Josh McDaniels heaps praise on Zamir White after NFL rookie debut

The Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off the NFL’s preseason during the 2022 Hall of Fame Game. It gave fans a chance to watch some real football and see young players compete for roster spots. It’s also where rookie running back Zamir White made his NFL debut. It was a performance that Josh McDaniels would go on to praise.

Josh McDaniels is in his first year as the Raiders’ head coach. He has spent most of his career as a New England Patriots staffer, including an extended stint as Tom Brady’s offensive coordinator. He was also, briefly, the Denver Broncos head coach.

Zamir White comes to the Raiders as a fourth-round pick from Georgia. In a veteran heavy backfield, it’s going to take a lot for White to stand out in 2022. However, if he keeps performing like he did against Jacksonville, he’ll find success.

“He did that in Georgia,” Josh McDaniels said through the team’s website. “He ran hard with the ball in his hands and is tough to tackle. He finishes runs the right way, brings a physical element to the game and the team. It was a good opportunity for him to get in there and do that at our level and play in the kicking game some. Like I said, there’s going to be some things that we have to tweak and clean up, but I thought for him to get out there and establish – that’s the style of runner he was at Georgia, and then to see him do it here was good.”

The Raiders and Josh McDaniels are going to need to decide on their backfield rotations before the season begins. Now, with only three preseason games remaining, Zamir White has an opportunity to demand more opportunities.