Turron DavenportApr 24, 2025, 08:15 PM ET
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- Turron Davenport covers the Tennessee Titans for ESPN since 2018. Turron is a former collegiate soccer participant at Cheyney College and is a local of Philadelphia, and he has authored/co-authored 4 books. You’ll be able to catch Turron on ESPN Radio on his display “Speaking with TD.”
The Tennessee Titans made former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward the No. 1 pick out within the NFL draft Thursday evening.
The Titans completed 3-14 ultimate season below first-year trainer Brian Callahan, as Tennessee struggled with a depleted roster and subpar play from quarterbacks. Will Levis used to be put ready to protected the franchise quarterback function however handled an injured throwing shoulder and used to be ultimately benched in choose of veteran Mason Rudolph.
During the last a number of weeks, indicators have pointed towards the Titans taking Ward with the primary pick out. Tennessee despatched a bunch that incorporated president of soccer operations Chad Brinker, basic supervisor Mike Borgonzi, Callahan, offensive coordinator Nick Holz and quarterbacks trainer Bo Hardegree to Miami’s professional day to look at Ward throw. Titans controlling proprietor Amy Adams Strunk used to be additionally amongst that workforce.
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Borgonzi stated previous this week that the Titans had won gives from groups having a look to business up and regarded as them, however the franchise in the end determined to face pat at No. 1.
“He has the entire qualities that you simply search for within the place, and the whole lot about him as an individual and a participant suits the whole lot that we are searching for,” Callahan mentioned Thursday evening. “It is a actually thrilling second, I feel, for our group, for our training workforce, for our entrance place of business, I feel most significantly for our lovers.”
Ward, who used to be a zero-star recruit out of highschool and started his collegiate occupation at Incarnate Phrase, is the primary No. 1 total pick out that performed FCS soccer since 1979. He used to be visibly moved as took the draft level Thursday evening and instructed ESPN that the emotion in his voice published “the little child in me who sought after it.”
“The onerous paintings that I put myself via, simply the implausible paintings ethic that I’ve, I simply at all times had religion,” he mentioned.
Callahan mentioned Ward’s background used to be a part of what made him such an interesting selection for the Titans.
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“He is were given a chip on his shoulder,” Callahan mentioned. “He is looking to turn out on a daily basis that he is worthy, and that may not alternate the minute he will get right here; it is going to keep the similar. His adventure is exclusive. He is skilled numerous issues on the subject of new puts, new faces, new teammates, and his skill to connect to they all used to be extremely spectacular.”
Ward is the top-rated quarterback in ESPN’s Jordan Reid’s prospect scores. The 22-year-old used to be a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2024 after passing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, either one of that have been Miami single-season information.
Tennessee hopes Callahan’s earlier enjoy operating with quarterbacks will lend a hand Ward’s building. Since coming into the NFL in 2010, Callahan has coached quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr and Joe Burrow.
Tennessee signed veteran loose agent backups Kyle Allen and Tim Boyle after Rudolph rejoined the Pittsburgh Steelers previous this offseason. Tennessee’s quarterback room lately is composed of Ward, Allen, Boyle and Levis, who has two years left on his rookie contract after being decided on with the thirty third pick out in 2023.
Ward’s five-year faculty occupation incorporated two seasons at Incarnate Phrase, two seasons at Washington State and one season at Miami. He set the occupation mixed FCS (71) and FBS (87) file with 158 landing passes.
