Oakland Raiders rookie defensive tackle Treyvon Hester made big plays and turned heads in the teams opening preseason game at the University of Phoenix Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals.
Hester recorded four tackles and brought down the quarterback twice, displaying a fierce interior presence on the defensive front.
In 2016, Raiders star edge rushers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin piled up 18 combined sacks, but a lack of interior support saw the Raiders finish with only 25 sacks as a team. In hopes of ramping up the interior pass rush, general manager Reggie McKenzie selected fellow defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes in the third round and Hester in the seventh.
It was Hester who stole the show for the Raiders however in this preseason bout, and Pro Football Focus recognized the stellar play from the former Toledo product.
A 7th round draft pick worth keeping an eye on pic.twitter.com/sFd8sMFL4b
— PFF (@PFF) August 13, 2017
To those enamored by the stat, PFF says, “For the mathematically inclined it’s:
Sacks + (0.75 x Hits) + (0.75 x Hurries)/ Pass Rushing Snaps x 100 = PRP”
If Hester and company continue to generate pressure up the middle, Irvin and Mack will likely post record sack totals. For the time being, however, Treyvon Hester is a player to keep a watchful eye on as the Silver and Black look to improve what was the No. 26 defense in 2016.
[pickup_prop id=”21987″]
