Oakland Raiders: 5 Unheralded Players Making a Splash at Training Camp

Jun 2, 2014; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Seth Roberts (85) catches a pass at organized team activities at the Raiders Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3. Seth Roberts – Wide Receiver

Seth Roberts is part of the Raiders priority UDFA class this season and has emerged early in camp while Rod Streater remains sidelined by a concussion.  Roberts played his college ball at Division II West Alabama after transferring from a junior college and had a very tiny body of work, as he only spent one year in an offense that featured the pass to any extent.  The word is out that he is impressing coaches and teammates in practice with his sure hands, with many who have observed practices continuing to comment that he catches everything thrown in his direction and does not drop balls.

Last year as a senior Roberts caught 40 passes for nearly 900 yards and 12 TD’s at West Alabama and was one of the premier big-play receiving threats in Division II.  While not exceptionally big at 6’1″ and under 200 pounds, he has a solid vertical leap and blazing speed (clocked at a 4.44 in his pro day) and is in many ways similar to Denarius Moore with his deep-threat ability.  If he continues to display the sure hands that he has been recognized for in camp, he has all the athletic ability to become a productive receiver in the NFL.  After all, the most important skill a receiver needs to have is catching a football and Roberts has shown so far that he can do that at a high level.