Pair of former Maryland starters sticking out as rookies in preseason practice

The NFL officially kicked off the preseason on Thursday night with the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans kicking off the Hall of Fame Game, but former Maryland starters Tarheeb Still and DJ Glaze have left their mark in practice heading into their first preseason action.

Still closed out Thursday’s practice with a pick-six, the second consecutive day that the Chargers have done so, after flashing through the final minicamp practices back in June. “Tarheeb made a nice play on that. Max threw it a little bit inside and Tarheeb made a heck of a good play,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said after practice.

Still is in the mix for a starting spot as a nickel cornerback where he’s competing with third-year Ja’Sir Taylor, but the rookie’s physicality and playmaking skills have turned heads since he became a fifth-round draft pick back in April.

DJ Glaze, meanwhile, has capitalized on injuries to the Raiders’ offensive line where his practice reps against Maxx Crosby caught the attention of his teammates.

“Being ready when your number is called, that’s the biggest thing,” veteran right guard Dylan Parham told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“Everything starts up front, and he’s a guy who brings that intensity to detail every single day,” running back Ameer Abdullah added.

The Raiders have been consistent since the NFL Draft in April that Glaze, who turned 22 today, is expected to stick at tackle, despite the long-time starter drawing intrigue as an interior lineman prospect at the next level.

“Typically you’re dressing eight offensive linemen, the more they can do the better because we know there’s been injuries during the year, but we see [Glaze] more as a right tackle. Big frame, long arms, really productive college player,” Raiders GM Tom Telesco said earlier this summer. “I mean, he just really just blocks the guy in front of him very consistently. Keep it real general, really easy — guy over him, run game, pass game, blocked his man. Balance, body control, some strength and again we think there’s a lot of future upside with him too.”

Both the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders will open the preseason on Saturday, August 10.