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          NFL Nation

          Analyzing immediate impact of Ravens' rookie class

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterOct 24, 2014, 11:30 AM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- One of the more underrated reasons why the Baltimore Ravens are in first place in the AFC North is the immediate contributions made by their young players.

          The Ravens' rookies have played a total of 1,295 snaps in the first seven games of the season. That ranks as the eighth-most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Of those seven teams ahead of the Ravens, only two (the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers) drafted after the Ravens in the 2014 draft.

          Inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, a first-round pick, is a leading candidate for NFL defensive rookie of the year and is the only defender in the league to record at least 60 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan (second round), safety Terrence Brooks (third round) and tight end Crockett Gillmore (third round) are playing at least 20 snaps each in supporting roles.

          Guard John Urschel (fifth round) has started the past two games in place of the injured Kelechi Osemele, and others have had their moments as well. Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro (fourth round) gained 91 yards rushing in Week 3, and wide receiver Michael Campanaro (seventh round) scored a touchdown on his first career catch two weeks ago.

          The only players from this year's draft class who haven't played a down for the Ravens are defensive end Brent Urban (fourth round), who is on injured reserve, and quarterback Keith Wenning (sixth round), who is on the practice squad.

          It's not just the draft class that is making an impact. Two undrafted rookies -- offensive tackle James Hurst and linebacker Zachary Orr -- have stepped up for the Ravens, too.

          Hurst became the first undrafted rookie to start at left tackle in Ravens history, filling in for the injured Eugene Monroe for the past four weeks. Orr has been one of the Ravens' core special-teams players. Of the Ravens' 18 special-teams tackles this season, seven have come from rookies. The Ravens have had an undrafted rookie make their season-opening roster in 11 consecutive years, which is tied for the third-longest current streak in the NFL.

          In last Sunday's victory over the Atlanta Falcons, nine of the 46 players who suited up for the Ravens were rookies. In comparison, there were a combined nine players from the 2012 and 2013 draft classes who played last Sunday.

          For the season, rookies have accounted for 12.9 percent of the snaps on offense and defense.