Filed under: Raiders, AFC West

The Raiders have had a long legacy of excellence at center, and the latest to try to live up to it is rookie Jared Veldheer.

Veldheer was named the starter by coach Tom Cable this week.

He’s the latest to join what has been a distinguished group of players that includes Jim Otto, Dave Dalby and Don Mosebar. His predecessors, notably Otto, Dalby and Mosebar, were known for their tough, physical and heady play, and they were at the heart of a Raiders offense that prided itself on softening up a defense with the run and then keeping the pressure off long enough to throw the deep strike.

Veldheer, a third-round pick out of Hillsdale College in Michigan, edged out veteran Samson Satele in a job competition that lasted throughout training camp.

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