Oakland Raiders: 3 Potential breakout Hard Knocks stars
Jalen Richard
Bleacher Report’s Tyler Dunne went behind the scenes at Raiders’ headquarters without cameras, uncovering some of the muddy details of a 4-12 season. He found a bright light in the locker room, an upbeat attitude amid a disappointing year.
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Running back Jalen Richard didn’t allow rumors, trades and losses change his demeanor, per Dunne.
"We have to have fun with this!” he says, slowly turning the music down to chat. “You could be here today and gone tomorrow. Enjoy it. Understand that we have nothing to worry about…Richard wants everyone to cherish every second of every day, wants that mindset to become contagious."
As expected, some people within the Raiders’ organization aren’t happy about film crews capturing their moves; certain players may feel the same, especially with cuts coming up late in the summer.
Richard will uplift his teammates when necessary, and he’s a source of positivity. Of course, drama brings people to the screen, but viewers interested in the details of making a 53-man roster may view Richard as an intriguing personality. He has an intriguing story to tell.
In 2016, Richard went undrafted out of Southern Mississippi, but he flashed throughout the spring and summer, turning heads with his fluid moves on the practice field. Going into his fourth season, the talented running back could offer some advice to rookies who didn’t heard their names called during the draft.
In Dunne’s report, Richard praised Gruden’s bluntness, and we may see a genuine interaction between the two in August.