SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Two former Augustana University football student-athletes have been invited to Rookie Minicamp by the Minnesota Vikings. Running back CJ Ham (Duluth, Minnesota) and 2015 graduate and tight end, Nick Lee (Blue Earth, Minnesota), have both received invites to attend the three-day tryout which starts this Friday at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
 
Ham, a 6-foot-1, 238-pound running back out of Denfeld High School, earned All-NSIC South Division Second Team honors his senior season after rushing for a career-high 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns. Ham tied Augustana's single season record and led the NSIC in rushing touchdowns in 2015. He became just the fourth running back at Augustana to rush for 1,000-plus yards in a season. Ham ran for 100-plus yards three times last season, including a career-high 160 against Southwest Minnesota State on Oct. 3. Ham also hauled in 39 passes for 431 yards and three touchdowns in 2015. He finished his career with 2,662 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns to go along with 949 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
 
"I am so excited for CJ to get his opportunity at the NFL level," Augustana head football coach Jerry Olszewski said. "He has been a great leader on our football team, our campus and in our community. I believe that he has a great skill set for the next level and am pleased that he will have the opportunity to show that to the coaches. CJ has worked incredibly hard and I couldn't be happier for him to go after his dream to play in the NFL."
 
Lee, a 6-foot-4, 254-pound tight end from Blue Earth, Minnesota, graduated from Augustana in the spring of 2015. During his senior season in 2014, Lee started all 11 games at tight end and caught 16 passes for 231 yards. He averaged 14.4 yards per catch his senior season and hauled in 21.0 passing yards per game. Lee played in 34 career games for the Vikings at tight end hauling in 29 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns.
 
"I am so happy for Nick and his diligence to pursue the opportunity to play in the NFL," Olszewski said. "He has worked incredibly hard to get his shot after his collegiate career ended in 2014. Nick is a tremendous athlete with great hands. I am so proud of his work ethic and passion to get this opportunity."
 
Augustana finished 9-3 season in 2015, marking just the second season in program history with nine or more wins. The Vikings made their fourth NCAA Playoff appearance in program history last season and earned a share of the South Division Championship with a 6-1 record in NSIC divisional play.