Silver Minings: Raiders reunite high school teammates Malcolm Koonce and TJ Morrison

I love stories like this. Kudos to Levi Edwards to the Las Vegas Raiders’ website for sharing it.

The Raiders drafted pass rusher Malcolm Koonce in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Buffalo. Later in the weekend, they signed defensive back TJ Morrison out of Stony Brook as an undrafted free agent.

But there was no need for two new Raiders to introduce themselves this month when they arrived to the team’s Henderson, Nevada, facility as Koonce and Morrison go way back. They were stars on the Archbishop Stepinac High School team in White Plains, New York, and were a catalyst to a 2015 New York state championship for the school.

Both Koonce and Morrison had to go to smaller programs to continue their playing careers after high school. Now the two have made it to the biggest stage under the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip. White Plains must be beaming.

In other Raiders’ links:

• Abram’s goal: The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a story on what third year safety Johnathan Abram wants to accomplish in 2021.
• Lynch is a nominee: Former Raiders’ running back Marshawn Lynch has been nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Denver cleared: Local officials are allowing the Denver Broncos to have a full stadium this season. Only the Indianapolis Colts have not been cleared yet.