The Titans select a running back, one of my favorite positions in all of sports! Running back is simply one of the grittiest positions ever. It requires one to be a fantastic overall athlete. The Titans have arguably the best history of running backs in NFL history. This franchise may struggle in many ways and haven't won a Super Bowl, but they have a knack for having great running backs.
Eddie George, Derrick Henry, Earl Campbell, Chris Johnson are four all-time greats right off the bat. Some honorable mentions are guys like LenDale White, DeMarco Murray, and even Chris Brown. There's a lot of other respectable backs that have been an Oiler/Titan as well. Simply put the Titans seem to typically have great rushing production.
Currently the Titans have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears at the position and while they aren't bad, they are a far cry from the past greats. Tony Pollard has had a good career and has rushed for 1,000 yards the past two seasons but he's basically your average back. Tyjae Spears was once looking like a great third down back but it seems that his ceiling is pretty limited. Both Pollard and Spears aren't the biggest guys in the world either. Both guys are useful, but the Titans need to be a little stronger at this position I feel.
Since the Titans didn't even have the choice to potentially draft running back Jeremiyah Love after the Cardinals snagged him, the Titans still had to deepen the running back room.
Well, they did just that by selecting Penn State's Nick Singleton in the fifth round. Singleton is, again, not only playing one of my favorite positions, he's also from my neck of the woods in Pennsylvania! Too cool that he's now on my favorite NFL team!!! Epic!
Singleton had an oddly up and down career at Penn State from a production standpoint. He alternated 1,000 yard seasons in his freshman and then junior seasons. But his yards per carry was always good and he always had a nose for the endzone, reaching a college career high for rushing touchdowns, 13, in his senior year. He was always a competent pass catcher as well, totaling 102 receptions and averaging 9.7 yards per reception in his four years. Singleton left Penn State with the most rushing touchdowns in school history with 45 as well as the most touchdowns from scrimmage with 54 surpassing Saquon Barkley in both categories. Singleton was a five star recruit with offers from huge football schools like Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.
Singleton has good power and explosive speed. Just a solid back. Could work on his vision a bit and work on not running as straight up as he does but I feel as if he could definitely be a diamond in the rough type of running back. He's solidly built at a shade over 6'0" and about 219 pounds.
I hope he can add some juice to the running back room! Maybe he'll be good enough to be the main back one day we shall see! As a fifth round pick expectations aren't too crazy high which could be a good thing for him. The spotlight won't be on him quite as much, he can just work on his game.
Welcome to the squad Nick!