Odafe Oweh was a towering 6-foot-5, highly touted four-star recruit at Blair Academy in New Jersey. But the first time Oweh practiced in pads at Blair, he ended up in the hospital.
The Ravens defensive end was sprinting upright during kickoff coverage, opening his chest and ribs to a potential target. A smaller player spotted the vulnerability and hit Oweh between his ribs. Oweh collapsed and he was hospitalized after practice.
“After that, I was like, all right, I know what I’m doing now. Stay low,” Oweh said. “I’ll always remember that, even when I’m out here.”
With the Ravens back in pads for training camp, The Baltimore Sun asked Ravens players and coaches about their favorite or first memory in pads.
Some players, such as running back Derrick Henry, were prolific from the beginning of their careers, while others eventually grew into their frame. Fullback Patrick Ricard was an average size for most of his childhood, but blossomed into a strong athlete by his sophomore year of high school. During practices that season, he would de-cleat players and pancake them on running plays, earning a starting spot.
“Actually being able to run full speed into someone,” Ricard said about his favorite part of putting pads on. “When you have pads on, [teammates] have pads on, so there are no excuses, you can leave no doubt on the field.”
Wide receiver Tylan Wallace was a little more timid the first time he was tackled. As an 8-year-old, he was nervous to be hit. When he got hit hard, Wallace would “get in his feelings” and trot to the sideline in tears. Eventually, he embraced the physicality of the game and turned into a four-star recruit who starred at Oklahoma State.
“Once you get that first hit, tackle in, and as a kid I was flying all over the place. After that, I was like, ‘Oh this isn’t bad at all,’” Wallace said.
Training camps have changed over the years, as the allowable contact has scaled down to limit preseason injuries. Coach John Harbaugh remembers practicing twice a day during his playing career at Miami University in the 1980s.
“You see guys walking in the cafeteria beforehand and you’re like ‘Oh, my God,’” Harbaugh said. “I remember bouncing off the running back one time, early on and being like ‘Wow, this is different.’”
The Ravens are only allowed to practice in pads for three consecutive days during camp, according to the NFL Players Association rules. Practices are typically two hours long and can’t stretch past 3 hours, 30 minutes, according to guidelines.
During the Ravens’ first week, temperatures rose into the upper 90s. Players were constantly cooling down on the sideline with water, misting fans and cold towels. Harbaugh said the weather helps the players’ condition for the season.
“Constantly got to cool the body down,” Wallace said. “Once you take the pads off, you feel like you can breathe all over again.”
The challenge of camp comes with its reward. Veteran players will make an average of $3,500 per week during the 2025 training camp. Rookies make $2,000 per week.
Training camp lasts until Aug. 27. The Ravens will have joint practices against the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday and the Washington Commanders on Aug. 21. In total, they’ll have 25 practices and three preseason games before making it to the regular season, when their work practicing in pads is put to the test.
Ricard still recalls his first training camp as one of his favorite memories in the NFL.
“Wearing an NFL jersey with my name on it, it was a surreal moment. Just everything you’ve been through to get here,” Ricard said.
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