Quarterback Jared Goff gets plenty of work as Rams’ two-day rookie orientation and mini-camp starts

Among more than two dozen players in blue and white Rams jerseys, the one in the red No. 16 stood out.

Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, has been described as “our franchise quarterback� by Coach Jeff Fisher.

On Friday, Goff was the lone quarterback as the Rams began a two-day rookie orientation and minicamp in Oxnard. He took every snap.

“It’s nice to get all of them right now,� Goff said. “It’s nice to get as many as you can to get used to it.�

In coming weeks, during organized team activities with veterans, Goff will share reps in a quarterback group that includes Case Keenum, Nick Foles and Sean Mannion.

But Fisher’s orientation and minicamp is designed to bring rookies along slowly, to help them acclimate, individually and collectively, to pro football while avoiding injury.

Goff is part of a draft class that includes receivers Pharoh Cooper and Michael Thomas, tight ends Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway and linebacker Josh Forrest.

After a day full of meetings, the six draftees, 19 undrafted free agents and two tryout players went through an on-field workout conducted at less-than-full speed.

Goff, the former California standout, was happy to finally get back onto a field without his draft prospects hanging in the balance.

He worked with quarterback coach Chris Weinke and offensive coordinator Rob Boras, practicing footwork, handoffs, drops, rollouts and short throws to receivers.

“Just a lot of fun to get back out here with the guys and be able to kind of enjoy football again and get out of the whole predraft process,� Goff said.

Cooper, a fourth-round pick, said he had spoken with Goff a few days before they arrived for the minicamp.

“Just asking, ‘You ready to go play together? Let’s get this thing here started,’ ‘’ Cooper said.

How did Day 1 go with Goff?

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Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry discuss quarterback Jared Goff’s debut at the Rams’ rookie mini-camp in Oxnard. All six of the Rams’ draft picks participated, plus 19 undrafted free agents. 

“It was great playing with Jared,� Cooper said, adding, “No. 1 quarterback in the draft. You can’t go wrong with that.�

Receiver Nelson Spruce, who set the Pac-12 Conference’s career receptions record at Colorado, said he trained with Goff before the scouting combine.

“I’ve been throwing with him for a couple months,� said Spruce, an undrafted free agent who played at Westlake High. “He’s a guy that’s going to lead this entire organization, so I’m excited to see what he does.�

Goff said he was adjusting to new terminology.

“It’s like you’re going into Spanish class,� he said. “You have to become fluent in Spanish over however long the time is.�

He also has begun to establish leadership credentials away from the field.

“You want to just be the guy you are and the person you are and be the leader of my rookie class,� he said. “Work as hard as I can to make everyone buy in and just be a good teammate and be the best player I can be.�

Higbee participated in the minicamp a day after appearing in court in Kentucky and entering a plea of not guilty to charges related to an altercation that led to his arrest last month.

Higbee, who played at Western Kentucky, was arrested April 10 on suspicion of second-degree assault, evading police and public intoxication after an altercation with a man outside a bar in Bowling Green, Ky. Nawaf Alsaleh, 24, was found unconscious and bleeding from the mouth. He reportedly suffered a concussion and a brain hemorrhage.

Asked if he could discuss the situation, Higbee said, “That will all work itself out. It’s kind of a legal matter. I’m just excited to be here and focus on football.�

Higbee said he would not be distracted by off-the-field issues or the pressure of trying to make the team.

“Sometimes you have to put the blinders on and go to work,� he said. “That’s what I do.

Spruce was disappointed that he was not drafted, but he said he was happy for the opportunity with the Rams.

The drive to the minicamp was only 20 minutes from his family home.

“It’s kind of a crazy situation,� he said. “They year I’m trying to play in the NFL, that’s the year that the Rams come to L.A.�

The 6-foot, 205-pound Spruce was largely overlooked by Power Five conference programs coming out of high school, so he is accustomed to beating the odds.

“I’ve kind of always been under the radar,� he said. “So I’m kind of excited about the challenge.�

Follow Gary Klein on Twitter: @LATimesklein