Isaiah Likely got his first taste of the atmosphere at M&T Bank Stadium during practice Saturday night. He loved every minute of it, from hearing the crowd react to plays, to signing autographs afterward, to realizing that he had quickly become a fan favorite.
"You see fans not only knowing your name, not only knowing your number, but really knowing a lot of stuff about you," Likely said. "A humbling moment."
The rookie tight end has generated early excitement in camp by making plays on a consistent basis early in training camp, showing the potential to be another weapon for Lamar Jackson.
The door is open for Likely as fellow rookie tight end Charlie Kolar is undergoing sports hernia surgery and the Ravens have not added another wide receiver. Likely could be used to as a complementary piece in the offense and sidekick to All-Pro Mark Andrews.
Andrews has become a mentor for Likely, who takes any advice he gets from Andrews as the gospel.
"Having the best tight end in my mind, Mark Andrews, in the league, (I'm) really just hearing what he has to say off my routes, off my blocking techniques, off my steps and just taking it like a sponge," Likely said.
Likely hopes to continue the momentum he has built in training camp when padded practices begin Monday. The rookie tight end realizes it's still early in his first campaign, and that each step in his journey is important.
"Like Lamar said, the pads haven't even come on," Likely said. "The game of football is played with the pads on. … I'm dissecting defenses, learning the playbook and really just taking coaching. Not only from the coaches but from the vets in front of me."
It's not a complete surprise to see Likely make a strong first impression. He caught 133 passes for 2,050 yards and 27 touchdowns during his career at Coastal Carolina, and his 6-foot-4 size makes him a friendly target for quarterbacks. Likely didn't just line up at the traditional tight end spot in college. He was moved all over the field, making him a bigger matchup problem for defenses trying to stop him.
The Ravens could use Likely the same way, and NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks named Likely as one of 11 rookies he can’t wait to watch in training camp.
Likely hopes to continue the momentum he has built in training camp when padded practices begin Monday. The rookie tight end realizes it's still early in his first campaign, and that each step in his journey is important.
"Like Lamar said, the pads haven't even come on," Likely said. "The game of football is played with the pads on. … I'm dissecting defenses, learning the playbook and really just taking coaching. Not only from the coaches but from the vets in front of me."
It's not a complete surprise to see Likely make a strong first impression. He caught 133 passes for 2,050 yards and 27 touchdowns during his career at Coastal Carolina, and his 6-foot-4 size makes him a friendly target for quarterbacks. Likely didn't just line up at the traditional tight end spot in college. He was moved all over the field, making him a bigger matchup problem for defenses trying to stop him.
The Ravens could use Likely the same way, and NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks named Likely as one of 11 rookies he can’t wait to watch in training camp.
Likely says he's just taking camp day by day, but he's off to a good start.
"Just trying to elevate my game," Likely said. "I want to keep doing the right things."
