Hezekiah Masses emerging as sleeper starting candidate during training camp

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 08: California Golden Bears Defensive Back Hezekiah Masses (5) looks on during the college football game between the California Golden Bears and the Louisville Cardinals on November 8, 2025, at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Heading into the Las Vegas Raiders’ training camp, the expectation was that second-year pro/2025 third-round pick Darien Porter and rookie fourth-round pick Jermod McCoy would be competing for the starting outside cornerback spot opposite Eric Stokes. That’s still the case; however, rookie fifth-rounder Hezekiah “Zeke” Masses has thrown his name into the mix and received reps with the Raiders’ first-team defense during the team’s initial practice of training camp, per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.

McCoy was on a pitch count during OTAs and minicamp, and Masses took advantage of the extra opportunities. The latter was reportedly one of the standouts from the spring and played well enough to rotate with Porter during minicamp, signaling a three-man competition on the boundary of Las Vegas’ defense. Meanwhile, McFadden reported that McCoy worked with the second- and third-team defense during the 11-on-11 period of Wednesday’s practice.

Obviously, it’s still very early, as yesterday was the team’s first practice of training camp. Also, Klint Kubiak said on Tuesday that the team is going to “be really smart” with McCoy’s workload during camp, suggesting they’ll be easing him into the practice plan rather than throwing him into the fire right away. The Tennessee product missed the entire 2025 College Football season after tearing an ACL during offseason workouts, and concerns about his knee led to a draft-weekend slide.

But Masses has clearly made an impression on the coaching staff to earn some early first-team reps and at least be a surprise contender for a starting job. It likely helps that he has impressive ball skills, collecting five interceptions and 13 passes defended at Cal last season, while the Raiders were tied for the fourth-fewest interceptions (eight) in the league last year.

In Other Raiders’ Links:​

• Trade for Vita Vea?: Vote in S&BP’s poll and share your thoughts on if the Raiders should go after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive tackle who asked for a trade earlier this week.
• Rookie vs. Rookie battles: Speaking of McCoy-Masses, dive into four other potential training camp battles between first-year pros.
• No PUP or NFI to begin camp: “I’m marking every member of the Raiders active roster as a participant in their opening practice of training camp,” The Athletic’s Sam Warren posted on X/Twitter. “Includes Maxx Crosby, Jermod McCoy and Nakobe Dean. Team is remarkably healthy to begin the year.”
• Quay Walker catches Crosby’s eye: “I’ve never seen a linebacker that big,” the defensive end said (h/t Levi Edwards of the Raiders’ website). “I’ve never played with a linebacker that looks like the size of me.”

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