Johnnie Lee Higgins: Poised For Excellence

If you want to look for the Raider’s biggest breakout star this year, you won’t have to go any further than the first Raider’s punt return.

He showed flashes of greatness last year, and my bet is that Johnnie Lee Higgins doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon.

Higgins, the speedy wide receiver/return specialist drafted by the Raiders out of UTEP, had a solid season last year with four touchdowns receiving, and established himself as a dangerous, explosive punt returner.  Higgins returned three punts last year for touchdowns.  Higgins became a fan favorite and a sports highlights regular for his speed and, maybe more famously, his end zone celebrations (seriously, Chad Ochocinco may have done some entertaining celebrations, but Higgins brought back the Carlton Banks dance.

Like many of the young Raiders, Higgins has and will continue to make mistakes as he learns the game.  I’ve personally seen him make some questionable decisions (I was there in Baltimore last year when he ran out at the two-yard line on a kick return…the two yard line).  Once he started trusting himself, and sprinting through opposing players, he became potentially lethal.

As much as everyone is focusing on JaMarcus Russell being in his “critical third year”, Higgins is in the same boat.  Higgins has progressed like a very typical young player should.  He played sparingly in his first year, learning the ropes.  Last season he progressed, turning heads of the Raider Nation, and even a few heads of Raider Haters.   Going into this year, Higgins is on the cusp of being a star and Pro-Bowler.  Russell will be the leader, and McFadden will be the flash, but keep your eyes on #15.  If you blink, he may be gone.