Pat Elfein competing to be Vikings’ starting center

Pickerington native and former Ohio State standout Pat Elfein is competing to start for at center for the Minnesota Vikings.

He’s in a two-man race against third-year center Nick Easton. The Vikings moved the 35-year-old Joe Berger, center for the past two seasons, to guard.

Easton started the preseason opener, but no decision’s been announced on the week two starter.

“Young or old, the center position has to get everybody on the right page, first of all,” Berger said. “They have to, especially in protection, be on the same page with the quarterback.

“They have to be firm with their calls and confident with them, and I think both those guys have been able to get to that point for the most part. The games are when you really get to tell if it’s really in there or not, and that wasn’t a problem (last Thursday).”

Elfein, a third-round rookie, played guard at Ohio State until moving to center his final season. He won a spot on the All-American first team after his lone year at center.

If Elfein loses the competition, he’ll still get reps at guard. The Vikings reportedly prefer to have starters set before the third preseason game.

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