Las Vegas Raiders rookie defensive back Treydan Stukes had been working toward draft day for nearly as long as he had been playing football.
It didn’t take him long to realize that was just the next step in his career.
“All the glitz and glamor is gone now,” he said. “It’s back to the grind. And if you want to help the team win games, you’ve got to come out here and you’ve got to do your best every single day. Keep getting better every single day.
“I think I’ve just done a good job of trying to take it one day at a time, find something to improve on, and just go from there.”
His teammates and coaches have noticed.
Stukes has drawn praise for his work ethic and versatility as he pushes for a role in his first season.
“I like how hard he plays special teams,” coach Klint Kubiak said. “He’s a guy that’s going to challenge guys for spots in many places on defense and on teams. But I like that he’s a team first guy and it shows up in the way that he plays teams.”
It’s a mindset Stukes already possessed before he entered the Raiders building as a second-round pick out of Arizona.
But after allowing himself a moment to enjoy the accomplishment of becoming an NFL player, Stukes quickly went about focusing on how to make a quick impact.
“Obviously, it was a huge milestone for me,” he said. “It was a long career to get to this point, so yeah, I took the time to celebrate. I took that week in the draft to be around my loved ones and celebrate.
“Now that we’re out here, I fully understand that I’m at the bottom of the totem pole and I’ve got to work my way up. I’ve done nothing at this level yet.”
He’s doing everything he can to change that.
Stukes said there isn’t much difference between the time he spends on the field and in the facility from when he was in fall camp during his college career. What has changed is the amount of time he has to put into his craft once he leaves the building.
“The difference is that school doesn’t start,” he said. “This is what I do now. When I get home, I don’t have to worry about class. I can just go watch more tape or figure out something that I can do to get better at my actual job.
“So, I think it’s just little differences like that. But at the end of the day, it’s football and it’s camp.”
The extra time is a necessity because Stukes is learning so many different roles in Rob Leonard’s defense.
Some of the biggest traits that stood out about Stukes to the Raiders were his versatility and intelligence and they have put plenty on his plate in his first few months in the organization.
He’s lining up all over the defensive backfield and showcasing a very diverse skillset.
Stukes said it has been meaningful to him that the coaches have trusted him enough to put so much on his plate so soon.
“I’m super grateful for that,” he said. “I pride myself on trying to be a smart football player, and I’m glad that they see it the same way. I want to be able to help the team with things in any way I can, and if that means learning multiple positions, then I’ll keep doing that.”
The benefits will show up during the season.
Stukes is likely to see plenty of playing time at different spots and he believes Leonard’s system is going to put him in position to make plays.
“I think this is a really, really fun scheme to be a part of,” Stukes said. “I think it gives defensive backs a lot of chances to make plays and a lot of chances to show your talents. If you’re good at something, they’re going to make sure that you’re able to do it, and they put you in a spot to do so. So, I think this is a really good scheme and I think it’s going to help our defense.”
So will Stukes.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
