Baltimore, MD – August 6, 2025
Training camp in Baltimore has always been brutal. But sometimes, the fiercest battles don’t happen on the field. They unfold quietly — in the locker room, where loyalty, respect, and seniority are measured not by stats, but by legacy.
Inside the Ravens’ facility, the locker next to Lamar Jackson isn't just a seat — it’s a statement. It belongs to those who’ve bled for this city, earned trust through seasons of grit and heartbreak, and become a voice in the huddle when it matters most.
That’s why this week’s drama shook the room. A rookie — one who hasn’t played a single official down — requested to move his locker right next to Lamar. The kind of proximity veterans work years to earn was suddenly being claimed after mere days in camp.
His name? Jay Higgins — an undrafted linebacker out of Iowa. A college standout with over 150 tackles last season, sure, but in Baltimore, numbers don’t earn you space. Not next to the franchise.
Roquan Smith, the soul of the Ravens’ defense, didn’t stay silent. “I don’t care how many tackles you had at Iowa,” he said, voice cutting through the room. “Around here, we fight to be worthy. You don’t just place yourself beside the captain. That spot is earned, not requested.”
Sources inside the locker room said tension rose quickly. Some rookies felt overwhelmed by the invisible hierarchy. But the vets — quietly, firmly — backed Roquan. In Baltimore, there are no shortcuts to brotherhood.
Jay Higgins hasn’t responded publicly. But the message was clear. The stares from the veterans were louder than any words. This wasn’t just about a locker. It was about the Ravens way — one forged by men like Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and now, Roquan Smith.
Training camp rolls on. Depth charts will shift. But that locker next to Lamar Jackson? It stays exactly where it is — waiting for someone who’s bled purple long enough to deserve it.
