EAGAN, Minn. — Justin Skule and Joe Huber had both forgotten, but their parents certainly haven't.
The offensive linemen recently were reminded just how full-circle their football journeys have been when parents dug up old youth football photos. In each, the younger version of each player was wearing a purple Vikings practice jersey — years before they'd land in Minnesota playing for the real deal.
"That was pretty cool," Huber grinned. "I was playing offensive line then, too, but you know how youth football goes — I played a lot of positions."
Huber and Skule both were new to the Vikings locker room this spring. Skule, a 2019 sixth-round draft pick by San Francisco, signed with Minnesota as a free agent in March, while Huber is getting his shot as an undrafted rookie.
Skule has loved his time in the Twin Cities after starting his NFL career with the Niners (2019-21) and the Buccaneers (2022-24) and got a kick out of the throwback photo his mom Christy found.
It didn't take long for his wife Kayla to add the snapshot to a T-shirt.
"My wife thought it was the funniest thing ever, me being in the Vikings uniform," Skule said, smiling. "And then I just came home one day, and the shirt was on the counter. She was very proud of it."
Skule played the first 12 offensive snaps of last Saturday's game at left tackle, where he's been rotating in and out for Christian Darrisaw as the starter has been working his way back from a knee injury suffered Week 8 of last season.
Having played at U.S. Bank Stadium once previously, with Tampa Bay in 2023, the Virginia native appreciated being on the home side this time around and said Vikings fans created a preseason atmosphere better than any he's been a part of.
And whether he's stepping in with the first team or filling a reserve role, Skule is happy to do whatever's asked of him and will glean whatever he can from working with different groups.
"It's beneficial. It's good getting to play next to different guys, whether it's playing next to Donovan [Jackson] or Joe or Blake [Brandel]," Skule said. "And it's not the first time I've done it, bouncing around. That's kind of the life of a swing tackle, is having to be ready to go with the 1s when you have to and other times going with the 2s.
"That's just kind of the gig," he added with a grin.
Skule's adaptable, team-first mentality is shared by Huber, who fits in well with the Vikings blue-collar offensive line group.
An Ohio native with a background in wrestling and who had a late-high-school growth spurt, Huber earned his spot at Cincinnati as a walk-on. He redshirted as a freshman, and in 2021 his seven games of action were rewarded with a scholarship prior to the next season.
Huber went on to start all 13 games for the Bearcats at right tackle in 2022; the following year, he transferred to Wisconsin to stay with Head Coach Luke Fickell. Huber started all 13 games at left guard in 2023 and 12 games at right guard in 2024.
Now having an opportunity with the Vikings, Huber is looking to make the most of it. He almost daily is one of the last players off the practice field, putting in extra work with teammates that include former Big Ten foe Max Brosmer.
"Going into college as a walk-on, I've had to learn how to deal with [being the underdog] and figure out ways to get better," Huber said. "Coming in as a free agent, it's the same thing. I need to do whatever I can to get an edge and try to make this team."
Huber made his presence known against the Texans Saturday, playing a team-high 55 snaps (the next-closest was center Michael Jurgens with 43).
He later was tabbed by analytics site Pro Football Focus as the weekend's highest-graded undrafted rookie.
High grade or not, Huber only cares about the opinions of Vikings coaches and his teammates — and he isn't taking his foot off the gas.
"It was my first time stepping into [U.S. Bank Stadium], and that was really cool," Huber said, "but as far as the game went, there are always things I can get better at. That's always how I look at it."
Huber and Skule both are grateful for the opportunity to work under and learn from Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips and Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper, and they continue to build camaraderie within the position group.
"O-line rooms are always fun, and this room's super fun — a lot of great guys in there," Skule said. "B.O. (Brian O'Neill), C.D. (Darrisaw) and Blake have all done a phenomenal job of bringing us in. You walk in Day 1, and they act like you've been there the whole time. They make you feel at home, and you also get to know guys really well during training camp, the long hours we're here.
"[Coach Kuper] brings a unique perspective. He had a super successful career as a player, so he gets a lot of it," he added. "He knows how hard some of the stuff we have to do is, and it's nice that he brings his own experiences and how he went about things, then being able to translate that to us and how it might be helpful."
Skule and Huber are working to improve daily, not only in the classroom or within their position but in team drills against Brian Flores' physical, high-powered defense.
It certainly hasn't made practices easy, noted Skule, who's been more than once faced the aggressive pass rush of Jonathan Greenard, but he's grateful for the challenge — and the opportunity to grow from it.
"It's a lot. They have a lot of different things; they do a good job mixing it up and putting guys all over the place," he explained. "It really makes you stay true to your rules and fundamentals. … It's been a tough training camp, but it's made us all better. It's been only beneficial for us."
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