Earlier this month, I wrote about how un-drafted free agent wide receiver, Jordan Veasy out of Cal, made waves at OTAs. Every year, it seems like there’s a guy out at Titans training camp that just sets the town on fire. The fan base falls in love with the guy, claims he’s the next [INSERT ESTABLISHED NFL STAR HERE], and then watches on as he inevitably fizzles out. I mean, it’s very rare that these training camp wonders pan out. That’s not to say they’re all abject failures – I’m just saying….now’s the time when these guys start to pop up.
Besides, it’s the end of June. OTAs and mini-camp are behind us and we have to write about something, right? I’m not actually going to rank ’em, though. I ranked my favorite Titans nicknames, and it was a disaster because I forgot a ton of stuff and readers called me out on my bullshit. That’s fair – and I still need to go back and fix that article. Anyway, that’s my point – these aren’t ranked. Just listed alphabetically.
I took to social media prior to writing this to see what my followers and fellow Titans fans thought about the topic, and compiled the names that appeared most regularly. Most of them ended up being receivers, because the Titans have a horrible history at wide receiver. They never really invested in the position, though. Instead, they drafted guys late (or not at all), and they looked good in camp simply from a lack of honest competition.
Infamous Tennessee Titans Training Camp Wonders Through the Years
Jackie Battle – Titans fans had an interesting love affair with Battle during his tenure with the team in 2013 to 2014. His arrival came the season when Chris Johnson pretty well crapped out. People accused Johnson of looking for the home run too often, and wanted Battle in there. Because Battle will lower his head and pick up the tough yards! Then, they draft Bishop Sankey who was an outright bust in 2014. Battle had a few good games, definitely had his moments, and because of his work in training camp and the preseason, fans were clamoring for a larger role. But, here’s the thing – Battle wasn’t actually all that good. He had 151 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons with the Titans. Thank God he was good on special teams.
LeGarrette Blount – Well, we all know how this one panned out, don’t we? Three Super Bowl rings in the last four seasons…yeah, Jeff Fisher and his staff whiffed pretty big on Blount. I still don’t really understand why, either. The guy looked like a stud throughout training camp in 2010. He even made the 53-man roster…but the Titans cut him when they needed the roster spot, thinking they’d just slide him over to the practice squad, and no one would notice. WRONG – he didn’t clear waivers…went to Tampa Bay and the rest is history. Dumb.
Biren Ealy – Ealy was undrafted out of Houson in 2007, but came in and definitely looked the part. I don’t know if it’s because we were all so desperate for the Titans to finally find a guy to replace Derrick Mason or what, but we began to believe in Ealy. The guy was 6’3″ and 207 pounds, for God’s sake. He looked good throughout training camp, enough to cause a bit of a rumble. But, all it ever amounted to was one NFL reception for six yards.
Lavelle Hawkins – Those mid-round receiver picks from the mid-2000s, man, I tell you what. The Titans didn’t get it right in 2007, so they tried again in 2008. I can specifically remember Mel Kiper, Jr. saying the Titans got a steal in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft when they selected Hawkins out of Cal. He was going to be Vince Young’s new favorite weapon!
To be fair to Hawkins, he was a pretty steady option on down the depth chart. He was never going to be the top receiver type. But, he played well in the Spring and Summer, and parlayed that into a decently productive five seasons (decently productive for those Titans teams, mind you). Hawkins caught 71 balls for 771 yards and one touchdown throughout his tenure with the Titans.
Justin Hunter – The Titans traded up to get Hunter in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was supposed to be “the guy,” but take a wild guess where this is going. I know there’s a certain segment of Titans fans who are cringing at just reading the name Justin Hunter. The guy had all of the physical potential in the world, but it never translated to production. Count him along with Kenny Britt and Dorial Green-Beckham as the most frustrating receivers in Titans history.
Khalfani Muhammad – I don’t know that Muhammad ever actually showed out during camp or the preseason. But, I do distinctly remember his drafting causing a buzz throughout the Titans fan base. He’s 5’7″ and 174 pounds – was supposedly the antithesis of Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray, and he was going to be the pass-catching back that the offense lacked. But….he’s no longer with the team….because he did nothing.
Michael Preston – Preston immediately came to mind when I started thinking about this list. He came to the Titans, undrafted in 2011, by way of Heidelberg University. It seems like every two weeks, he was signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the main roster, then back. Vice versa for three seasons. He bounced around the CFL and arena football, and even made it back to the NFL, signing with the Miami Dolphins in 2015. But, he was released before the season started.
I remember that 2013 season, when he caught two touchdowns in a game, thinking, “man – maybe they’re onto something here.” Turns out, a third of his career production came in that game. He finished his NFL career with 10 receptions for 96 and two touchdowns. But, every camp and preseason that he was apart of, Titans fans were rooting for the guy.
Tajae Sharpe – Sharpe’s 2016 training camp and preseason was pretty damn ridiculous. Forget wondering if he was going to make the roster or not, people were saying Sharpe was a bona fide number one receiver. To be fair, the jury’s still out on Sharpe. I actually think he’s perfectly capable of living up to be the guy we thought he’d be in August 2016, but a year away from football has Titans fans souring on the UMass product.
I still think his precision route running and reliable hands are welcome additions in this receiving corps. He’ll be able to ease back into the NFL as the Titans #4 or #5 receiver this year.
Paul Williams – Williams was yet another receiver taken in the middle rounds of the mid-2000s era Titans. That time period when the organization was just drafting random receivers late, throwing things against the wall, and just seeing what would stick. Williams was 6’1″ 205 pounds out of Fresno State, and the Titans selected him in the third round (80th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft. He looked good in the Spring and Summer, too…but, all it ever amounted to was one NFL reception for seven yards.
I’d be curious to hear who some of you guys think my social media followers and I missed, so you know what to do – hit the comments, Titans fans.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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