2015 VIKINGS PLAYBOOK ⁄ 27

WHEN IT COMES TO NFL STORIES,

RUNNING BACK MATT ASIATA HAS AN

INTERESTING ONE. HE’S BEEN CUT; HE’S

HELD A PRACTICE SQUAD ROLE; HE’S

BEEN PICKED UP. AND HE IS ALSO TIED

FOR A VIKINGS TEAM RECORD WITH

THREE RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS IN A

SINGLE GAME. IN 2014, ASIATA SCORED

10 TOUCHDOWNS, INCLUDING TWO

TRIPLE-TOUCHDOWN GAMES.

“It’s a roller coaster,” Asiata said. “Up and down. Circles.”

Another loop — his pewter-colored wedding band — has helped keep him on track through challenging changes, working hard for goals and honoring his family.

“I kiss my ring five times, and a sixth for my wife, every time I come on the field,” Asiata said. “That’s a little good luck charm for me. Everything out here is for them.”

Family proves a huge part of Asiata’s story. When his wife, Tangi, and their five children visited training camp, the three oldest ran around on the sidelines, tossed a football back and forth and pretended to be like Dad.

“It’s hard, sometimes, because [some of] my kids are in grade school, and as a father you really don’t want to miss out on things,” Asiata said. “So when work comes, it’s hard. But it’s

important, and you have to provide for your family. I’m very blessed.”

Asiata grew to love sports from a very young age. His father emigrated from Samoa at age 15, and he worked hard to eventually start and raise a family of five children. Asiata credits his father, who played rugby, for bringing football into his life.

“Rugby wasn’t a big thing in the States back then,” Asiata said, “but I started playing football because of him.”

Asiata smiled as he described the way his mother grew to understand football and can’t get enough of it, “because all of her kids played.”

Asiata tragically lost his father in an auto accident in 2013. Less than three months later, he scored his first NFL touchdown. By the end of the game, he had scored two more. In one of the most painful times of his life, the game he and his dad loved helped him cope.

“He was a great impact from the very beginning,” Asiata said. “He’s the one who brought football into my life.”

Last year, Asiata received an even bigger opportunity on the field when he stepped up to fill a role during Adrian Peterson’s absence. He took the responsibility and ran with it — literally. Despite limited playing time prior to 2014, Asiata finished the season with nine rushing touchdowns and 570 yards on 164 carries.

Days that began with six kisses of his ring before facing Atlanta and Washington were

highlighted by Asiata scoring six points on rushing TDs three times.

With Peterson back in his starting position and second-year pro Jerick McKinnon slated at backup, Asiata’s role may look entirely different in 2015. But don’t expect that to change his driven mindset.

The running back doesn’t resent the adjustment; in fact, he is more supportive than anyone of Peterson returning to Minnesota. At the end of the day, Asiata’s mission is to help the Vikings win — in whatever function that means for him.

“I want to help the offense in whatever way I can,” Asiata said. “With the best running back returning to the field, you can’t say anything more. I’m happy [Adrian] is back. He’s a good friend of mine, and whatever he needs, we’re going to be there — me, Jerick, Joe [Banyard] and all the RBs. I’ve accepted the role — this is where the coaches put me, and I’m going to go in and do my best. I’m going to come out and let 2-8 run the ball.”

Asiata consistently demonstrates this positive, hard-working attitude. After all, his father

M A T T A S I A T A F E A T U R E

“It’s a roller coaster,” Asiata said. “Up and down. Circles.”

2015 VIKINGS PLAYBOOK ⁄ 2929 ⁄ 2015 VIKINGS PLAYBOOK

Two players – wide receiver Isaac Fruechte and tackle Carter Bykowski – who hail from Minnesota played their first games in their native state in Vikings Purple Saturday, and helped the team to a 26-16 victory.

Fruechte is a University of Minnesota alum, and to grab a spot in the NFL — for his hometown team no less — is the ultimate goal.

What’s special for Fruechte is the way football so strongly runs in his family. Isaac’s father, Carl Fruechte, is the renowned head coach who led Caledonia High School to multiple state titles. Fruechte played on the team, as did some of

his cousins. For all of them, the love of the game began very early on.

“Being around practice at a young age and the older kids that Dad coached, it was very easy for me to be involved and want to be a part of it,” Fruechte said.

Third-year tackle Carter Bykowski also has football in his blood. Both Bykowski and his older brother played for Eden Prairie High School and won titles, with Carter playing for championship teams in his junior and senior seasons.

“My brother won a state championship his senior year, and I didn’t want to be the

F R U E C H T E A N D B Y K O W S K I S P O T L I G H T

A S I A T A , C O N T I N U E D . . .

N I N E T Y P L AY E R S S T E P P E D O N TO T H E F I E L D F O R M I N N E S OTA V I K I N G S

T R A I N I N G C A M P. BY T H E T I M E T H E R E G U L A R S E A S O N S TA RT S , T H E

R O S T E R W I L L B E D O W N TO 5 3 . M A N Y G U Y S H AV E B E E N C O M I N G O U T E A C H

D AY G R AT E F U L F O R T H E C H A N C E TO W O R K H A R D A N D R A L LY F O R A S P OT

O N T H E OT H E R S I D E O F T H E F I N A L C U T.

NFL RUSHING TD LEADERS, 2014:

taught it to him; it’s engrained in him; and it does not go unnoticed.

Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson is entering his second year working with Asiata, and he emphasized what Asiata offers both on and off the field. “Matt is what, in this business, we define as a ‘true pro,’ ” Wilson said. “He’s always prepared, he works extremely hard and he’s very humble. I love those three qualities about him.”

Asiata doesn’t need the limelight. Like his father, he seeks only to finish every day knowing he gave 100 percent and helped his teammates succeed.

“I’ve just been blessed to continue where I’ve been — just being out here every day with the guys, showcasing my talent for the coaches,” Asiata said. “I’m going out there and giving it my all every time I hit the field.”

So prior to every game, Asiata will pull on his jersey, tie his cleats and kiss his wedding ring six times.

Because roller coaster or not, he’s enjoying the ride.

30 ⁄ 2015 VIKINGS PLAYBOOK

only one in the family that didn’t get one,” Bykowski said, smiling. “So I got two.”

Bykowski and Fruechte grew up Vikings fans, attending games at the Metrodome. Now, being part of the team seems a little surreal. When asked about their favorite players, both identified Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter as one of the standouts. Fruechte played the same position as Carter, so the connection came naturally. For Bykowski, the choice was much more personal.

“His last name is the same as my first name,” Bykowski said. “So he was my favorite. I thought it was cool when I had ‘Carter’ across my back. I think I wore that jersey probably four days a week.”

The Vikings have given both athletes another chance to make their NFL dreams a reality. Fruechte went undrafted in 2015, but Minnesota brought him on board in May. As a senior at the U, Fruechte tallied 292 receiving yards and a touchdown on 18 receptions; that same season, the team recognized him as Wide Receiver of the Year. In Gophers history, Eric Decker is the only receiver to make it on an NFL team. Fruechte is hoping to change that.

“You have to be very realistic about your chances and be proactive about what you’re doing,” Fruechte said “You know, just work hard, make sure you’re doing everything that you can to be a part of the team and try to hopefully make it.”

The receiver may be an underdog, but he is not without fans.

Paul Vold stood along the fence during Verizon Vikings Training Camp wearing a purple, custom-ordered Fruechte jersey. The Vikings fan lives in Byron, about 45 minutes

from Caledonia, and has been following Fruechte’s journey: from high school, to the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets, to the Gophers and finally arriving in Mankato with the Vikings.

“[Isaac] getting a shot at the NFL is definitely pretty awesome,” Vold said. “I remember last year when Adam Thielen made the team […] and then Marcus Sherels, too. It’s great to have more Minnesota guys on the team — it’s nice to be able to root for some hometown kids.”

Sherels is also a Gophers alum who joined the Vikings in 2010. The cornerback relates very well to Fruechte’s story, and he is one of his biggest supporters.

“[Isaac and I] trained together a couple years ago, and of course he went to the U of M, so I know him from there, too,” Sherels said. “He’s a great player, a good person, and I’m rooting for him. I’m just out there telling him to work hard every day and give it his all.”

Fruechte said he listens to Sherels’ advice and is just striving every day to make an impact on the team and the coaching staff.

Bykowski, who spent the last two years on San Francisco’s practice squad before being signed to Minnesota’s 53-man roster last December, is doing the same. Although he formerly played tight end, Bykowski switched to offensive line during his junior year at Iowa State.

“I wasn’t that 4.7 [time in the 40-yard dash] tight end. I was a little slower, so it

made sense for me to put some weight on and move in if I wanted to play at all. It really worked out for me at the end.”

Bykowski started every game of his senior year at left tackle, and the rest is history. At 6 feet, 7 inches, he knows he can bring a lot to the table for Minnesota. His height, long arms and former tight end experience make him an athletic asset at the line.

“But at the same time, I’m just out there trying to do what I can to help

the team win,” Bykowski said. “Whether that’s playing left side or right side — wherever they want me — I’m going to do my best at it.”

Bykowski added, “Just being a part of that purple line, playing for the Minnesota Vikings, that’s an absolute dream come true.”

S P O T L I G H T F R U E C H T E A N D B Y K O W S K I