A former Canadian League all-star who hopes to make a run at the Raiders roster returned to training camp Tuesday while dealing with the tragedy of losing both his parents, a team source confirmed.
Running back Will Stanback lost his father William on July 21 from bladder cancer. His mother, Patricia, passed away on July 30 from a heart attack, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
#Raiders RB William Stanback has returned to camp after the passing of both his parents: dad William Sr. on July 21 from bladder cancer and mom Patricia on July 30 from a heart attack.
Incomprehensible tragedy for Stanback, the former CFL star who’s still determined to compete.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 11, 2020
According to a records search, William Stanback was 75 years old and Patricia Stanback was 68. They resided in Hempstead, N.Y., where Will grew up and went to high school.
Stanback, 26, rushed for 1,093 yards on 170 carries last season for the Montreal Alouettes. He scored five touchdowns and caught 33 passes for 329 yards. At 6-foot, 233 pounds, Stanback is a the kind of bruising tackle-breaker coach Jon Gruden prefers.
Dismissed from Central Florida for failing drug tests, Stanback resurfaced at Division II Virginia Union and in a 2017 YouTube interview said cited his parents for their support.
“If there’s anything more important to me than football it would be making my family proud and receiving an education,” Stanback said. “My inspiration and motivation is from my mother and father. They’e always been there for me and I’m very appreciative of them being in my life still and I would do anything in this world to make them happy.”
Stanback was originally signed by Green Bay after gaining 1,299 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns at Virginia Union but was waived in August of 2017. He spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Canada and told the Montreal Gazette he had learned from his mistakes at Central Florida.
“I failed. I wasn’t supposed to have off-field issues. I was supposed to be Will Stanback,” Stanback said. “When I was dismissed, I knew it was my fault, nobody else’s. I’m the one who did that I did. I always think about that. I’m not going to let that happen again.
“I wasn’t thinking straight. Picking up that product isn’t the way to go. Don’t smoke marijuana. That’s my speech to the younger players.”
