Defensive End Jihad Ward, Quarterback Connor Cook and Linebacker Shilique Calhoun
The Oakland Raiders rookies arrived at the team's Napa Valley Training Complex earlier this week to officially begin their first training camp as professionals, and the emotions the first-year NFL players felt ran the gamut from excitement to anxiety.
Training Camp 2016 is a block of time of that has been circled on nearly all of their calendars, so let's take a look at what the rookies had to say as they reported for their very first training camp in Silver and Black.
Linebacker Shilique Calhoun – Third Round – Michigan State
"Good, man, excited; trying to get after it, ready to start up today and [then] get with the vets and have some fun."
READ: Position Battles - [Linebackers
](http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Oakland-Raiders-Position-Battles-Linebackers/2628551f-5570-459b-8abb-e2ca8abf8233)
Quarterback Connor Cook – Fourth Round – Michigan State
"It feels great. We're here. We finally made it, Napa Valley."
READ: Position Battles - Quarterbacks
Linebacker/Defensive End James Cowser – Undrafted Free Agent – Southern Utah
"It's pretty exciting. It'll be fun. Just getting better, just trying to prove what I can do, go play some football and have some fun."
Defensive End Greg Townsend, Jr. – Undrafted Free Agent -- USC
"It's a blessing of course to be up here with my teammates, just ready to grind, ready to get back to football. It's been a while since we got on the field, so I'm just ready to get out there. This is my first time at the next level, so I'm ready to get out there and showcase my talent, just show that I belong, and try to help this team win."
READ: Position Battles - Defensive Line
Defensive End Jihad Ward – Second Round – University of Illinois
"I feel good. It's good to be back and it's time to grind. I had a good break, but there [aren't] any days off, continue to work. I feel real good. It all starts up front. We need to bang with our pads. We feel a little sluggish – we want to hit somebody out there. I know the rest of the [defensive] line wants to hit somebody. It's going to be a good, big bang training camp."
