Vikings' Alexander Mattison builds, and breaks through, a 'hurdle wall'

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The Vikings' Alexander Mattison learned to leap over hurdles, with family, friends and coaches supplying a safety net of support.

Vikings running back Alexander Mattison hurdled over the Raiders defense for his first career touchdown last September.A picture of Alexander Mattison’s first NFL touchdown hangs on a wall in his living room. The image shows him hurdling an Oakland Raiders defender as he soars toward the end zone, gliding so gracefully through air.

That snapshot has become something of a signature move for the Vikings second-year running back. Leaping over defenders while trying to avoid a tackle. He has other pictures of himself performing that trick going back to…