Amari Cooper’s friend, Johnny Holton, may surprise at Raiders’ camp
The Raiders’ receiver was talking about a childhood friend who didn’t play high school football and was discovered by a junior college when he was playing in the park.
Holton turned some heads with back-to-back deep catches in Monday’s practice, just as he did in that Miami park five years ago.
Holton is one of 11 kids, and because he didn’t take high school seriously, anyway, he got a job working at a grocery store to help his mom make ends meet.
Holton quickly took and passed the GED and scored 15 touchdowns for the Chaparrals in two seasons.
Holton missed seven games last year with a hamstring injury and wasn’t a coveted participant at the NFL combine.
The Chiefs even made him work out as a defensive back.
After the draft, Holton had offers from two teams — the Raiders and Lions — when he used a lifeline and phoned a friend.
Cooper said Holton wasn’t too shabby himself, and his friend already has shown the coaches his ability to beat defensive backs deep.
Holton followed up his nice breakout with a leaping catch Wednesday that got some oohs and aahs from the fans in attendance.
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said he heard the cheers for Holton, but added, “We’ll learn more as we go.”
Making the 53-man roster will be tough, as Oakland is set at the first four receiver spots with Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts and Andre Holmes.
Holton’s chances would improve if he returned punts well, and he got his first look there Thursday.