Amid the schedule release hubbub, the Raiders officially welcomed 15 rookies to the fold following April’s draft. They are as follows:
Darien Butler, LB, Arizona State
Qwynnterrio Cole, S, Louisville
Bryce Cosby, CB, Ball State
Cole Fotheringham, TE, Utah
Chase Garbers, QB, California
Justin Hall, WR, Ball State
Luke Masterson, LB, Wake Forest
Sincere McCormick, RB, UT San Antonio
Malkelm Morrison, CB, Army
Bamidele Olaseni, T ,Utah
Isaiah Pola-Mao, S, USC
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, DE, Notre Dame
Tré Turner, WR, Virginia Tech
Zach VanValkenburg, DE, Iowa
Sam Webb, CB, Missouri Western State
Bios:
Butler: Second team All-Pac-12 as a senior. The three-time team captain totaled 243 combined tackles (121 solo), 24.5 tackles for loss, three INT’s and seven pass breakups over four years at Arizona State.
Cole: A two-time HBCU All-Conference teamer at Alcorn State, Cole transferred to Louisville for his senior season where he put up 87 tackles (65 solo), five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one INT to earn honorable mention All-ACC.
Cosby: He was named first-team All-MAC as a senior in 2020. He returned as a fifth-year senior, totaling 110 tackles (67 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, and two INT’s.
Fotheringham: Over four years at Utah, he caught 52 passes for 526 yards and three TD’s including 15 receptions for 128 yards as a senior.
Garbers: Finished his five-year career at Cal ranked fourth in school history in total yardage (7,756), tied for sixth in TD’s (50), seventh in passer rating (132.2), seventh in passing yards (6,582). Last season threw for 2,533 yards and 16 TD’s and a career-high 456 yards on 104 carries and four TD’s.
Hall: First-team All-MAC selection. Finished as Ball State’s all-time leader in receptions (318) and receiving yards (3,385). Last year he had a team-leading 61 catches for 613 yards and five TD’s while also being the primary kickoff return specialist, returning 31 kicks for 380 yards and one TD.
Masterson: Led Wake Forest with 85 tackles (57 solo) last season to be named All-ACC Honorable Mention.
McCormick: The reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. Over his three seasons at UTSA, He set school records for rushing yards (3,939), rushing TD’s (34), 100-yard rushing games (18) and all-purpose yards (4,438). As a junior in 2021, he set UTSA single season records with 298 carries for 1,479 yards and 15 TD’s and 1,663 all-purpose yards.
Morrison: In three years at Army, he totaled 137 career tackles (78 solo), 15.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one INT, seven pass breakups and three forced fumbles. It culminated in career-highs as a senior with 60 tackles (29 solo) and three pass breakups.
Olaseni: As a senior at Utah, he played in 14 games with 11 starts at left tackle and was named Second-Team All-Pac-12 Second Team.
Pola-Mao: A senior co-captain at USC, he played in 11 games with nine starts, finishing third on the team with 57 tackles (41 solo). Earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors as a junior.
Tagovailoa-Amosa: A first-team All-Independent by Phil Steele, he started all 12 games as a senior totaling a career-high 25 tackles (18 solo) with two sacks, and one forced fumble.
Turner: As a senior at Virginia Tech, he caught 40 passes for a team-high 675 yards and three TD’s.
VanValkenburg: Started all 14 games as a senior putting up 58 tackles (30 solo), a career-high 15 tackles for loss and five sacks to be named second-team All-Big Ten.
Webb: Over four years at Missouri Western State, he had seven INTs, 39 pass breakups. His 30 tackles (28), six breakups, and two forced fumbles as a senior earned him second-team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association honors.