NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The newness has worn off for Titans rookie receiver Corey Davis.
Yet Davis, the fifth overall pick of the NFL Draft, admits it was pretty cool when he first took the field in OTAs, with quarterback Marcus Mariota and the team's other veterans.
"The first time I was in the huddle I was like, "Wow, I am actually here,''' Davis, the fifth overall pick of the NFL Draft, said with a smile on Thursday. "But you can't really dwell on it too long. It feels good, and I am here, ready to make plays and do whatever I can to help the team out.''
Davis, still recovering from an ankle injury, is being eased into work this offseason. But he's already seen his workload increase in the past month, since the rookie minicamp, and the start of organized team activities.
He's looked good catching the football in practices, and has little concern about the injury, or falling behind.
"I believe I am full go," Davis said. "The team is trying to take it slow, and I am behind that 100 percent. I trust in these coaches. But it feels good. I could play a game right now if need be.
"The main thing is just (developing) that chemistry. Obviously Marcus is a great quarterback, so on my end it is understanding the plays, understanding the defense the best I can because it will help out not just myself, but him and the team."
The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Davis caught 97 balls for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last season at Western Michigan. His 5,285 career receiving yards is an FBS record, and he ranks second in NCAA history in career receiving touchdowns with 52.
He's expected to play a big role for the Titans as early as 2017.
"Just from watching some college games, I thought he was impressive," Mariota said of Davis. "There's some things that he did with the ball in his hands, route-running wise, he just looks natural doing it. As we continue to grow, as everybody continues to get better, if we can kind of keep him going in that direction I think he'll be a great pro for us."
Titans coach Mike Mularkey said the team has a designed number of plays for Davis in practices.
"We know what the plays are and what the possibilities of the ball going to him are," Mularkey said of Davis. "We are trying to be smart with how he is getting it and what he is doing after he is getting it."
Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie watched film of Davis before the draft and saw a special player.
Now, he's seen him on the practice field, and imagines how much he might be able to help on Sundays.
But Robiskie knows Davis, and the Titans, have work to do.
"It is just too early for me to sit around and try and (compare) him to some of the good guys I've coached," Robiskie said. "He has all the qualities you need to play the position. He is a big guy, he can run, he looks strong. He can run all day. He has very good hands. He is very, very focused. A lot of things he is doing he is very professional about it. The sky is the limit. It is just a matter of, 'get healthy, stay healthy.'
"But to start putting him up with the great guys I've coached, I couldn't put him up there yet. He has only had a couple of days in shorts and a t-shirt."
Titans veterans and rookies take the field for Day 2 of the 2017 OTAs at Saint Thomas Sports Park. (Photos: Gary Glenn, Al Wagner, AP)
