COSTA MESA, Calif. — Back in April, Laube was selected in the 6th-round from the University of New Hampshire, a pick that didn’t turn many heads.
Fast forward to August and now he’s making plays at Raiders training camp, turning heads and garnering praise from his coaches and teammates alike.
Despite the buzz since getting drafted, Laube remains focused on making the 53-man roster, though his parents can’t help but share the excitement when they see his name in the headlines.
“My parents definitely send me a couple things,” Laube said. “But at the same time man, it’s practice. The main goal at practice is to get better every day so at the same time, it’s not a big deal.”
Laube’s measurables might not seem like a big deal either, weighing in at just over 200 pounds and standing at 5 '10.
But while at New Hampshire, Laube was a very big deal for the Wildcats. In 46 games played he ran for 2,773 yards and 29 touchdowns and was a reliable pass catcher, Laube finished with 171 receptions for 1,791 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Despite his dynamic play in college, Laube found himself waiting until the third day of the draft to hear his name called. This is partly due to the perception of the lack of competition in FCS compared to FBS.
Even Antonio Pierce was pleasantly surprised to see Laube’s performance carry over to training camp.
“It’s translating. Sometimes you watch film in college and, well, the guy played in New Hampshire. Can he do that in the NFL?”
Laube’s consistent performances at camp caught Pierce’s attention, but his style of play is a little more muted than others on offense.
“He’s not flashy, if you don’t watch practice closely you might miss him.”
#Raiders Dylan Laube broke off a couple of nice runs, he’s had himself a productive camp.
— Anthony Bautista (@byanthonyba) July 29, 2024
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has been impressed by Laube’s awareness and consistency as a rookie.
“For someone to be that young and to be able to pick up things with not as many reps as some of the other guys,” Getsy said.
“The game comes natural to him, he’s got a great feel for it, the decisions he has to make, they come to him naturally. As far as responsibility-wise he doesn’t have the errors, so that’s really cool to see from such a young guy.”
#Raiders Dylan Laube broke off a couple of nice runs, he’s had himself a productive camp.
— Anthony Bautista (@byanthonyba) July 29, 2024
While his coaches have raved about him since the start of camp, Laube’s been trying to soak up as much as he can from the veterans in the running back room.
“From all the backs, you’ve got guys that have been in the league for such a long time, such a great group of guys,” Laube said. “They’ve shown me so much, with Ameer [Abdullah] out wide, being a scat back, being a guy that has been on a bunch of teams. He’s definitely been a guy I’ve looked up to a bunch, he’s shown me a lot.”
Abdullah has taken Laube under his wing and he gave the young guy his flowers too.
“He’s bringing a spark every time he gets the ball. He’s a very special guy,” Abdullah said after the first practice in pads.
The rookie’s versatility has been another key to his success. Laube has impressed not only as a running back but also on special teams.
“Dylan is the same guy all the time. If you were to ask me what his perfection is? It’s consistency,” special teams coach Tom McMahon said. “He does the same thing over and over again. I think a lot of times sports people think that’s boring. Steph Curry can shoot a three over and over and over again, that’s not boring, that's perfection.”
Looking ahead, Laube’s potential roles on the team are varied. Whether as a backup running back, a special teams contributor, or both, he has positioned himself to be an asset.
As training camp inches to a close and the preseason opener six days away, all eyes will be on Laube to see if his momentum will translate when the lights come on.
For now, though, Laube’s taking in as much as he can from those who have done it before him.
“I’m just trying to take all my reps and learn from everyone too. From all the vets and all the guys who have shown me everything, it’s been a cool experience so far.”