Their stories are strikingly similar, as Parmalee himself also entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins, and he knows firsthand the importance of not being awestruck or overwhelmed by the situation when given a chance of a lifetime.

"A lot of times, coming in as rookies, [either] a draft pick or a free agent, sometimes you're in awe, but you forget why you're here," Parmalee explained. "You have talent also, so you can't get caught up in that, 'okay, I'm a rookie. This is my first year,' and then all of a sudden you hold back. But to his [Richard] credit, what he's done, he's learned the offense, that way he can play fast. When you don't know the offense, and you don't do your studying, you can't play fast. He's been doing that since he's been here."

The 23-year-old ball carrier has certainly started fast and made an impact in the early phases of his NFL career. His 6.3 yards per carry leads all the Raiders running backs, and his 198 kickoff return yards put him in the Top-15 league wide.

Now, nearly halfway through his first regular season as a pro, Richard is taking stock of just how far he's come over the past year, from an undrafted free agent with just a single tryout offer, to now a key contributor on a team tied atop the AFC West.

"I've come a crazy, long way," Richard explained. "It's basically like your life changes, which it really does, financially, mentally, just everything. I came a really long way. It's really cool, and it's been so fast. Like I said, I can remember yesterday playing park ball. I can remember being in high school, and I just got out of college. It's definitely been a process. I'm enjoying it."

While Richard is now living out his childhood dream, the road to the NFL hasn't been an easy one. As a senior in high school he tore his ACL, and saw most of his college offers dissipate in the process, and then some academic issues prior to his senior season at Southern Mississippi almost cost him his final season in Hattiesburg.

"I had some different – I wouldn't say issues – in college, but my mind was everywhere," Richard said. "I had to refocus on football. My mind was on different things that I don't take back. I had an issue where I got put off the team coming up to my senior year at Southern Miss because my focus was somewhere else. I let my grades slip, and [Head] Coach Todd Monken put me off the team until I got my grades back right. I had to refocus and pull myself out of that hole. You look at that, and I'm like, I was a grade away from not being in the position I am now. I definitely take that lesson with gratitude, but that's what makes me who I am now."