Raiders Pro Bowl fullback Marcel Reece sees role diminishing

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Marcel Reece is being awfully mature about this.

Reece, a three-time Pro Bowl selection at fullback, has watched his role diminish in an Oakland offense bursting with dynamic playmakers. The collective presence of Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper and Latavius Murray barely leaves any scraps for Reece.

Now he’s losing touches to unheralded Jamize Olawale, another fullback. Olawale had five carries for 24 yards and three catches for 35 yards Sunday against Minnesota. Reece had no carries and one reception (for zero yards).

Widen the scope and the numbers are even more striking. Reece caught 14 passes and scored three touchdowns in Oakland’s first five games. He has only seven catches and no touchdowns in the past four games.

So, given the chance Thursday, did he express simmering frustration with his inactivity? Not quite. Reece, a friend and mentor to Olawale, was quick to praise his onetime understudy.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” Reece said. “It’s always been a competition, not just between me and Jamize, but with all of us. We’re always talking about who has the most touchdowns, always challenging each other.

“That makes for a great dynamic as an offense. We’re competing as a running-back group, running backs versus receivers, myself versus Mike Crabtree. If we’re all at our best individually, then we’ll be at our best as a group.”

Oakland Raiders fullback Marcel Reece . Oakland Raiders fullback Marcel Reece . Photo: Eric Risberg, Associated Press Photo: Eric Risberg, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Raiders Pro Bowl fullback Marcel Reece sees role diminishing 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Reece, 30, is a mainstay in Silver and Black — he joined the Raiders in 2008 (on the practice squad) and has been around ever since then. He has made 65 starts and reached the Pro Bowl each of the past three seasons.

He’s still listed as the starter at fullback, but Olawale, 26, is clearly making inroads. After mostly playing on special teams since arriving in Oakland in 2012, his role is stretching into new frontiers.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave even paid Olawale a nice compliment, comparing him to … yep, Reece.

“Jamize is very similar to Marcel,” Musgrave said. “He can catch the ball out of the backfield, he can be a lead blocker and he also can be a ball carrier. … He’s growing into the position.”

Olawale, who was born in San Francisco and attended De La Salle-Concord and St. Ignatius Prep before moving to Southern California, didn’t play fullback in college at North Texas. He was an H-back most of his time there and a wide receiver his final season. Olawale weighed only 220 pounds then; now he carries 235 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame.

There’s no question what motivates Olawale, and it’s not really boosting his carries and catches.

“I love blocking,” Olawale said, smiling widely. “When it’s me and the linebacker in the hole, one-on-one, I love it. … It’s the competition, just you and him. Either he wins or you win, and my goal is to always win.”

The Raiders need to win again Sunday in Detroit, after dropping their past two games. This might mean leaning on the running game again, whether it’s giving Murray more carries (he had only 12 against the Vikings) or involving the fullback more.

That could be Olawale, the student. But the mentor also will be ready.

“It’s a long season,” Reece said. “I know my turn will come.”

Briefly: Center Rodney Hudson (sprained ankle) returned to practice Thursday. … The Raiders signed defensive end Shelby Harris to the active roster. Harris, a seventh-round draft choice last year, had been on the practice squad. He takes Aldon Smith’s spot on the roster. … To replace Harris on the practice squad, the Raiders signed wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross. The Ravens released Ross, a Cal alum, after he fumbled twice in three games. He also has played for the Packers and Lions.