The Los Angeles Rams rookies have reported to training camp at UC Irvine, two days before the team’s veterans and three days before the first practice.
“I am looking forward to training camp,” said safety John Johnson III, a third-round draft choice out of Boston College. “The pads are finally going on. It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for.”
The Rams rookie class consists of eight drafted players and 13 undrafted free agents. The Rams first choice in April’s draft was tight end Gerald Everett from South Alabama, chosen in the second round with the 44th overall selection.
“Obviously going to be a red zone target for them,” said former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, now an NFL network analyst. “Going to have to get a little better at the point of attack. He’s going to be the move guy, but he’s a good athlete.”
The Rams did not have a first-round choice because of the 2016 trade with the Tennessee Titans, when they acquired the overall No. 1 choice in that year’s draft, which they used to select quarterback Jared Goff.
The undrafted free agents include former USC running back Justin Davis, who rushed for 902 yards for the Trojans as a junior in 2015. He started the first six games of 2016, twice rushing for more than 100 yards, then suffered an ankle injury which sidelined him for three games. He returned as a starter for USC’s 52-49 Rose Bowl Game victory over Penn State.
The first practice will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and will be open to the public. Gates will open at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free. Parking is $14, $10 if purchased in advance at TheRams.com/ramscamp.
The Rams on Tuesday announced a partnership with the Laugh Factory, where the club’s comedians will create Rams-themed content for the team’s social and digital channels that will also be shown on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s video boards.
The partnership will also allow Rams season ticket holders to use their game tickets to attend Laugh Factory comedy clubs at no additional charge.
