Arguably the biggest surprise of the Tennessee Titans’ first preseason game was the performance of rookie cornerback, Eric Garror, who the team signed as an undrafted free agent back in April.
Before the Titans’ first preseason game, Garror wasn’t realistically on many people’s radar.
But following his impressive debut where he finished with the second-most tackles on the team (four) while also earning the eighth-highest overall grade by a defensive player (64.7). Among Garror’s four tackles were two impressive open-field ones, and he had a pair of tackles for loss.
The rookie has now given himself a puncher’s chance at sticking around beyond the preseason in some capacity. In fact, in his latest 53-man roster projection, our Mike Moraitis has Garror making the cut as of right now.
The rookie’s impact was positively felt on special teams, as well. The UDFA added two punt returns for a total of 26 yards, including a 17-yard return with under one minute left in the game to give Tennessee another chance at a game-winning drive.
“I really just want to come out here and show my abilities and try to make it on this team,” Garror said after practice Monday, per Sam Phalen of AtoZ Sports. “I’m trying to get right and do good for the team this year.”
Garror was asked about his size (5-foot-8, 174 pounds) and how he compensates for his physical limitations.
He stated that it’s his mentality and heart that allows him to play much bigger than he actually is. Garror added that he’s been embracing the underdog role ever since he was in high school, and all it does is motivate him to keep grinding, even when the odds are seemingly stacked against him.
“Since high school, I’ve been a little underdog,” he said. “That didn’t hurt me, it just made me want to work more and grind more.”
Earlier in the day, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said the Louisiana-Lafayette product attacks each day with a chip on his shoulder, something that Garror explained he’s had his entire life.
“That chip on my shoulder, it’s built in my shoulder,” he said. “I just come out here and every day I know I can’t do what other people do. I’ve got to go harder because everybody is overlooking me.
Garror appeared in 62 games over four years at Louisiana-Lafayette, recording a total of 129 tackles, three tackles for loss, 35 passes defensed, one sack, and nine interceptions while also returning a whopping 93 punts for 778 yards and three touchdowns.
There will need to be a lot more positive days between now and cutdown day for the Alabama native to make the final roster, but there’s no denying that Garror is at least trending in the right direction.
