OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson University senior All-American safety Austin Tennessee has been invited to rookie minicamp with the National Football League's Minnesota Vikings following the conclusion of the league's annual draft.  Tennessee becomes the first Mustang to sign with an NFL franchise in the six-year history of the program.

Tennessee, earned consensus First Team All-America honors this past season from both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D3football.com.  He was named the D3football.com East Region Defensive Player of the Year and was also named the Rocky Meyers Division III Defensive Back of the Year.  He was also the Middle Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection.

This past season, Tennessee totaled six interceptions for the 9-2 Mustangs as he helped lead Stevenson to the MAC championship and its first-ever NCAA berth.  He racked up 200 yards of interception return yardage, including a pair of returns for touchdowns, and also recorded eight pass breakups.  Tennessee, a two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Week, totaled 57 tackles (44 solo) on the season.

Over his four-year career, Tennessee finished with 14 interceptions, 30 pass breakups and five blocked kicks.  A three-time MAC First Team All-Conference selection, he posted 196 total tackles (149 solo) over his four seasons.