Once a student of Kuhn's work, Ripkowski might replace Packers FB

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Ripkowski has been studying John Kuhn's game for more than six years. Little did the Packers' newest fullback know at the time that one day he would be drafted by Green Bay to be Kuhn's eventual replacement.

Ripkowski had never even taken a snap at fullback when he began breaking down the way Kuhn played. In high school, Ripkowski's team didn't utilize a fullback. He spent his early years as an offensive guard before playing exclusively at linebacker and defensive end as a junior and senior.

But as he projected forward and thought about his chances of making it in the NFL, Ripkowski had a feeling that fullback was going to be his most likely path.

"I kind of figured once I get to the college level that's more of my body style and my type of play," Ripkowski said.

Kuhn wasn't the only NFL fullback that Ripkowski had his eyes on, but the long-time Packer was at the top of his list.

"I was a big fan, even back in high school," Ripkowski said. "Been watching him since Day 1."

The difficult part for Ripkowski to accept now is that he's been brought in to take the job of the man whom he considered a long-distance mentor. Whether it's this season or next, Ted Thompson used a sixth-round pick on Ripkowski with the expectation that he could eventually beat out the second-oldest player on Green Bay's roster.

"I wouldn't say that I'm going to replace him or anything like that," Ripkowski said. "I just hope to learn the playbook first and start making an impact on special teams and all that and see where it goes. Obviously if I'm playing fullback, we're going to have the same job and everything, but I'm a different player, and I wouldn't say I'm his replacement or anything of that sort."

The Packers re-signed Kuhn this offseason to a one-year, veteran's-minimum contract. However, Green Bay would not owe Kuhn any money if it decided to cut him.

Aaron Ripkowski (48), while at Oklahoma

Ripkowski, meanwhile, signed a four-year, $2.38 million contract with $106,395 guaranteed. That's not a huge amount in terms of actual guaranteed dollars, but the Packers have still obviously made a commitment to him.

A lot of players say how happy they are to be drafted by the team that selected them. Few have ever seemed to mean it with as much conviction as Ripkowski.

"I really had my heart set on this place anyhow, and I just got lucky enough to get drafted by them," he said. "I'm really excited to be here."

The explanation for Ripkowski's excitement makes perfect sense.

"They have a great scheme for the fullback," he said. "Obviously John Kuhn has done a phenomenal job here at it. I'd like to hope to get some playing time in a similar fashion that he has."

Head coach Mike McCarthy has been excited about having Ripkowski on board since the moment the pick was announced.

"I think Aaron is an excellent fit," McCarthy said on draft night. "A fullback (and) a four-core player on special teams. He pulls it up in there. And I think having him and having John Kuhn, and especially with John's experience and (running backs coach) Sam Gash, I think he's an excellent addition."

Thompson certainly wasn't looking at Ripkowski's statistical production when he decided to make him the 206th overall pick. Ripkowski had a total of six carries and eight receptions in his career at Oklahoma.

"We thought he was a pretty functional blocker, a square guy that stays on his feet," Thompson said. "We think he can be an effective player in the role we're going to try to use him."

When Ripkowski did get to touch the ball, something positive usually happened for the offense. Half of his rushing attempts in college resulted in touchdowns.

"They gave the ball a few times to me down there on the goal line and I happened to get in," Ripkowski said. "It was really exciting stuff. It was great payoff, all those years not carrying the ball and doing all the dirty work, per se. But I love what I do, and to get a TD is just an extra icing on the cake."

It would seem unlikely that Green Bay would keep two fullbacks. But Ripkowski making the 53-man roster could be more with special teams in mind, while also having him learn directly alongside Kuhn.

"If they kept two (fullbacks), that would be a great opportunity for us both," Ripkowski said.

And while Packers fans are well-versed in how to celebrate a play by Kuhn, the masses still might be unsure of how to serenade Ripkowski. He might have one possible suggestion that'd be easier to chant simultaneously than the three-syllable 'Rip-kow-ski.'

"I go by 'Rip', but I don't know if that's something they want to take up," he said.

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