Rookie wide receiver Amari and running back Latavius Murray took different roads to the NFL, but in addition to them both now wearing the Silver and Black, they find themselves on a short list of players poised to break out in 2015.
AOL Sports released a list of NFL players who could make breakthroughs in 2015, and of the eight offensive players selected – two of them are current members of the Oakland Raiders.
"Murray didn't get into a game as a rookie and started only three games last season. But he made a strong impression with 5.2 yards per carry and also can catch the ball," AOL Sports said of the Raiders new feature running back.
On Cooper, they added, "With an entrenched quarterback in Derek Carr, with whom Cooper already has a good rapport, the fourth overall draft pick could be a game breaker from the outset."
While inclusion on any preseason list is admittedly premature, Murray did say that seeing his name on a list of players poised for a breakthrough does feel good – considering just two seasons ago he was a rookie running back on injured reserve.
"I tell you what, it feels good," Murrays said. "It's a blessing, to be honest. How I was brought up [though] was to just remain humble through it all. That's just how I'm going to be, but it's very exciting, don't get me wrong; it's cool to see."
First the first time in his professional career, Murray enters the season with expectations, and big expectations at that, but the outside noise isn't getting to the young running back from Central Florida.
"I wouldn't say there's added pressure," Murray said. "I think I know the fact that is a chance at a huge year for me, so I think I've just been holding myself accountable and holding myself to a high standard."
As far as Cooper goes, Murray said that anything, positive or negative, that goes on outside the building doesn't seem to faze the rookie wide out.
"I think he's just a football player, man," Murray said. "He's locked in at all times, and like I said, he's just a football player who's going to go out there and make plays and play 'ball, and that's what I've seen him do since he got here."
The rest of the offensive players AOL included on their list are as follows:
-QB Ryan Tannehill
-RB Chris Ivory
-WR Markus Wheaton
-TE Eric Ebron
-OT D.J. Fluker
-C Russell Bodine
