Aidan O'Connell Adjusting to Playing With NFL Stars

Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell is now playing alongside and against some of the best in the game.
Aidan O'Connell Adjusting to Playing With NFL Stars
Aidan O'Connell Adjusting to Playing With NFL Stars /
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Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell is experiencing quite the change as he transitions to the NFL.

While O'Connell faced some of the best college football has to offer during his years at Purdue, he now is taking the field with Pro Bowlers every day.

Whether it be wide receivers Davante Adams or Hunter Renfrow, the rookie needs to make a point that he belongs.

"I think it comes with preparation," O'Connell said when he addressed the media Wednesday. "You have to prepare, and when you get in the huddle, have confidence that you know what you're going to do and you know what everybody else's job is. And so, it takes preparation to have confidence, and so, I try to prepare as best as I can and work as hard as I can, just keep my head down, and do what I got to do."

Not only is O'Connell playing with some of the best, but he has the challenge of competing against Pro Bowl talent on the other side of the ball as well -- Maxx Crosby, Chandler Jones, Marcus Peters.

"You learn you can't hold the ball for very long," O'Connell said. "It's different than it was in college, and so, like I said before, on our side of the ball, and on the other side of the ball, there's great players that are some of the best in the world. So it makes you raise your game."

O'Connell was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of this year's draft. A former walk-on at Purdue, O'Connell ended up being one of the program's best quarterbacks of all time.

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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Aidan Champion
AIDAN CHAMPION