Receiver’s NFL Dream Comes True With Raiders : Football: Former University High quarterback Daryl Hobbs earns a spot on the team’s roster.

Like many of his childhood friends, Daryl Hobbs dreamed of playing football as a youth.

From the moment he woke up to the time he went to sleep, football played a major role in his life.

He would imagine himself making a reception before a big crowd in a big game, often substituting an empty bottle of laundry bleach for a football.

The way Hobbs figured, if he was ever going to play in the NFL, the lack of a real football should not hold him back.

“When I was growing up in Texas, all we knew was football,” Hobbs said. “I would watch football on television and dream of someday being in the NFL.”

Those dreams have become a reality for Hobbs.

After being named an All-City quarterback at University High and a standout career as a wide receiver at the University of Pacific, Hobbs has earned a spot on the Raiders’ practice roster.

Each NFL team can have five practice players on their roster. A practice player is not activated for games.

Although not playing in games can be frustrating, Hobbs is happy to be back in Los Angeles with his family and friends.

Hobbs, who was born in Victoria, Tex., excelled in three sports at University, but football was his calling card.

“I just wanted to be a receiver,” Hobbs said. “My heroes were (former NFL players) Lynn Swann, Fred Biletnikoff and Ron Jessie. They always got open and caught the ball.”

Hobbs started as a wide receiver and defensive back as a sophomore but moved to quarterback during his junior season.

“I had never wanted to play quarterback but my friend, Mark Rodgers, was playing the position and all he wanted to do was run,” Hobbs said. “So he moved to wide receiver and I moved to quarterback and that’s how it was.”

It turned out to be a good move for the Warriors as Hobbs became one of the City’s top passers. It didn’t hurt that he had Paul Richardson, who later played at UCLA, and Rodgers, who attended USC, as his receivers. As a senior, Hobbs led the City with 26 touchdown passes.

Because of low grades, Hobbs attended Santa Monica College, where he continued to play quarterback and went out for the track team as a sprinter. In his two years as a Corsair, Hobbs caught the attention of the Pacific coaching staff.

Once he enrolled at Pacific, Hobbs’ days as a quarterback were numbered.

“The coaches (at Pacific) felt that I had a better chance of making it to the NFL as a receiver,” Hobbs said. “I just wanted to play, so I changed positions.”

Hobbs led the Big West Conference in touchdown receptions with 14 as a junior. He had 62 receptions for 848 yards and was ranked 17th nationally with 5.6 receptions a game.

As a senior, he had 62 receptions for 842 yards, averaged 9.1 yards a punt return and finished with 12 touchdowns.

But NFL scouts considered Hobbs to be just another player, and he was bypassed in the draft.

“I had expected to be drafted because when I looked at the other receivers coming out, none had the (statistics) like I had,” Hobbs said. “But I wasn’t drafted. I had to pick myself up and prove again to people that I could play.”

Hobbs had an opportunity to sign with the Bears but decided to accept an offer from the Raiders.

Although it did not take long for the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Hobbs to move up the depth chart, he was released by the team on the final cutdown day.

The Raiders decided to keep only four receivers: Tim Brown, Willie Gault, Mervyn Fernandez and Sam Graddy. Hobbs was uncertain about his future until he cleared waivers and received a call from the team.

“They didn’t come right out and say that I would be brought back when I was cut,” Hobbs said. “But I’m glad that they did.

“One reason why I like being here is because I know that Mervyn (Fernandez) and Willie (Gault) are not getting any younger and I can learn a lot from them.”

Hobbs’ background as a quarterback became useful early this season when the Raiders released veteran Vince Evans. Hobbs had to fill in at his old position at times because the Raiders had only Todd Marinovich and Jay Schroeder at quarterback.

Now, during a normal week of practice, Hobbs imitates an opposing receiver. One week he may be Buffalo’s Andre Reed, the next he may be Dallas’ Michael Irvin.

“It’s tough because all week I’m running the other team’s plays but I also have to keep up with what we are doing,” Hobbs said. “I have to be ready in case someone gets hurt. I just try to go out there and do what I would be doing regularly,”

Although Hobbs is content with his current role, he is hoping to play in a game.

“It feels good to work on something all of your life and then have it happen,” he said. “I know that there are a lot of people who should be where I am now and are not. I just want to keep doing this as long as I can.”