The Las Vegas Raiders are a week into training camp, and plenty of buzz is coming out of the practices. Perhaps most important is that the offensive line has been performing well thus far, but they have been struggling somewhat frequently with a young defensive tackle.
That player is Tonka Hemingway, who is making a name for himself this summer. He finished the 2025 NFL season strong with 4.0 sacks in the last five games of the campaign after barely playing to start the year. He put in the work during the offseason, and it is showing on the football field at camp.
Hemingway was the winner of the offseason workout award, which is great because the one thing he needed to do heading into 2026 was get stronger. The former South Carolina Gamecock was pushed around in the run game as a rookie, so to become a full-time starter, he had to improve in this facet.
It sounds like he is doing that and more in the early going.
Raiders' Tonka Hemingway is feeling himself on the field and growing his confidence
People are starting to notice Hemingway's impact on the field, and as a result, his confidence is starting to grow. During his press conference on Thursday, he explained how all of his hard work in the offseason is paying off.
“Oh yeah, I'm feeling it for sure," Hemingway said. "Just all the hard work, staying out here in this heat, for sure. Not being in the south, in the humidity. Just being able to transfer what I did in the weight room out here to the field."
The Raiders didn’t get much production from their 2025 draft class outside of Ashton Jeanty last year because Pete Carroll refused to play the team's young players.
Year two will be huge for these youngsters, and Hemingway’s growth could take this defense to the next level. Raider Nation has been waiting for a defensive tackle to help this football team after missing out on Christian Wilkins.
And Hemingway seems ready for the challenge. He understands that he is not a rookie anymore, and he has to step it up and become a force on the football field during his sophomore campaign.
"First, I'm not a rookie no more, so just change your whole mentality," Hemingway said. "Now, you can't go out there and really look like a rookie. You might have mistakes here and there, but you got to be able to correct those mistakes and go act like you are a vet.”
Raider Nation has to be excited about his growth and his commitment to excellence. He is earning himself a place in the hearts of fans, especially if this play continues into the regular season.
Hopefully, there will be flashes in the preseason that will get fans even more excited for what this defense could be in 2026 with Hemingway as a crucial part of it.
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