Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Former Illinois DB, Las Vegas rookie earns rave reviews from Jon Gruden

Teddy Rydquist

By Teddy Rydquist

Published:

Selected in the fifth round (No. 167 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, former Illinois cornerback Nate Hobbs has wasted no time catching the attention of the coaching staff, led by Jon Gruden.

Drawing the start at nickelback in the Raiders’ August 14 preseason-opening victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the defense registered a first-half shutout and Hobbs had one of the biggest plays of the evening, flying off the edge to sack Geno Smith, an ex-West Virginia Mountaineer, in the first quarter.

Speaking to the media Sunday, Gruden said this starting role could carry over to the regular season.

A 247Sports Composite 3-star recruit from Louisville, Kentucky in the 2017 class, Hobbs appeared in 39 games with the Fighting Illini – starting 35 of them – and racked up 166 tackles (12.5 for loss), three interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a sack.

Named to the BTN.com All-Freshman Team in 2017, he received All-B1G Honorable Mention from the media as a junior in 2019.

Hobbs and the Raiders will begin their regular season on Monday Night Football by welcoming the Baltimore Ravens to Allegiant Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET on September 13.

Illinois’ slate begins on August 28, when Nebraska visits Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

Teddy Rydquist

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.