It takes a special breed of football player to be a fullback.

A fullback has to be tough, intense and probably just a little bit crazy. It sounds like something that is perfect for Northern Arizona's junior fullback Jake Hess.

Hess, a transfer player from Boise State, has embraced his place on the team and loves playing in one of the most physical positions on the field.

"Jake's pretty much the definition of a football player," tight ends and fullbacks coach Craig Knoth said. "He's a guy who's not about himself, he's all about the team. He brings intensity and is a selfless guy."

Hess spends most of his time in the backfield, right in front of sophomore running back Zach Bauman, and also plays on all the special teams. Hess said blocking for Bauman, his main job, is something that helps motivate him to do what he does every game.

"You'll see (Zach) take hits from big guys, just monster shots, and he'll just pop back up," Hess said. "That's something that motivates me during games, because when I see toughness in his eyes it makes me want to do the same."

Hess also said that Bauman -- who leads the Big Sky Conference in rushing with 1,278 yards on 252 carries -- is one of the toughest guys he's ever played football with.

That's saying something for a guy who transferred to NAU in 2011 from Boise State.

"He's got the speed and the skills and the toughness to be playing at the highest level," Hess said. "I've been around a lot of good guys, but Zach stands out, not because he's the biggest, but because he's a freak athlete. He plays his heart out, and that motivates the rest of us to do the same."

Hess came to the Lumberjacks from Boise State after seeing he wasn't going to play as much as he would like, and Knoth said it was an easy decision to bring Hess in. Knoth added the team needed a fullback, so the Jacks went out and got a good one.

"When he was interested in transferring, he was able to send video of himself actually playing in games," Knoth said. "He played on the special teams and had roles later in games and had some opportunity to play."

Knoth said that the fact that Mike Czyz, a wide receiver on the team, is Hess' cousin made the transition even easier. So did playing with some of the best football players in the NCAA.

"Coming from a program where you just get beat up every day actually helped," Hess said. "Going against the best defensive ends in the country every week used to make me nervous. But I know I can do it because I've done it against the best guys in the country.

"I know I can beat guys and that helps keep me motivated and I know I'm better than the guy across from me."

Hess' background of playing linebacker in college was also an experience that helps him at fullback. Knoth said he thinks of linebackers and fullbacks as almost mirror images.

"Fullbacks block linebackers quite a bit, and they have to be able to make physical contact in space," he said. "It's a lot of the same technique, and both are a collision position."

Hess said one of the only differences between the positions is a linebacker tries to plug a hole and make a tackle, while a fullback tries to block a guy out of it for his running back to come through behind.

"Fullback and linebacker are pretty much identical positions," he said. "I do what a linebacker does, only on the offensive side of the ball."

Both positions have to be filled by a tough player, and Hess has his father to thank for giving him that aspect of his game.

"I didn't start playing football until I was a freshman in high school, I was always a baseball and basketball guy," he said. "My dad is the one who ingrained in me that you need to be tough no matter what sport you're playing.

"If it wasn't for my dad, I wouldn't be as tough as I am."

Despite all the helmet-rattling hits and constant abuse a fullback receives and dishes out, they don't get a lot of recognition. Hess spends most of his time blocking for Bauman, and outside of Bauman's praise, Hess and the other fullbacks never really get any thanks.

Hess does, however, get to carry the ball every so often, and he said it's a part of his job he really enjoys.

"We don't get a lot of recognition, but every week the coaches try to put something in for us to get us a pass or a run," he said. "I wish there was always a huge hole for me when I do get the ball, but it's really easy for teams to key on you when you're a fullback getting the ball."

Knoth said throwing the fullbacks a carry once in a while helps keep them happy, and also helps keep defenses honest.

"It's always just a quick-hitter up the middle," Knoth said. "Being able to get some carries in the game is beneficial to morale, and it's a bone, but it's not something they need. No matter what, they're going to go out and do what they can."

Hess has run the ball twice in nine games for seven yards, but said he really doesn't care about the spotlight.

"I just want to do everything I can to help the team win," he said.

Hess and the Lumberjacks play their last game of the year Saturday when NAU hosts Southern Utah.

Bill Harris can be reached at bharris@azdailysun.com or 556-2251.