Raiders’ Tyreik McAllister Makes Magic Happen on the Field
In a thrilling preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders’ Tyreik McAllister made a name for himself with a magical performance. The 26-year-old wideout returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and hauled in a reception for a go-ahead score in the third quarter, leading the Raiders to a 24-24 tie.
McAllister’s impressive display caught the attention of coach Antonio Pierce, who praised the young player’s skills. “We’ve been seeing it in practice, but today, I mean he took it to another level,” Pierce said. “Took one to the crib, hell of a catch and adjustment there on a reception. And then even just covering kicks. He moved the needles.”
The former Division II running back at Charleston, McAllister was signed to a reserve/future contract in January and has been working hard to prove himself. He finished the game with two receptions for 56 yards, including his 35-yard touchdown, and rushed once for seven yards.
McAllister’s journey to the NFL was not an easy one. He had stints on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad before playing in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, where he honed his skills as a kick returner. When he joined the Raiders, he was asked to switch to receiver, a position he hadn’t played since his early years in college. However, with the help of the Broncos and Tiger-Cats, as well as occasional chats with Raiders veteran Davante Adams, McAllister was able to rejuvenate his skills as a receiver.
The 5-foot-10 wideout has the versatile skill set to fulfill a role for a Raiders team that will be looking for added weapons this season. “He’s got some juice,” Pierce said. “Came from the CFL and played running back, never really played wide receiver, you can see that transition into the offseason program. And I thought he did a hell of a job just in training camp, just quietly.”
When asked if he felt he belonged on an NFL roster, McAllister exuded confidence in his abilities. “I believe I do,” he said. “That’s not up to me to make that decision, but I put the hard work in. Had a lot of hard times, coming from the Denver practice squad and having to go to the CFL, but I believe I’ve got the skills capable to play at this level.”
With teams having until Tuesday to trim their rosters to 53 players, McAllister’s performance has put him in the spotlight. Will he make the cut and become a key player for the Raiders? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Tyreik McAllister has made a lasting impression on the field.
