New Hampshire product has all-purpose skillset as runner, receiver, special teamer
It’s been a hot minute since the Las Vegas Raiders deployed a true all-purpose running back. The last Silver & Black tailback to be equal parts productive runner and receiver was Charlie Garner over 20 seasons ago.
Ruminate on that for a minute.
Garner’s three-year stint as a Raider was from 2001 to 2003 and it was his 2002 campaign that saw him nearly become a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver with 962 yards on the ground and 941 yards through the air. He scored seven touchdowns rushing and 10 receiving all at the age of 30 for an Oakland Raiders squad that was walloped 48-21 by the Jon Gruden-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Since then, Raiders running backs are one dimensional — in terms of usage — even though it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The team drafted Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, and the Arkansas product profiled as a do-it-all type. His best season with the Raiders was a 2010 campaign that saw him gallop for 1,157 yards (seven touchdowns) and 507 yards receiving (three touchdowns). But the team wasn’t able to fully take advantage of his overall skillset.
Heading into the 2024 campaign, Las Vegas features third-year tailback Zamir White as the lead of the pack and his receiving skills have been minimal, at best. The Raiders did ink Alexander Mattison to a one-year deal in free agency and the six-year veteran brings runner/receiver skillsets to to the table.
But the new Raiders regime potentially made a shrewd move late in the 2024 draft by taking New Hampshire’s Dylan Laube in the sixth round (208th overall). The 5-foot-10, 208-pound 24-year-old has the skillset to breath life into the all-purpose back role in the desert and can develop in not only a third-down back, but a productive RB2.
Dylan Laube may be the biggest sleeper in the whole draft.. these highlights
(@dylan_laube)
pic.twitter.com/ZY7rLFrPdt— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) May 15, 2024
A productive player for the Wildcats, Laube was a standout as both a ball carrier (556 carries for 2,773 yard and 19 touchdowns) and receiver (171 receptions for 1,791 yards and 14 touchdowns) and a special teams dynamo (90 kick returns for 2,207 yards and two touchdowns; 34 punt returns for 426 yards and two more scores). In 2023, he lead New Hampshire in both rushing and receiving (749 yards on the ground, nine touchdowns; 699 yards through the air with seven more scores) as his dedication to learning and refining running routes allowed him to make a mockery of defenders.
That allowed Wildcats head coach and play caller Rick Santos to move Laube all along the formation as the tailback was in the backfield in his traditional spot as well as moved out wide as a receiver in the slot and outside.
Laube also arrives to a Raiders team slated to incorporate more zone blocking concepts — namely a wide zone — into its running game and that’ll be a natural transition for the running back as Santos deployed zone at New Hampshire. During the OTAs, rookie minicamp, and mandatory minicamp, Laube is impressing and even earned first-team repetitions. That shouldn’t be a surprise, according to Raiders running backs coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams.
“I think he has a bright future. Like you say, I think kind of his best thing that he brings each and every day, he is wise beyond his years,” the coach began regarding Laube. “I mean, he shows up like a vet, but he’s a rookie. I mean, he has his worker hat on and brings it each and every day, and he can take what he learns from the classroom and apply it on the field. He’ll always be in the right spots, got really good hands, quick, explosive. Just a very cerebral player, man that can do a lot, a lot of things if you line him up.”
Well-built with developed muscle in both his lower body and core (Laube did put up 23 reps on the 225-pound bench press at the NFL Combine), at first glance, one would surmise Laube is like his NFL comparison (Danny Woodhead) small and compact. While he is compact, Laube isn’t akin to smaller tailbacks — such as former Raider Jalen Richard (5-foot-8, 206 pounds). Laube is a stocky runner who has the physicality to be an asset, not liability, in pass protection. Which is a must for running backs at the next level.
Laube brings with him good speed (4.54-second 40-yard dash time at the combine) and he showcased his route-running and athletic ability during Senior Bowl practices which caught the eye of scouts and personnel evaluators.
Granted, the vast majority of Laube’s collegiate production came against FCS competition. He’ll need to prove he has the ability to make and breakaway from NFL-caliber defenders. And Laube’s ability to turn heads and earn first-team repetitions as a pass catcher came at time where the Raiders are in non-padded practice — and anyone can look good in shorts.
“So, I’m excited to get an opportunity to see all those guys, but as that running back position I always kind of have this rule, we don’t play the game in shorts, so I’m excited to see this group in pads,” Williams noted.
When the pads come on, Laube must continue to impress and make an impression as that’s the demarcation line between NFL pretenders and contenders. The physicality of an NFL practice (even though the league has clamped down on that for player safety) is rigorous and can break down even the most standout shorts warriors.
Las Vegas’ running back room consists of six fighting for spots and the rookie is among that hungry group.
If Laube can showcase his agility, speed, vision, and ball security as a rusher with adept route running, hands, and separation as a receiver as time goes on — especially in preseason tilts — he’ll be a difficult player to keep off the field.
And that’s just on offense.
Laube is a rabid special teamer and wants to make an impact in every phase of Raiders special teams boss Tom McMahon’s unit. And if the tailback can do that — whether is a return specialist or gunner — that’ll help lock him onto the 53-man roster this coming year.
Sporting No. 23, Laube brings an all-purpose skillset. And his effectiveness in the NFL not only lies on his shoulders to continue to develop and improve, but on the Raiders, too. Because how the team deploys and uses him will dictate a lot of Laube’s pro career.