Four Locals Will Be On HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ With Raiders

OAKLAND, Calif. – In the franchise’s last season in Oakland, the Raiders are an easy selection for Hard Knocks.

The popular HBO series announced Tuesday it will feature the Raiders when it returns in August for its 14th season.

The exodus from Oakland to Las Vegas looms overhead for the franchise, but it’s been featured in plenty of headline worthy storylines in the last year, beginning with the hiring of head coach Jon Gruden.

Shortly after Gruden arrived, the team was involved in a blockbuster trade sending Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears for two first round draft picks, followed by Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys for another first round pick.

While the country will be on pins and needles to see what Gruden will be up to during training camp, local fans can tune in to follow the progress of four local players – Nevin Lawson, Jordan Devey, James Cowser, and Dallin Leavitt.

Jordan Devey – Offensive Line

Devey is the longest tenured player of any locals. He went to American Fork High School where he was a member of the school’s band. After returning from an LDS mission, Devey went on to play at Snow College, then later Memphis.

Following his college career, Devey signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 as an undrafted free agent.

Since then, he’s spent time with the New England Patriots (2013-14 – winning Super Bowl XLIX with the team), San Francisco 49ers (2015), and the Kansas City Chiefs (2016-18) before landing with the Raiders this off-season.

Devey has played in 39 games in his career with 17 starts.

Nevin Lawson – Cornerback

Lawson enters his sixth year in the NFL after spending the previous five seasons in Detroit where he was a fourth round pick in 2014.

The former Aggie appeared in 63 contests with 54 starts as a member of the Lions recording 194 tackles, 25 passes defended, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

As an Aggie, he twice earned All-Conference honors – once as a member of the Mountain West (first team, 2013), and once as a member of the WAC (second team, 2012).

James Cowser – Linebacker

The third-year player out of Southern Utah has spent his entire career with the Raiders spending time on the active roster and practice squad.

As a Raider, Cowser has recorded 32 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries.

A product out of Davis High School, Cowser finished his career at SUU as one of the most decorated players in FCS history winning FCS Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, and holds the career records for sacks (59) and tackles for loss (80).

Dallin Leavitt – Safety

Leavitt enters his second year in the NFL, signing with the Raiders after going undrafted in 2018. The former Aggie originally signed with BYU out of high school before playing his last two years in Logan.

In two seasons at Utah State, Leavitt made 21 starts recording 151 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and six pass breaks ups and earned honorable mention All-MWC his senior year.

During his collegiate career he totaled 211 tackles, six tackles for loss, seven interceptions, and eight pass break ups.

Leavitt appeared in two games during his rookie season, week 16 against the Broncos and week 17 against the Chiefs and recorded one tackle on the year.

The series begins in August and will follow the team throughout the preseason as the roster whittles from 90 down to 53. Stay tuned to sports.ksl.com to follow their progress during the preseason and throughout the year.

Hard Knocks with the Oakland Raiders is going to be an absolute must-watchhttps://t.co/rhjHKcrckF

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 13, 2019