Raiders 4th Rd. Pick CB Jakorian Bennett, Maryland

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off the 2023 NFL Draft with an exceptional haul of young players to help the Silver and Black on their road back to success.

One of those players is cornerback Jakorian Bennett, who they selected in the fourth round. You can watch his press conference below and read the transcript:

Las Vegas Raiders fourth-round pick (No. 104 overall) – Cornerback Jakorian Bennett

Q: Obviously, you had the experience with Patrick Graham at the Senior Bowl. What was it like working with him, being coached by him?

Bennett: "Oh, with Coach Graham, it was awesome. He was actually my head coach at the Senior Bowl. He's a great coach. He brought a lot of energy and he just let us be us, and we just kind of embraced what he was saying knowing that he's coached at a high level for a long time. So, yeah, I just kind of want to go out there and just be a dog, be the best version of myself and really just showcase my skills."

Q: One of the things that people talk about with you is versatility and toughness. Can you talk about working with Patrick Graham at the Senior Bowl? How much did they try to work with you on developing your skills already for the next level?

Bennett: "He was really just always telling us to trust our technique. Just playing with feet first and being technically sound. And so just kind of hearing that from him, especially a high-level coach like that, I made sure that I honed in on those little details to really just kind of help execute my game. But he was definitely right there when we were doing individual drills, doing one-on-ones. He would always be watching us and just kind of giving little pointers, for sure."

Q: What are some of your personal goals as you enter your rookie year?

Bennett: "Just contributing in any type of way and being the best version of myself. Just helping the team win games in any shape or form. So, I'm going to try and go out there and just help the team in any way I can."

Q: You had 27 pass breakups and five interceptions over the last few years which shows that you have the ability to go get the ball and make plays. Where's that fine line sometimes in being aggressive and knowing when to take that chance?

Bennett: "With me, it's definitely a fine line, for sure. But it's football, you just got to go out there and trust yourself and just play aggressive. Because when you go out there, you just can't be thinking about like: 'Am I too aggressive?' You've just got to go out there and just play. And if they call it, they call it. Just kind of coming from Maryland, the coach would always tell us that he's OK with competitive penalties. So, just kind of going out there and just playing aggressive, playing hard. Just playing like your hairs on fire. And then whatever happens, happens. As long as you’re just running to the ball, pursuing, playing with a lot of effort and a lot of energy, then whatever comes with it, that's what comes with it. But I'm always trying to play aggressive. I'm always trying to be the more aggressive person. I'm just trying to win each and every battle."

Q: I read how you were no star recruit out of high school and you worked your way through the JUCO ranks to get to this point where an NFL team trades up to get you. Can you just talk about what it took to get to where you are now?

Bennett: “Man, a lot of perseverance, honestly. Just kind of like you said, only starting one year in high school, having to go JUCO, going to Maryland. It's been like a lot of ups and downs through this journey, but it's what made me the person I am today and that's why I kind of go into each day with that all-in mentality. Just making sure that you check every box, making sure I'm just doing everything in my power to be the best version of myself. So, I'm definitely glad for that journey and all the things I had to go through because I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you if that didn't happen. So, I definitely appreciate everything that I've been through to get me here.”

Q: Who has influenced you the most in your career?

Bennett: “Yeah, I'll probably say my high school coach, Coach TJ. Just kind of me only starting one year in high school, like those other years I wasn't playing and wasn't getting in the game, I was about to call it quits. And so, he was just always there telling me not to quit, to stick it out. Just continue to grind, keep my head down to work. And still to this day, he's always there for me and always there with me. I definitely appreciate him so much though.”

Q: Is there anybody in particular you model your game after?

Bennett: “Not really. I just try to go out there and just play ball and do anything and everything in my power to just help the team win. If that's playing inside, I'm going to go in there and play inside. If that's playing outside, playing safety, playing special teams, anything. I'm just trying to go out there and just contribute any way.”

Q: You mentioned that at the high school level when you were getting discouraged about your football you were you were thinking about calling it quits. I'm interested if you actually did call it quits, what would you have done otherwise?

Bennett: "If I did, your guess is as good as mine. Like I don't really know, to be honest. But that’s why everybody says everything happens for a reason. So, I'm definitely glad that that it didn’t happen, though, for sure.”

Q: We don't hear many guys that get drafted get on here and say they almost called it quits. What was it that ultimately pulled you through? How did you decide to keep going and pursue football?

Bennett: "I just wanted to prove myself right. I knew that I could be a good player, but I didn't really know how good if that makes sense. I knew I could get to a level to where I can start helping my high school team win, and I just wanted to kind of grind and just kind of prove myself right and just kind of be a better version of myself. That's what I'm living by now is just waking up each and everyday doing something to just kind of better myself and that's going to help me be the best version. I would definitely say that, though, for sure."

Q: How much did Coach Mike Locksley prepare you for the next level? And also, I know you don't really know much about the Raiders defense just off the rip, but off of basically what you do know about the pieces are that are here, how excited are you to be around these guys?

Bennett: "Coach Locks [Mike Locksley] prepared me in a lot of ways, like all the coaches, the whole defensive staff, Coach [Henry] Baker, Coach B-Dub [Brian Williams], all those guys. It was a combination of everything, but Locks was always there, just kind of telling me just to continue to trust myself, just keep working and just continue to be who I am and just continue to be that leader, that captain for the team. But now, he's definitely prepared me on and off the field to where I'm at right now. But I'm looking forward to playing with those guys -- Maxx Crosby, one of the best pass rushers in the game. So, just kind of playing behind him, I'm looking forward to it. I'm kind of speechless right now because everything kind of just happened, but I'm ready man. I'm ready, I'm excited and I'm just happy to be a Raider for sure."

Q: I had a quick question for you in regard to your speed. It looks like you had a 40 1/2-inch vertical. You had a 4.3 40-yard dash. How much has that helped in elevate your game knowing that you can come back into the phase on the second level, or third level and then some signs that you had the ball skills to make a play on the football?

Bennett: "Speed is kind of like, I would say probably one of my biggest strengths, that and versatility. So, just having speed in your back pocket, I feel like that's kind of one of the better things that kind of gives me the edge. Speed kills, that's what everybody says. I feel like that makes the receivers job tougher, just kind of knowing that he has to beat me with the route rather than just be me vertically. So, just kind of having that trust in my speed, I could be a little more patient on things and I could play more aggressively. I'm very thankful for my speed."

Round 1 No. 7 overall pick: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech

Round 2 No. 35 overall pick: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Round 3 No. 70 overall: Byron Young, DT, Alabama

Round 3 No. 100 overall: Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati

Round 4 No. 104 overall: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland

Round 4 No. 135 overall: Aidan O'Connell, QB, Purdue

Round 5 No. 170 overall: Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia

Round 6 No. 203 overall: Amari Burney, LB, Florida

Round 7 No. 231 overall: Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State

Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.