Rock Solid: T.J. Hockenson Reliable in Multiple Roles

T.J. Hockenson isn't flashy.

The Vikings tight end is a man of few words and seeks even fewer moments in the spotlight, instead keeping his head down and focus outward.

There isn't a stat category for dirty work, but if there was, Hock' would almost certainly stack up the numbers. He's always happy to haul in a catch but just as willing to drop his shoulders into a block and clear space for a teammate to make a play.

"He's putting his body out there first," Aaron Jones, Sr., said. "Very selfless when it comes to blocking."

Even on Hockenson's high-production days in the passing game, he's also giving his all on every other offensive snap.

Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips pointed to Minnesota's Week 4 win over Miami, when Hockenson tied his previous single-game high of 13 catches. The tight end racked up 119 receiving yards, the fourth most in his career thus far — but his impact on the game was even more widespread.

"T.J. wants to win, and all these skill guys, they'd love to get balls come their way. And I'm really glad for him that the ball found him a little more," Phillips said. "But all he's done run-game wise, he's showed up. Within that same game when he has over a hundred yards, he's cross-sifting and chopping down Chop Robinson.

"He's willing to do what it takes," Phillips added. "He's a tight end."

It's fair to say not all tight ends are created equally, though, and not all demonstrate the team-first mentality Hockenson does.

Asked about his philosophy by Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett, Hockenson referenced his Midwest upbringing and closeness to family, as well as his college career at the University of Iowa.

"It's a big thing for me, and that's what I ask [from] people who are close to me — being loyal," Hockenson said. "That's what I give in return. It's how I am. It's how I play," he emphasized. "Ultimately, I want to win and build an organization and be part of that."

Example of hard work

Hockenson's devotion to his team is the same now as it was 10 years ago at Iowa.

Hawkeyes Head Coach Kirk Ferentz referenced Hockenson's passion for the organization and willingness to do whatever was asked of him. A standout high school basketball player and receiving tight end, Hockenson went from proverbial king of the hill to starting from the bottom.

"We really liked him as a prospect, but we didn't know about his physical toughness and how physical he played," Ferentz recalled. "So, he came to camp and gave it everything he had. He wasn't used to — we asked him to block, and it was kind of funny. But he had a lot of pride and he tried; he wasn't hesitant at all."

Hockenson went on to redshirt his freshman season and work on the scout team. It's certainly not a glamorous job practicing against the starting defense ("Those guys can be a little rude to the young guys," Ferentz quipped), but a motivated Hockenson never complained.

"And as it turns out, he tortured them. He really wore them out," Ferentz said. "He went hard every day, and it was great for our defense because he really stressed them."

The Hawkeyes coach continues to use Hockenson as an example to incoming athletes who may cringe at playing on the scout team.

"I tell them, 'Here's a guy who did it, and two years later he's the eighth pick in the NFL Draft.' It's all about your attitude and your work ethic," Ferentz said. "T.J. majored in both of those things."

Hockenson continues to display those traits.

It's why he didn't balk at the play call against the Dolphins including "Rolex" — a code word to run clock, which meant sliding in bounds and shy of the goal line. A touchdown would have looked great on his stat sheet — and on the scoreboard for Minnesota — but also would have required the Vikings to send their defense back on the field. By giving up a personal accomplishment, Hockenson enabled the team to finish the game in victory formation.

A touchdown is nice, he acknowledged, but winning is better.

"The odds are 100% if you slide and 99.9% if you don't slide," Hockenson said with a smile. "Those are things that we call in the huddle. … It's a 'situational master' [instance] we talk about as a football team."

Throughout Hockenson's days of college ball and now at the pro level, he's been considered more of a pass-catching tight end — but he's shown especially the past two seasons he's a well-rounded player.

The Vikings last season experienced multiple injuries to their offensive line and called on Hockenson to help pass protect, which he obliged without complaint. The Vikings lost tight end Josh Oliver, who is known more for blocking but also is a capable receiver, in Week 3, so Hockenson will help offset missing Oliver.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said Hockenson "has done so many selfless things" in Purple.

"Last year, with some of the adversity we had on the offensive line, [he was asked] to do some jobs before he got out on routes," O'Connell said. "His improvement and his commitment in the run game has been felt.

"Sometimes he was the primary, and we needed him to win [immediately]. Sometimes he was a backside guy that would need to catch and then gain the required yards for a first down," O'Connell said of Hockenson's outing against the Dolphins. "There were a bunch of different kinds of plays where I thought T.J.'s skill set showed up, and I was really encouraged by some of the run after catch."

Hockenson, who totaled 46 yards after his catches against Miami, has executed numerous splashy plays on the gridiron. He's shown off impressive verticals, curled his fingers around seemingly uncatchable balls and tapped his toes in-bounds.

But sometimes it's the plays not making the highlight-reel cut that make the biggest impact.

"When you cut on the film, you'll see T.J. do a lot of the blocking — and not just a lot of blocking, but great blocking, at that," Jones said. "It's one thing he doesn't get enough credit for, but those sift blocks coming back and digging out of the defense — those tough, dirty plays where I'm able to now fit inside and find an alley from his blocking.

"We work hand-in-hand a lot. I call T.J. my wingman," Jones smiled. "He's literally set up in a wing sometimes. If I don't have the fullback there, I know I have T.J. He's going to be there at some point."

When reflecting on Hockenson's highly successful time at Iowa, it isn't a touchdown or spectacular catch that tops the list for Ferentz. It's a play in which his blue-collar work ethic showed up in a big way.

In the January 2019 Outback Bowl, the Hawkeyes faced Mississippi State and its top-ranked defense featuring Jeffrey Simmons and Montez Sweat. Iowa led 17-6 at halftime, but the Bulldogs fought their way back with 13 consecutive points.

"They kind of had us on the ropes," Ferentz recalled.

Iowa bounced back with a touchdown to lead 24-19 at the start of the fourth quarter. Mississippi State netted a field goal and forced a quick punt, but a Bulldogs interception was followed by a quick pass from QB Nate Stanley to Hockenson in the flat. The tight end pivoted to run up the field. He shook off one defender, broke another tackle, walked the tightrope of the sideline and somehow stayed in-bounds. He sprinted with three Bulldogs hanging on him, finally being brought down after a 20-yard gain to the 48-yard line. The play kickstarted a drive that ended with a Hawkeyes field goal and a 27-22 lead that proved to be enough.

"Despite all the touchdowns, all the other stuff he did [that season], that was a huge play," Ferentz said. "I'm a believer that great players have a way of knowing when something's got to get done and then they find a way to do it. That was one of those moments. And to me, that play won the game for us."

Consistently Hock'

A lot has changed since New Year's Day 2019 when Hockenson helped the Hawkeyes to the win.

He's played 102 NFL games with Detroit (47) and Minnesota (55), totaling 456 receptions. He's grown out his hair, chopped it and is now growing it out again. He's married to Mikala and is dad to 7-month-old son, Judah, who learned to clap for the first time during Minnesota's win over Miami.

Even Hockenson's perspective has shifted, seeing life through the lens of little Judah.

"It takes pressure off what you do in here. I mean, there's a lot more to life than just this job," he said. "It's fun to be able to come home and see him and really hang out and enjoy his company. It's cool to have your own little family and watch him learn, teach him some new things. … He's been waking up in the middle of the night, just clapping."

But what hasn't changed?

Hockenson's consistency of character. His lunchpail mindset that speaks volumes, even if he doesn't.

"He's the same guy he was when he showed up as a high school student at camp," Ferentz said. "Great attitude, work ethic. Anything you want, he was going to try to do it well. … His attitude was always, 'Hey, what can I be doing to get better?' "