HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The idea of a walk-on at Purdue slowly rising to become a starting quarterback is enough of a long shot. Forget getting taken in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft.
That’s Aidan O’Connell’s story so far, one the Las Vegas Raiders rookie hopes won’t end any time soon.
“I think you have to have a proper balance of reflection and also understanding I’m trying to play more football,” O’Connell said after practice Wednesday. “I don’t want that to be my story — just getting here. I want to work as hard as I can to stay.”
He went on to start 24 games his final two seasons, throwing for 7,202 yards over that span with 50 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. O’Connell twice was selected second-team All-Big Ten Conference and set several Purdue records, including highest passing rating at 141.8.
“I started pretty low on the totem pole at Purdue and through just different circumstances was able to rise up the depth chart,” O’Connell said. “That’s definitely helpful. There are things you can bring over from college, but at the same time, it’s a completely new experience. So as much as I can rely on what I’ve been through, at the same time, you’ve got to look forward and continue to press forward.”
O’Connell said it didn’t take long to see the difference in talent and intensity between the highest level of college football and the NFL, saying “everyone is the 1 percent of the 1 percent.”
There also is the mental adjustment, and O’Connell said he has new responsibilities at the line of scrimmage that he didn’t have with the Boilermakers.
It all can be overwhelming for a first-year player, and O’Connell learned the value of keeping the process as simple as he can make it.
“I had a lot of great advice from people that have been in my shoes before, and try not to put too much pressure on myself,” he said. “Just be myself, enjoy the process. At the end of the day it’s just football, so I’m going to work as hard as I can, try not to leave any stone unturned, but at the same time enjoy it and have fun playing the game.”