Although they failed to make the playoffs in 2019, the Las Vegas Raiders have a bright future as it seems that their bounty of young talent acquired during the 2019 NFL Draft will be a force for years to come.
Josh Jacobs and Hunter Renfrow have appeared as offensive leaders, while Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell will hold things down on the defensive end. Although Jacobs did not win the 2019 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, he and fellow rookie Alec Ingold made their way to the NFL Honors to represent the Raiders.
Prior to the event, Jacobs shared his love for the moment and being able to share it with his fullback, via Raiders.com:
“It’s a tremendous honor just to be here, and I’m glad to be able to spend it with him [Ingold], a dude that doesn’t get a lot of credit and is one of the most valuable pieces on our team. I’m just glad to be here with him and spend this amazing moment of our lives together.”
Despite going undrafted in 2019, Ingold ended up playing a big role for the Raiders’ offense, consistently opening up holes for Jacobs, who emerged as the Raiders’ future franchise running back.
Jacobs’ talent is undeniable and his commitment to the game is unmatched. Despite playing with a shoulder injury for most of the season, he finished 1,150 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games.
While on the red carpet for the NFL Honors, Ingold acknowledged what a good player Jacobs is, but chose to focus on his character off the field as well:
“I think, you know, just coming in to everything with high expectations, right, everything he’s been through and then to exceed those expectations and be a better person, that’s what’s impressive in the locker room. This guy is a better person than a football player and he’s a damn good football player, so that’s pretty good.”
Although the Raiders did not get any awards at the NFL Honors, there is still plenty to be excited about. The team seems to be a close-knit group and has the talent to boot. With new facilities awaiting them in Las Vegas, there is no telling what these young Raiders will do in 2020 and beyond.
