It was hard not to notice the level of play linebacker Marlowe Wax and cornerback Nikko Reed displayed throughout their first training camp.

And their play was rewarded with a spot on the Chargers initial 53-man roster.

"They played really good," Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday. "I think we've talked about it before, Derwin James called Nikko Reed a baller, I concur. Same with Marlowe Wax. They did a great job, earned it and excited as heck."

The pair of undrafted free agents took the practice field with the team in Week 0 as members of the active roster after stellar showings in practice and the preseason.

A day after making the initial roster, the two reflected on the opportunity — but they made sure to note the work continues.

"Dream come true, it's something I've been praying and hoped since I became a Charger back in April or May," Wax said on Wednesday. "Definitely something I'm happy about, but the work doesn't stop. Got to keep on going."

Reed added: "I had a little bit of time throughout my day, but really just really getting [a chance] to work another day. Just another day that went by, more work to be done. I kind of think about it but still got to go to work next day."

The pair of rookies outlined their last couple of days as the deadline approached.

For Wax, he saved his best performance for last, which propelled him to sticking around on the initial 53.

The linebacker tallied 6.0 total tackles (5.0 solo) to go along with a strip sack, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the preseason finale this past weekend.

Knowing it was his last showcase, his approach was just to give it his all.

"Just put it all on the line," Wax said. "That could've been my last time playing a football game so I just wanted to go out there firstly and have fun but also compete at a high level and put it all on the line."

And the moments leading up to Tuesday's deadline were as nerve wracking as ever — but it all worked out for him.

"Every day after the game, my stomach was all over the place," Wax said. "I was a little bit scared. I feel like any rookie, any guy probably wasn't feeling right. But that moment though, it was a lot of praying, a lot of talking to my family, talking to my agent.

"I didn't find out until like 1:30. I prayed again right after," Wax added.

Reed was on a similar boat using a number of strong performances throughout the preseason to stand out, even though he missed some time with injury in the middle of camp.

But the cornerback said after walking off the field in Santa Clara, he had a good feeling.

"Confident for sure, especially after the game," Reed said. "I had a good game, so I was for sure confident."

It's confidence Reed says stems from the work he's put in every step of the way.

"The work I put in, really. I was always the person putting in extra work and I knew in my heart that I was better than a lot of people," Reed said. "You just have to believe that.

"I believed it, and I feel like that's where I get my confidence from," Reed added.

It's an unlikely story for the pair of undrafted rookies, both of whom were not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.

As far as chip on the shoulder though, they say it's not something that's of concern anymore.

"I always been an underdog, so I ain't had a chip on my shoulder," Reed said. "I just knew my story was going to be different. It's been different since high school so I knew it was always going to be the same thing and it was always going to be the same outcome."

"It's really not about how you start, it's how you're finishing, all the work you put in," Reed later added. "I've never been invited to camps and stuff when I was in high school, I feel like that's why I say it's the same thing."

Wax added: "I don't think about it too much now, I feel as though the work will always be the work. If I was the first pick in the draft, I would be working the same way I would be right now. It's just been like that my whole life."

Now it's about continuing to work at their goal and continuing to put in the work that got them into this position, as they are far from done showing what they're capable of.

"Playing in the NFL was definitely a dream," Wax said. "Some guys are in for a short time, some guys are in for a long time.

"I got to think about that part, I got to keep on working so I can stay for a long time," Wax added.