Nobody is given a nickname like "Speedy" by accident.
It's a moniker Jalen Nailor earned from his first Pop Warner football coach in Palmdale, California. It was Nailor's first week ever playing tackle football, with the team lined up to do conditioning sprints at the end of practice. As Nailor tells the story, he was "beating everybody by a pretty good margin."
"He came up to me and said, 'I'm just going to start calling you Speedy,'" Nailor recalled, "and that was that."
The nickname carried over to Las Vegas. He moved to Southern Nevada as a teen to play at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School. It was there Nailor won multiple state championships in football and track and field, and was ranked the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the state of Nevada by 247Sports and Rivals.com. He totaled 108 receptions for 1,995 and 28 touchdown grabs with the Gaels.
"He was one of the fastest guys out there at all times," said Brent Browner, head coach at Bishop Gorman. Browner was the team's defensive backs coach when Nailor was there, as the receiver also played cornerback.
"He was a ballhawk, everything you want as a receiver," Browner added. "He wasn't just fast, he was explosive, crisp route running, could get in and out of his breaks and he was a tough player. I don't think he ever missed a game. Quiet guy but really competitive. He's not going to whoop and holler, but he's going to make it happen."
After four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, the team that drafted him with a sixth-round pick in 2022, the receiver returns to the city where he put his name on the map.
"Knowing that I was going to be coming back here, it was so fun to me to be able to come back to my roots," Nailor said. "And I still have those connections with Gorman, you know I've got plenty connections all around the city. So, just to have that behind me, it's just going to motivate me more to show my talents."
As for showcasing those talents, he was able to sparingly do so with the Vikings. Nailor was part of a stacked receiving corps headlined by two-time All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, who's eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the six seasons he's been in the league. The year after Nailor was drafted, the Vikings selected first-round receiver Jordan Addison, who has totaled 22 career touchdown receptions in three seasons.
Yet with limited opportunities, Nailor has still delivered. Over his last two seasons, he's caught 57 passes for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns. He wouldn't be considered "Speedy" without creating separation either, averaging 15.1 yards a reception with three touchdowns caught for over 20 air yards in the span.
"My quickness, my speed, I feel like that's my God-given talent and I try to use that in the best ways that I can," he said. "And that's something that defenses should fear."
Joining the Raiders means more than simply providing a feel-good homecoming story. This could be a legitimate opportunity for Nailor to prove that he can the carry the load as a top receiver for a team.
"Just having that ability to play multiple positions in the offense, move around, motions and things like that," he said. "I feel like with [Klint] Kubiak's offense, he does that very well with the guys trying to get them the ball and move them around. And I feel like that's going to play right into my skill set."
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View photos from the arrival of the Las Vegas Raiders' 2026 free agency class at headquarters.
Kicker Matt Gay signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Kicker Matt Gay signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive end Kwity Paye arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum with General Manager John Spytek after signing a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor with General Manager John Spytek after signing a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive end Kwity Paye signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive end Kwity Paye with General Manager John Spytek after signing a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker with General Manager John Spytek after signing a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive end Kwity Paye before a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor before a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive end Kwity Paye during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
The Las Vegas Raiders 2026 free agency class during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive end Kwity Paye during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Linebacker Quay Walker during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Members of the Las Vegas Raiders 2026 free agency class during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Center Tyler Linderbaum during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Members of the Las Vegas Raiders 2026 free agency class during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
