SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Those who know CJ Ham wouldn't be surprised when hearing that the former Augustana Vikings football standout was back in Sioux Falls assisting with youth football camps over the month of June.
 
Ham, who tied the single-season school record with 16 rushing touchdowns during his senior season in 2015, and is now playing for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, was in Sioux Falls for two different football camps.
 
The All-NSIC tailback helped coach youth football players at the Sanford Legends Football Clinic with former NFL stars Chad Greenway and Keyshawn Johnson. He also got together with current Detroit Lions running back Zach Zenner to host a camp in conjunction with the Riggs Premier Football Academy at the Sanford Fieldhouse.
 
"It's not just that CJ is an NFL athlete, it's that he's a great role model for our youth," Director of the Riggs Premier Football Academy Kurtiss Riggs said. "CJ did a great job interacting and demonstrating for the kids. We were very lucky to have him."  

Of the many positive notes a kid can take away from a camp CJ Ham is involved with, he hopes they all zero in on his main message.
 
"The biggest thing with these camps is to show these kids that you can have a lot of fun while still taking the game seriously," Ham said.  "You have to love the game of football to do it a long time, but you have to have fun with it too. I'm humbled to be back here helping these kids learn the game and I'm honored to be able to do it with such great athletes."
 
This isn't the first summer Ham has made his way back to Sioux Falls, and it probably won't be the last either, as Ham sees the potential in the young athletes in Sioux Falls.
 
"Working out here last year and evaluating some of the guys in the camp, there were some very skilled little kids who were doing drills that I didn't start doing until I was in high school," Ham said. "Coach Riggs really knows how to run a camp and it's great to be a part of it."
 
While Ham is back in Sioux Falls helping with youth camps, he's also working on his own game, as he prepares to enter his second year in the NFL – this time with a new position. The Duluth, Minn. Native is preparing the move from running back to fullback.
 
"I've been very excited about this since I heard the news," Ham said. "I've always thought that my best shot to stay in the NFL would be to play fullback, so I'm just really excited to get out there and compete."
 
Having the running back experience that Ham has, he hopes to be able to touch the ball from time to time, but ultimately, the 5-foot-11, 235-pounder just wants be on the field and help his team win. "Having the running back skills that I have, I hope that I get a few touches, but regardless, I just want to be on the field. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help the Vikings be successful and be on the field with my teammates." 

Ham will report to Minnesota Vikings training camp for his second NFL season on July 23.