Maurice Jones-Drew to play first 'home' game as NFL player

The All Pro running back grew up in the East Bay city of Antioch and attended national powerhouse De La Salle High School in nearby Concord. The same school which produced NFL products such as the Broncos' DJ Williams and former New York Giants receiver, Amani Toomer among others.

Growing up in the shadow of Oakland in the Bay Ares, MjD was a Raider fan. And being a stalky 5-8 running back, he idolized the 5-9 former Raider running back and current team chaplain, Napoleon Kaufman.

"That was one of my top Raiders, because he was a smaller back, the way he came out of the pack," Jones-Drew said.

In MJD's seven seasons in the NFL, this is the first time his Jaguars have made a trip to Oakland to play a game. His family along with many of his friends still live in the East Bay. He said he expects about 50 friends and family to attend Sunday and is hopeful one of those will be his former coach from De La Salle, Bob Ladouceur.

"All my family members told me I need to focus so I'm not going to see them until the game," said Jones-Drew . "That's how they are, they're big football fanatics and they want to see me be successful... a bunch of 'em are Raiders fans. They're going to be torn but I hope they choose the right way."

For anyone wondering why the Raiders didn't draft MJD in 2006, the team was starting Lamont Jordan coming off a 1025 yard season and also had Justin Fargas. The Raiders drafted Thomas Howard with their high second round pick and the Jaguars took MJD with the 60^th overall pick.