Heading into the NFL Draft, there was little question that the Minnesota Vikings would look to revamp their secondary. However, few would have guessed that the Vikings would come out of the draft with a pair of rookie starters from the same school. According to Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune, two guys drafted out of Notre Dame could make a big impact next season:

During the team session Friday morning, Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton each were on the first-unit at safety. That’s hardly a surprise at rookie mini-camp given the Vikings used the 29th overall pick on Smith and pick No. 139 on Blanton. But it also won’t be entirely shocking if the Notre Dame teammates are the starting safeties Sept. 9 when the 2012 season opens. Smith has an inside track on a starting spot. And Blanton could fight his way into the mix, likely needing to show he can outplay Jamarca Sanford and Mistral Raymond, the duo that started together for the final five games of 2011.

"If you take a look at where we ended the season at the safety position, it’s open competition," head coach Leslie Frazier said. "Those guys returning are good players. But we want to really have an open competition."