Vikings sign Duluth running back C.J. Ham

The biggest news to come out of the Vikings’ rookie minicamp over the weekend, was the signing of running back C.J. Ham. Ham, a Duluth native, worked out as both a running back and fullback for the Vikings while participating at the minicamp.

To make room for him on the 90 man roster the Vikings waived safety John Lowdermilk, who was member of the practice squad for part of last season. Lowdermilk is the son of former Vikings’ great, Kirk Lowdermilk, who played center with the team from 1985 to 1992.

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Ham is a 2011 Duluth Denfeld grad who played his college ball for NCAA Division II, Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Last season, Ham lead the conference in rushing with 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns on 234 carries as a senior. He was named 2nd Team All-Conference while leading his team to the playoffs and tieing the single season school record for rushing touchdowns.

The Vikings invited the six foot one inch, 238 pound rookie to minicamp over the weekend, asking him to try out as a running back and fullback for the team. Having him learn the playbook and play two positions was a tremendous amount of weight and responsibility to put on a rookie like Ham. He looked up to the task as he impressed coaches enough to earn a spot on the team’s 90 man roster. Ham officially signed with the team on Tuesday.

Of playing both running back and fullback for the Vikings, Ham told the Argus Leader’s Ian Frazer:

“I hadn’t gotten into a three-point stance in probably about five years or so,” Ham said. “It was a little different, just trying to play the game from that position and being that low to the ground, and doing the motions and taking the right steps, taking angles at people to cut them off for blocks was just a little different for me.”

Ham is an agile threat at the running back position who filled many roles as part of the Augustana offense. Outside of being one of the best short yardage backs in all of Division II football, he proved valuable on zone runs and as a receiver out of the spread formation. Ham’s size and experience makes for a possible transition to fullback in the NFL or possibly used in a sort of hybrid-back role, much like John Kuhn for the Green Bay Packers.

Ham is set to graduate from Augustana later this month with a degree in physical education. His next step will be to report to the Vikings’ practice facility in Eden Prairie for the team’s OTA’s – Organized Team Activities.

– Miles Dittberner, is a Managing Editor at cover32 and covers the Minnesota Vikings.

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