Kimani Vidal (born August 28, 2001) is an American professional football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and was selected by the Chargers in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
 Vidal with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 | |||||||||||||
| No. 30 – Los Angeles Chargers | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | August 28, 2001 Marietta, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 213 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Marietta (Marietta, Georgia) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Troy (2020–2023) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2024 / round: 6 / pick: 181 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2024 | |||||||||||||
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Early life
editVidal grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended Marietta High School. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Troy over offers from LSU, Memphis, South Alabama, South Carolina and Syracuse.[1][2]
College career
editIn week five of the 2020 season, Vidal had a breakout game where he rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown, as he helped Troy beat Eastern Kentucky.[3] Vidal finished his freshman season in 2020 with 101 carries for 516 yards and four touchdowns, while also hauling in 26 receptions for 225 yards.[4]
In week seven of the 2021 season, Vidal would rush for 162 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, as he helped the Trojans beat Texas State 31-28.[5] Vidal would finish the 2021 season with 701 yards and five touchdowns on 152 carries, while also bringing in 22 receptions for 134 yards.[6]
In week twelve of the 2022 season, Vidal would rush for 242 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Louisiana–Monroe. For his performance on the game, Vidal would be named the Sun-Belt offensive player of the week.[7][8] In the following week, Vidal would run for 208 yards and four touchdowns, as he helped Troy beat Arkansas State and advance to the Sun Belt championship game.[9] Vidal would finish his breakout 2022 season with 1,132 yards and ten touchdowns on 231 carries, while also notching 26 receptions for 140 yards.[10] For his performance on the season, Vidal would be named second team all Sun Belt.[11]
Vidal would start the 2023 season, setting the Troy single game rushing yard record by rushing for 248 yards in a win over Stephen F. Austin in week one.[12] In week six, Vidal would rush for 245 yards and three touchdowns, as he helped the Trojans beat Arkansas State.[13] For his performance on the week, Vidal was named the Sun Belt offensive player of the week.[14] He went on to be named the Sun Belt offensive player of the year and won the MVP award in the 2023 conference championship game after becoming the first player ever to rush for 5 touchdowns in an FBS conference championship.[15]
Statistics
edit| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led NCAA Division I FBS | |
| Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year | |
| Troy record | |
| Bold | Career best |
| Troy Trojans | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||
| GP | GS | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | ||
| 2020 | 9 | 2 | 101 | 516 | 5.1 | 4 | 26 | 225 | 8.7 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 11 | 152 | 701 | 4.6 | 5 | 22 | 134 | 6.1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 14 | 231 | 1,132 | 4.9 | 10 | 26 | 140 | 5.4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 14 | 14 | 297 | 1,661 | 5.6 | 14 | 18 | 201 | 11.2 | 1 | |
| Career | 48 | 41 | 781 | 4,010 | 5.1 | 33 | 92 | 700 | 7.6 | 1 | |
Professional career
edit| Height | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 7+7⁄8 in (1.72 m) |
213 lb (97 kg) |
30+3⁄8 in (0.77 m) |
9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
4.46 s | 1.53 s | 2.59 s | 4.15 s | 7.01 s | 37.5 in (0.95 m) |
10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) |
18 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine[16][17] | ||||||||||||
Vidal was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 181st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.[18] On October 13, he made his NFL debut in a victory against the Denver Broncos. Vidal scored on his first official touch, a 38-yard touchdown reception from Justin Herbert.[19]
NFL career statistics
edit| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2024 | LAC | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 20.0 | 38T | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 20.0 | 38T | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Personal life
editVidal is the great nephew of Hank Aaron.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Kimani Vidal, Marietta, Running Back". 247sports.com. August 1, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Prince (June 25, 2019). "Marietta RB Kimani Vidal commits to Troy". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Jon (October 20, 2020). "Troy notebook: Kimani Vidal, Troy running game continues to be bright spot". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Kimani Vidal 2020 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Stephenson, Creg (October 16, 2021). "Troy holds on for 31-28 victory over Texas State". AL.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Kimani Vidal 2021 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Stephenson, Creg (November 19, 2022). "Kimani Vidal, Troy pummel ULM 34-16 for 8th straight win". AL.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Stephenson, Creg (November 21, 2022). "Troy's Kimani Vidal honored by Sun Belt Conference". AL.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Vidal has 4 TDs, Troy advances to Sun Belt championship game". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. November 26, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Kimani Vidal 2022 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Sun Belt Announces 2022 Football Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams". Sun Belt Coneference. December 1, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Jon (September 2, 2023). "Kimani Vidal breaks single-game rushing record previously held by Eddie Brundidge during Troy win". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Stephenson, Creg (October 7, 2023). "Kimani Vidal, Troy pummel Arkansas State 37-3 for 3rd straight victory". AL.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Boutwell, Josh (October 9, 2023). "Kimani Vidal earns SBC Offensive Player of the Week". Troy Messenger. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Griffin, Nick (December 4, 2023). "Troy repeats as Sun Belt champions". The Cullman Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ "Kimani Vidal Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Kimani Vidal College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Borquez, Gavino (April 27, 2024). "2024 NFL draft: Chargers pick RB Kimani Vidal with No. 181 overall selection". Chargers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ "Kimani Vidal's first NFL touch yields 38-yard TD for Chargers". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ DeRosa, Theo (April 27, 2024). "Hammerin' Hank's great-nephew taken in NFL Draft". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2024.