first Vikings receiver to catch two touchdowns in a season opener since Moss achieved the very same feat.

Diggs got off to a hot start as he caught three passes on Minnesota’s first offensive drive that resulted in a field goal.

After the Vikings punted on their second possession, quarterback Sam Bradford led the team down the field in three plays that accumlated 74 yards. Bradford rolled out to his right and hit a wide-open Diggs in the end zone to put Minnesota up 10-6 in the second quarter.

With just three seconds remaining in the first half, Diggs found himself in single coverage in the corner of the end zone. Bradford threw a beautiful pass and Diggs hauled it in just barely inbounds.

Diggs made several plays in Monday’s game that just left fans in awe. For Maryland fans, it’s something that they’ve come to expect from the Good Counsel (Md.) wideout.

The former Terp also lined up on the outside and made a sensational catch early in the third quarter. He ran a deep route, got interfered with by Saints second-year cornerback De’Vante Harris, and still pulled in a fantastic reception in the field of play.

Diggs had a phenomenal start to the 2016 season as well before injuries slowed him down. The former fifth round pick caught 16 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown in the first two games last season.

He did light up the hometown Washington Redskins to the tune of 15 receptions for 164 yards, but didn’t do a whole lot the rest of the year outside of that.

Next: Big Ten Power Rankings: A top dog gets dominated

If Diggs can stay healthy in 2017, he could vault himself into the conversation of being an elite wideout.

Home/Maryland Football