New Position Is No Problem for C.J. Ham
Drew Mahowald
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Vikings Territory writer Drew Mahowald talked to Minnesota Vikings running back turned fullback CJ Ham on his positional transition and his mindset going into Year 2.
As the walk-thru practice on Saturday, Aug. 5 concluded, several Minnesota Vikings flooded out through the football field entrance and back into the dorms as quickly as they could. Several other players stopped to sign a few autographs and take a few pictures with fans.
And then there was fullback C.J. Ham, who signed every autograph and took every picture, all with a giant smile gleaming on his face.
Ham is living the rare story of the Division II college football player making it in the NFL. The former Augustana (S.D.) Viking and Duluth, Minn. native signed with Minnesota in May 2016 after an impressive performance in rookie minicamp workouts. Another impressive display at training camp last August earned him a spot on the Vikings practice squad throughout the 2016 season.
Many small-school players have traveled unique paths to find success at the highest level in football. Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, a former Division II Minnesota State-Mankato standout, is participating in his ninth consecutive training camp on the campus of MSU.
But in each of these small-school success stories, a similar trend emerges. These players find themselves taking on extra roles in order to earn roster spots. For example, Thielen became a special teams ace in 2014 before he became one of the team’s top receiving options in 2016.
Ham understands that doing whatever it takes to help the team gives him the best chance.
“I just need to be ready to compete,” Ham said. “It doesn’t matter what the coaches ask me to do, I just have to go out and get it done.”
Ham was a special teamer for the Vikings last preseason. But a new challenge has presented itself in his journey. Ham is making the transition from running back to fullback, and has asserted himself as a powerful lead blocker in training camp.
He says the transition is going as planned, if not better.
“It’s been going very well. Playing fullback you have to be very physical and I’ve always taken pride in playing physical. But now it’s about continuing to learn and learning how to block.”
Vikings running back coach Kennedy Polamalu has taken over primary duties of teaching Ham the fullback position. Polamalu played fullback himself at USC, and has spent over 20 years coaching running backs at the professional and collegiate level.
Notably, Polamalu spent five seasons as the running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2005-2009. During that stint, Polamalu molded Greg Jones into one of the NFL’s best fullbacks.
Ham says Polamalu has been using Greg Jones film to help him understand the nuances of the fullback position.
“Coach knows techniques and he has great experience, and it worked for (Jones),” Ham said. “So I’ve been watching that film and looking for the techniques he used.”
The bone-crushing blocks make the most headlines, but Ham adds that there’s much more to it, and understanding and executing those things is the next step in his transition.
“It’s not always just running in and hitting somebody as hard as you can,” Ham said. “There’s scheme and technique behind it as well. So I’m just trying to learn those things and learn what the offensive line is doing.”
Jones, who blocked for 2011 NFL rushing champion Maurice Jones-Drew in Jacksonville, also played running back in his college days. In fact, Jones’ 2,535 yards rank sixth on Florida State’s all-time rushing list.
Ham was an accomplished college rusher himself, rushing for 2,662 yards and 29 touchdowns at Augustana, including 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior year.
Indeed, Ham’s career arc has many similarities to that of Jones, who put together an illustrious 10-year career and signed a contract in 2008 that, at the time, made Jones the highest-paid fullback in NFL history. Could Ham’s career mold into something similar?
Next to helping his team win, Ham is seeking similar career goals. And he says he is much more confident in his second season, now that he has one year under his belt.
“It’s a night and day difference,” Ham said of the difference between Year 1 and Year 2. “I’m extremely confident in what I can bring to the table. As a rookie, you’re nervous and you don’t really know what to expect. But I’m confident now and I’m ready to compete.”