From Raiders Training Camp:  CB Jakorian Bennett

 Cornerback Jakorian Bennett 

Q: It seems like you've hit the ground running a little bit here and got a lot of reps with the starters. What's this experience been like overall for you? What do you think allows you to have success so early? 

Bennett: "It's been great. I'm just really out there just trying to learn so I can better myself, so I can just help the team win games. But just kind of good to be out there with people like Maxx [Crosby], MP [Marcus Peters], [Divine] Deablo, just all those guys, just kind of look up to them, see their routine, how they kind of maintain their bodies, talking with the safeties to try to learn the defense. But overall though it's been good." 

Q: I've noticed you a lot talking to Devante Adams and Marcus Peters trying to get wisdom and to I've asked them both about it. That shows you're teachable. Will you talk about that part of you? Did you learn that in college? Is it how you were raised? Because a lot of guys maybe aren't necessarily that way. 

Bennett: "Nah, I'm just like - someone told me, 'A dumb question is a question never asked.' So, I just like to ask questions because Davante [Adams] is arguably one of the best receivers, so I just try to get his knowledge. Like, what kind of gives him trouble, what can I do to kind of elevate my game. And then with MP [Marcus Peters], he's a ball hawk. I think he has like 32 career interceptions. So, I just try to pick his brain to see how I can kind of slow the game down and just try to make plays like how he did. I love asking questions. I try not to ask too many questions though, but they have open ears and they're willing to answer any question." 

Q: Marcus Peters said that he told you guys that he is an open book. If you have a question to ask, ask. But I'm sure as a rookie maybe you were a little hesitant to approach him and talk to him. How much easier did that make it so that you could just tap into his brain? 

Bennett: "It made a lot easier. MP [Marcus Peters] is a cool dude. He's helped me so much. I'd say probably the second practice, he caught an interception and that just kind of rubs off on everybody else in the room on the defense just to see him go out there and -he's so smooth and just cerebral. But yeah, him just kind of being an open book, and he's going on year nine. So if I can get some of the knowledge he has going into year one, that can just kind of slow the game down for me a lot." 

Q: When you're going up against such elite talent at a receiver and you're a rookie coming in. What is the mentality? What do you have to tell yourself to not get intimidated in those practice reps? 

Bennett: "Just you are going to make a mistake, but just learn from it. You're arguably going against some of the best receivers, Hunter [Renfrow], Jakobi [Meyers] Davante [Adams], Phillip [Dorsett]. So just kind of going against those guys, you're going to lose some, you're going to win some at the end of the day. It's cliche, but iron sharpens iron. So, just kind of going against them, and just to try to get better each and every day. I just kind of look at it as look at it as just kind of sweating a lot right now so it'll make the game a lot easier."  

Q: Several guys have singled you out and coach has kind of talked about it - that doesn't always happen for a rookie that people are singing their praises. How has that felt? Are you kind of paying attention to that? And what do you think about people being impressed by you so far? 

Bennett: "No, I don't really be on social media that much, especially during camp. They keep the rookies so long, so I barely look at my phone. But I guess it's good, whatever, but I'm just trying to get better. It really starts during these preseason games and in the regular season is when it really matters. So, each and every day, I'm just going to try to get better." 

Q: You talked about in high school only starting one year and starting out at JUCO. How much has your confidence grown just from then until now kind of being sure of your abilities? 

Bennett: "Confidence has gotten way better, but that's a daily thing just kind of staying on top of that, because your brain is just a muscle just like everything else. You lift weights, so you've got to continue to keep your mental up as well through this long season. But yeah, confidence has been getting better, and I'm just trying to get better overall." 

Q: Staying in phase is one of the things that can be hard for a boundary cornerback but you do that really well. Can you talk about what it's like going against guys like Hunter Renfrow and Jakobi Myers who can kind of drop on a dime, but you still stay in phase? 

Bennett: Yeah, those guys are nice. Going against those guys, you've go to have real good eyes, got to be low, good body. But yeah, you've got to really be clicking on all cylinders when you guard those guys, because as soon as you kind of peek and look at the quarterback or something, they're going a whole other direction. But going against those guys, it's great man." 

Q: Earlier in the week you jumped in and took an extra rep against the Davante Adams. As a guy who loves the game, do you pinch yourself sometimes when you think about getting to compete with the best receiver in the NFL every day? 

Bennett: "Yeah, it's still kind of a little surreal. Like I was in high school watching them. I was telling MP [Marcus Peters] that. I was in high school watching those guys, and kind of being here, going against them and him talking to me. When he first talked to me, I was kind of a little star struck. But no, he's a cool dude, giving me a lot of motivation just kind of helping me out. So yeah, I definitely appreciate him." 

Q: You talk about confidence. When you come here I'm sure you're very confident, but also you're thinking about how is it going to translate. Did you have a moment in practice where you said, 'Oh, I belong here, like I get it'? 

Bennett: "That's an everyday thing. Anytime I make a play, it will just kind of do something to just have like the vet saying, 'Hey, good job rook.' That's kind of the moments where like, 'Dang, I really I really belong, like I'm good enough.' But yeah, that's always motivation. For them to just kind of acknowledge the hard work I'm putting in and just the plays I'm making and stuff." 

Q: How much are you looking forward to later in the week going against a different team and testing your skills there? 

Bennett: "Oh yeah, I'm definitely happy and excited to just kind of go against a new team, just really see how the league is." 

Q: I'm not sure if you're a big Madden player, but the man ratings for 24 came out and you were the fastest guy on the team, a 96 rating. How does that make you feel, and do you think you are legitimately the fastest guy on the team? 

Bennett: "Yeah, first of all, I do love Madden. And I do think I'm the fastest, but yeah it was good to see that." 

Q: Any surprises thus far in this process transitioning to the NFL? Bennett: "Honestly, not really. I knew everybody was going to be good. I knew everybody was going to be tough. I was going to have to learn a lot, I was going to have some Ls, have some wins. But it was just kind of what I expected. Each and every day, I've just got to come in with the mentality just to get better, daily improvement and just try to be the best version myself." 

Q: Phillip Dorsett said he was the fastest. Is there a race on the horizon? 

Bennett: "Nah, not right now. Maybe after the season." 

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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