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Ten years ago, Nate Hobbs’s father died. He was just 12 years old when his mother would be left alone to raise him and his three siblings. It’s because of he strength that she is his hero.
Nate turned to football, but every step brought doubt in his abilities from coaches and scouts that he had to overcome. But overcome them he did. To the point now where he relishes being doubted. He wants to be the underdog and prove everyone wrong.
“That’s what I’ve been all my life; I don’t know anything else,” Hobbs said of why he embraces being an underdog. “I came into high school, I didn’t play varsity until my junior year. A lot of people didn’t know who I was and I got on the scene quick and made the most of that. Got to college, I wasn’t a high recruit – I was about a two-star – only had one Power-5 offer.”
That school was Illinois in the Big Ten. And despite being a two-star recruit, Hobbs earned his way into a starting role as a freshman and never looked back.
But off the field, tragedy continued to strike.
“My uncle, who was an influence in my life, a big influence, a father figure who used to come to all my college games, he passed away this year,” said Hobbs. “And my Granny, she also died from cancer the year before that.”
Despite four different coaches in four years at Illinois, Hobbs started 35 games, picking off three passes and breaking up 18.
That experience had Hobbs thinking he deserved to be considered among the top corners in this draft. But come day three, he was still not taken. Until the Raiders scooped him up at pic 167.
“I made noise when I was in college that got me to the position where I am now. I was a fifth-round draft pick,” Hobbs continued. “I’m thankful to God. I’m just so thankful to the Raiders organization for taking a chance on me. I won’t forget that. I won’t forget the guys who were taken before me, the guys who I feel like didn’t do as much as me but were still picked up. I’m just so thankful for the Raiders for taking a chance, they won’t regret it. They’re getting the best underdog they’ve ever drafted.”
Though his father and his uncle are not here to see his dream realized, they played a pivotal role in his journey.
“I think they’d be really proud of me. I know they’re proud of me right now. I know they’re in Heaven, looking down on me and I know their hands are on me, they’re guiding me really. I’m just so happy I could make this happen. It’s like fate. My Uncle, he used to always tell me I was going to be here when I was in high school and I didn’t know what he was talking about because I’ve always been an underdog. I’ve always been a guy who wasn’t
supposed to be here, but I’m here now. I’m just thankful, just so thankful to God and to them that they were in my life and I could do this to make them proud.”
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