Allegiant Stadium
3333 Al Davis Way, Las Vegas, NV 89118
Raider Nation’s very first impression of Alex Leatherwood was by an ESPN are living-action draft digicam panning around to him dancing with his mother in his Pensacola, Florida, dwelling room.
“What was going via your brain? Was there even nearly anything going as a result of your intellect when you observed out you ended up becoming drafted?” I questioned Leatherwood with regards to the evening his NFL dream came to fruition.
“To be truthful, not definitely anything at all was heading by means of my head but a whole lot of emotion,” he replied. “I went back again for my senior yr at Alabama to be a greater player, for the sole goal of remaining a much better participant. So that complete season, that total offseason, the pre-draft approach leading up to that connect with – it was like a fat lastly lifted off of my shoulders. Due to the fact I realized all of that perform wasn’t in vain. I finally obtained to see what all of that do the job was for. It was refreshing.”
Due to the fact coming to Las Vegas, quite a few of Leatherwood’s teammates and coaches have explained the rookie as a man of several terms.
“He would not say substantially. If I get ‘Hey, what’s up, doggy?’ out of him that’s a lot,” joked Richie Incognito.
Offensive line mentor Tom Cable has labeled Leatherwood as unorthodox, some thing that truly captivated him to the ideal deal with. He has not run into way too several rookie offensive linemen in his profession as depth-oriented and low-essential in persona as Leatherwood.
“He is extremely introverted, from time to time he can even be a little bit nerdy which is awesome for an O-lineman,” Cable explained for the duration of a push conference. “I will not have to worry about him out raising hell or accomplishing this or carrying out that. And he’s a really focused dude. He’s incredibly clever. … He is very properly examine. Research, likes to examine, things like that. That is not extremely regular for an athlete or any person,” Cable mentioned with a laugh. “He likes to keep it real – if which is the right phrase.”
In Cable’s reviews about Leatherwood, the two phrases “targeted” and “serious” stand out. That’s what promptly popped out to me whilst talking with Leatherwood. While he is quiet, it can be not a standoffish form of peaceful. It really is an all-company, laser-focused mentality he has about himself. It is a thing that he is turned on even to yet another stage considering that being drafted.
“The most important detail I have felt like has adjusted about me is my mindset when it arrives to my work,” explained Leatherwood. “Perfecting my craft, and how I go about becoming quite businesslike in my tactic to this activity.
“Despite the fact that I do appreciate [football], but at the very same time, at the stop of the day I just like to compete. I just want to make positive I’m superior each individual day than the human being I was the day prior to.”
Coming off two preseasons wins, Leatherwood has impressed, and he seems to be like he belongs in this league. He’s had numerous opportunities to showcase his energy and propel the Raiders’ run video game, which has averaged a little around 118 rushing yards in their two preseason games. He also concluded the preseason get from the Rams with a 74.6 PFF quality.
Standard Supervisor Mike Mayock named him the starting suitable deal with right after he was drafted, a placement he is held steadfast since minicamp. The rookie with the veteran experience to him will be asked to do a good deal pretty early. Anticipations are higher. Admirers hope he can build into a bookend across from still left deal with Kolton Miller for a long time to occur.
Above all else, he can often rely on the actuality that he’s a large human getting from Pensacola, Florida.
And people broad shoulders are utilised to carrying the excess weight of management.