Nate Hobbs already told everyone what to expect from him when he was drafted by the Raiders two months ago.
"I play with passion, I play with want-to, and when I'm on the field I'm going to enforce my will," said rookie cornerback Nate Hobbs during his introductory conference call.
"They're getting the best underdog they've ever drafted."
Hobbs' ambitious comments have seemed to ring true early this offseason. The former Fighting Illini has grabbed the attention of the Silver and Black coaching staff – and his teammate Trayvon Mullen.
"I feel like he's going to be really talented," Mullen said. "He practices hard; he goes through his drills really well. I like the way he approaches practice. I feel like he's going to be a real good player for us as long as he just keeps his mentality up and keeps going hard every day."
Hobbs has received a large amount of snaps this offseason at the nickel cornerback position, a starting position up for grabs since safety Lamarcus Joyner left the desert for the New York Jets. While defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has expressed satisfaction with Nevin Lawson and Amik Robertson at the position, the poise that Hobbs has come in with as a rookie has been a pleasant surprise for him.
"The guy that's probably really jumped out at us is [Nate] Hobbs," said Gus Bradley. "Very impressed with him. I think he's come in with a real good knowledge of the position, so his learning curve has really jumped up."
Head Coach Jon Gruden confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Hobbs status as a rookie fifth-round pick won't affect his decision on who he puts on the field.
"The best guys are going to play," said Gruden. "I don't care if it's Nate Hobbs and Amik Robertson. I don't care what round they came in, we're going to play the best four to five guys. The players will decide that."
Hobbs had a lot of success playing the nickel cornerback position in his four years in the Big Ten. He compiled 110 total tackles and 19 pass deflections at Illinois. Going into Training Camp and position battles, it will be exciting to see if "The Great Underdog" can continue to defy the odds.
View the best photos from the Raiders' second day of 2021 minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Willie Snead IV (17) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver John Brown (15) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Willie Snead IV (17) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Caleb Scott (10) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dillon Stoner (16) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Kendal Vickers (93) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (92) and defensive tackle Darius Stills (79) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Darius Philon (96) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Rasul Douglas (38) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyan Drake (23) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders players and coaches on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Trey Quinn (14) and cornerback Rasul Douglas (38) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Keelan Doss (18) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Nick Bowers (82) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Rasul Douglas (38) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) and on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver John Brown (15) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. (29) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver John Brown (15) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Javin White (53) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Niles Scott (78) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and running back Kenyan Drake on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (97) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and running back Kenyan Drake on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Gerri Green (52) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Theo Riddick (35) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Richie Incognito (64) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Trey Ragas (36) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Gerri Green (52) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Garrett Groshek (46) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (92) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Nathan Peterman (3) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Nick Bowers (82) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Dominik Eberle (5) and punter AJ Cole (6) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyan Drake (23) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (97) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) and wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) on the field for Mandatory Minicamp.
