Unsung Heroes: Kalif Raymond | 2024 Detroit Lions Training Camp News & Updates | Johnny Gaz Sports

this was a weird game oh here it is here's Leaf good SW nice punt baby back to the five goes for Raymond just three little Cuts there another cut and the track speed Raymond with a blocker oh if he doesn't stumble stumbles to the 45 and takes it all the way back near Midfield lions having the kind of season they've waited a long time for training camp is underway and the 2024 NFL season is officially upon us with that we're going to change gears here at Johnny gasports move away just a little bit from the long form topical content that we've been doing this offseason and dive head first into the Detroit Lions 2024 NFL season we'll start each video with a news update anything coming out of the preseason or training camp that you need to know you can find right here at the beginning of each video we'll then dive in and preview the 2024 season with a variety of topics and ultimately focus on the current content that you need as we prepare for the NFL season should be a ton of fun in today's video of course we'll start with that news update and then we'll open up the topic of what could be the unsung heroes for the Detroit Lions in 2024 let's go before we discuss what's been going on at Camp make sure to like the video we're going for 200 likes on this particular video today all the interaction all your support has been awesome if you hit the subscription button and the notify Bell it ensures you don't miss any future videos here on the channel again thank you so much for your support we now have a membership option and that will be very important as we get closer and closer to the start of the regular season I will have premium content just for you subscribers again as we start the NFL season but we will still have all the funfree content that you've come to love here on the channel our y series the player profiles everything we've done this off season along with our previews reviews everything that's going to come along with the regular season here in 2024 you don't want to miss out so hit that join button on any one of my videos and I'll walk you through all the options you have to become a part of the family thank you guys so much for your time let's get into today's topics let's start with our news notes and updates coming off of the first few days of training camp and I think more than anything else the biggest news out of Camp is the progression of Jameson Williams I think he's shown in the off seon and now through OTAs and in the first few days of this training camp that he has really changed his attitude his Outlook for the upcoming season I've done several videos and hit on him being the most important piece to this offense continuing its success and maybe even becoming one of the best in the NFL if not the best in the NFL well it hinges on Jameson Williams taking the next step taking over for what they lost in Josh Reynolds and we will talk about that more here in the future he's off to a fantastic start Jared go coming in steady and consistent as ever off of his Mega contract deal this off season definitely something you like to see as as we start camp now there was some injury concerns I think there were four or five players that were put on the pup list coming into the start of training camp just about every one of those players has now been activated and the only one currently on the pup or pup list is defensive tackle DJ reader which the organization fully expected Dan Campell has come out and said the progression he is on was is is fully in line with where they thought he would be at this time and they'll just kind of see where he's at as he regresses through the preseason couple other notes Here Emanuel Mosley back on the field nice and healthy good to see him coming back off of the two ACL injuries two seasons in a row really difficult to see him only play a handful of snaps in 2023 before reinjuring his ACL well he's back on the field and been transitioning between all of the cornerback positions Nickel in both outside corners and that's really sort of another theme to this training camp so far is the versatility of the secondary it seems like they have a lot of moving pieces there not only at cornerback but also in the safety room up front in the offensive line a guy like Colby sores doall seems to be making some moves he's really making a name for himself and maybe becoming the sixth offensive lineman the role that Dan Skipper has played in several years past Taylor Decker has come out and had several quotes about wanting to get his next contract uh right now I think the word from the organization and Taylor is that they're just in talks I don't think anything's really been solidified and I don't know if we'll see anything like that honestly through the regular season I think think if they do make a move with him that's probably at the end of this season depending on how everything goes his health status and a lot of other factors there we've also talked about he may potentially be worth too much than what the lions are willing to pay so again that would lead back to me thinking that they'll ultimately let this drag out just a little bit and see what they ultimately could offer if anything to Taylor Decker so that's kind of hanging over us here this off seon second day of camp I think the biggest news coming out of that was the influx of celebrity involvement here at training camp one of those person celebrities being Hulk Hogan now I am a closeted wrestling fan I I followed it my entire life and through certain segments and periods of my life I've gone back to it I'm not saying I'm the ultimate WWE guy but I I am very familiar with Hulk Hogan but the problem is I'm also familiar with the bad that comes along with Hulk Hogan so I think you're kind of seeing a little bit of a differing opinion on whether that's worth it bringing him out the camp allowing him to come out and I think he was promoting uh a beer brand that he's trying to push there in the local area so as cool as that could be if you look at it as a kid and as a wrestling fan I think the human side of me looks at that and goes why you know why do we got to do that but on the other side of the coin the fact that you have celebrity involvement and the Lions seem to be gaining momentum in the big picture in the media and nationally so that's certainly a good thing and there seems to be a lot of excitement around Lion's Camp Jake bat kind of had his first appearance in training camp on day two and went six for six in the sessions that he kicked uh I think that his long was 52 yards and then worked his way in from there well he hit every single field goal in those sessions and certainly is off to a good start in Camp we'll see what happens between him and Michael Badgley um ultimately again big picture I think you're hearing a lot of good things as far as the organization not being complacent not being okay with getting to the NFC Championship last season and failing I think they want to take the next step and you're hearing and seeing a lot of good things that would indicate they are on a good path lastly and it gets into our topic of the day uh we'll talk about our wide receiver room um the depth pieces is really what is the ultimate question here this offseason and entering the 2024 regular season is what did the Lions do in the backup pieces at wide receiver losing Josh Reynolds at about 60 65 receptions and really being a big piece a steady piece to that offense they need to find that replacement or find a way to fill that Gap and again we've talked in detail about Jameson Williams and how he's looking to be stepping up here in 2024 well I'm going to talk about a man that has been with the organization for several seasons now has been very steady reliable and very versatile and I think we'll continue to do so in the future and that is khif Raymond we've spent a lot of time this offseason talking about the pillar players Aiden Hutchinson Aman R st Brown Jared gof Penny Su the list now goes on and on on and the truth is they'll need those pillar players to come up big if they're going to continue their success but the Lions now have one of the deeper rosters in the NFL and there will be a lot of guys that fly under the radar that could be difference makers in their quest for a Super Bowl and one of those guys is khif Raymond wide receiver and jack of all trades for the Detroit Lions let's do a deep dive into khif Raymond and talk about how he could be one of the unsung heroes for 2024 khif Raymond was born August 8th 1994 and is originally from Lawrenceville Georgia he has one brother and two sisters and is of African-American and Chinese descent he attended the Greater Atlanta Christian High School in Northcross Georgia where he was of course football captain but he also lettered in track and wrestling he ended up attending Holy Cross College mainly because he was hurt his senior year of high school and didn't get a lot of nibbles as far as recruiting at Holy he really showed his versatility he scored touchdowns rushing receiving on punt returns and kickoffs while at the school he was first team all Patriot league in 2015 for both wide receiver and returner overall had 4,059 allpurpose yards in 18 total touchdowns while at Holy Cross he was not invited to the combine and Holy Cross actually doesn't hold a pro day so we ended up having to go over to Harvard University to have a pro day where he ran a 4.34 40 yard dash time which would have been second at the combine if that score was recorded he went undrafted but did sign on with the Denver Broncos getting the first opportunity in the NFL at that point he did bounce around with teams like the New York Giants New York Jets and ended up really finding a home with the Tennessee Titans in 2019 he started to show flashes of his athleticism and versatility and because of that the Lions took interest and ended up signing khif Raymond on March 25th of 2021 it's unfortunate we didn't get to see Khalif Raymond in the 2023 NFL playoffs he did suffer an injury at the on the season finale against Minnesota and was not able to play in the Wild Card divisional round or the NFC championship game and I think the Lions really could have used one additional playmaker especially in the NFC Championship Game there but why could khif Raymond be the true unsung hero for the lions in 2024 well he's a jack of all trades he can play all wide receiver positions the X the Z slot you know he's very valuable and could be used all over that offense on reverses screens end rounds I mean it's really endless what you can do with khif Raymond as far as his speed and versatility he was second Team all pro and 2022 as a punt returner so he's also contributing on the special team side of things we'll see what he gives this year because I think he will also continue to be the Lions punt returner Dan Campbell describes khif Raymond as the Iron Man Mr versatility and that's really the biggest reason why we talked about the loss of Josh Reynolds this offseason and losing the 60 to 65 receptions that he brought the team last year well I think the biggest part of the replacement plan will be what happens with Jameson Williams and we talked about that in detail if he continues his trajectory here this offseason preseason and Carries that into 2024 the Lions will be in good shape but they also have khif Raymond which I think if for some reason J Mo doesn't fit the bill or they just need a little bit of an additional production added on to what J Mo's given giving them khif Raymond could be the guy and I think he's proven that he's trusted he's reliable and he would be a good replacement to Josh Reynolds if Jameson Williams was not in the fold but I think the Lions feel good about their wide receiver situation because they have guys like khif Raymond they've also had guys in Camp step up guys like Kaden Davis and Darice Fountain both are more sizable wide receivers and that's something the Lions lack in 2023 obviously in comparison to khif Raymond we have a huge size difference there so the Lions have a lot of depth options that they can hopefully lean on in a case where they're trying to make up for Josh Reynolds but I really think it's ultimately coming from what Jameson Williams gives them and then a guy like khif Raymond the Jack of all trades wide receiver that can be used all over the offense so much positivity so much reason to be looking up for 2024 is AI wide receiver room set can J ultimately be that piece can khif Raymond be the youngsung hero that I've described to you today to make the difference here for the Lions offense and be the best in the league can they take the next step and get to a Super Bowl so many things in front of us so much excitement and I can't wait to spend it with you guys here on the channel make sure to hit that like button if you dig the vibe here at Johnny Gas sports that subscription button in the notifi Bell is the best way to make sure you don't miss any future videos here on the channel again I so much appreciate your support everything all the recent interaction talking to you guys about Lions football is a true passion of mine I have so much fun doing it it's been so great definitely leave me a comment down below let me know what you think how excited are you for this NFL season thank you guys again make sure to take care of yourself and your mental health that is most important I definitely want to make sure you come back and see me on future videos thank you again for your time you guys have a great day [Music]