Quiz: How Minnesotan are YOU?

If there is any doubt about the pride Brian Leonhardt has for his home state, check out his Twitter page.

That’s where the Vikings tight end proudly displays a picture of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, a nod to his days at Bemidji State.

“I’m pretty Minnesotan,” said Leonhardt, who hails from Spring Lake Park.

In fact, of the seven Vikings players from the state, Leonhardt believes he might be the most Minnesotan.

“To be Minnesotan, you’ve got to be able to hunt and fish,” Leonhardt said. “You have to have visited at least half the state parks. You need to have been on the north side of Minnesota and the south side, and even the west and east.

“And I think you’ve got to wear flannel at least once a year.”

The six other players from the state are receivers Adam Thielen (Detroit Lakes), Isaac Fruechte (Caledonia) and Terrell Sinkfield (Minnetonka); cornerback Marcus Sherels (Rochester); tackle Carter Bykowski (Eden Prairie) and running back C.J. Ham (Duluth). Related Articles Despite veteran lineup, Vikings’ offense has been horrendous

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“Isaac Fruechte is pretty Minnesotan,” Leonhardt said. “He builds fences in the offseason. If he wants to battle on who’s more Minnesotan, we can. I don’t know if he’s been in enough state parks, though, to claim Mr. Minnesota.”

With 64 state parks in Minnesota, Fruechte concedes it “could hurt” that he’s only been to a few. However, Fruechte said he beats Leonhardt on other criteria.

“Brian is not really from a small town, and Caledonia is a small farming community, so I think that right there is a pretty good thing,” Fruechte said. “I definitely hunt and fish. I talked to Brian about beer, and he drinks more Miller than Grain Belt. But I’m there with Grain Belt or Schell’s.”

One small problem: Fruechte actually was born in La Crosse, Wis., just

across the Minnesota state line on the other side of the Mississippi River, and 20 miles from Caledonia, a town of less than 3,000.

Fruecthe is quick to retort, “I was conceived in Minnesota, as far as I know.”

While Leonhardt and Fruechte squabble, Sherels, 28, said he should claim the crown for a very simple reason.

“I’ve lived here all my life,” he said. “I’m the oldest Minnesota guy on the team, so I’d probably say myself, since I’ve lived here the longest.”

Leonhardt and Fruechte do agree on one thing: Thielen is the least Minnesotan of the seven Vikings from the state.

“You could see Thielen out in California, sporting the tank top and the backward hat and hanging out with the surfers,” Leonhardt said.

Naturally, Thielen disagrees.

“I’m the only one from northern Minnesota, where the real Minnesota is,” he said. “I think I’m the most Minnesotan.”

Thielen says he, too, likes to hunt and fish. But he will gladly leave fence-building to Fruechte.

MINNESOTA GANG

A look at Vikings players from Minnesota:

Name Position Hometown College

Carter Bykowski Tackle Eden Prairie Iowa State

Isaac Fruechte Wide receiver Caledonia Minnesota

C.J. Ham Running back Duluth Augustana (S.D.)

Brian Leonhardt Tight end Spring Lake Park Bemidji State

Marcus Sherels Cornerback Rochester Minnesota

Terrell Sinkfield Wide receiver Minnetonka Northern Iowa

Adam Thielen Wide receiver Detroit Lakes Minnesota State, Mankato