From Motor City to Music City: Titans First Round Pick JC Latham Arrives in Nashville, and He's Ready to Get to Work

NASHVILLE – A lifelong dream became reality for JC Latham on Thursday night in Detroit.

A day later, the newest member of the Tennessee Titans opened up his portable gaming monitor on the plane ride to Nashville, and he played Madden – as the Titans.

"It was surreal," Latham said with a smile. "It's a surreal moment, knowing I'm a Titan now, and I'm finna be in the game. It's a great feeling."

Latham slept a few hours last night in Motor City, after being picked 7th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft.

When he woke up, he noticed the text messages and DMs had piled up even more from the night before. Former Titans lineman Taylor Lewan congratulated him, and new teammate Calvin Ridley followed him on social media. On Thursday night, Titans quarterback Will Levis and offensive lineman Peter Skoronski FaceTimed him, welcoming him to the team.

"At some point, I'm going to get back to everyone who wished me congratulations," Latham said. "But it's going to take a while. I probably got like a thousand."

Yes, after playing at the University of Alabama the last three seasons, Latham is now a Titan.

On Friday morning, he boarded a plane in Detroit with his mom, dad, stepmom, brother, girlfriend, and his best friend, and went from Motor City to Music City.

A few hours later he was entering the front door at Saint Thomas Sports Park, where he was greeted by Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk, along with Kenneth Adams IV and Barclay Adams from the team's ownership group.

Titans General Manager Ran Carthon also greeted Latham with a handshake and a hug, and so did head coach Brian Callahan.

Levis was on the lobby as well, welcoming him to town.

"How was your draft night?," a smiling Levis asked Latham.

Latham said it was great, and his first day in the facility as a Titan was officially underway.

"It's been crazy busy," Latham said of the last 24 hours. "But it sums up everything I have been doing, having traveled all over the place and meeting so many people. This is kind of like a crash course on everything."

Latham, who made a pre-draft visit to the Titans earlier this month, took another tour of the facility on Friday. He saw his locker inside the team's locker room, and he walked around the indoor practice facility.

He also picked out his NFL number. Latham wore 65 at Alabama, but that number is retired with the Oilers/Titans organization. Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea wore 65 for the Oilers during his 16 seasons with the team.

"But 55 will do me just right," Latham said, smiling again. "That was my number originally."

The 6-foot-6, 342-pound Latham also grabbed lunch in the cafeteria.

"I had me some barbecue chicken," Latham said. "Had some macaroni & cheese, baked beans and some broccoli, too."

Latham, who made a total of 12 30 visits leading up to the draft, said after a whirlwind life the past few months, he's ready to play football.

Latham played in 41 games at Alabama over the past three seasons, with 27 starts. He was a first team All-SEC selection in 2023, when he started all 14 games at right tackle. Latham was also a second team Associated Press All-American in 2023.

Carthon said on Thursday night the team plans to start Latham out at left tackle in the NFL.

"Every night I am thinking about it, every time I put some music on," Latham said of playing his first game. "Every single hour of the day that goes by, it's like, 'pretty soon you are going to be (on the field).'

"I'm just so happy to be here, and ready to get going."