Fuller working himself into prominent role with Titans
By: Jimmy Robertson
There are many things that signify the impending kickoff to a football season.
For starters, the magazines start rolling out their season previews. The various conferences start announcing their media kickoff functions. More and more players start working out.
And in Blacksburg, Vincent Fuller’s appearance signifies that it’s time to get serious about football.
NFL players usually get most of the month of July off before reporting for preseason camp, but Fuller’s vacations consists of coming to Blacksburg. The former Tech defensive back, who now plays for the Tennessee Titans, works out for three weeks with Tech’s strength and conditioning staff and with the Hokie players during player-organized passing drills.
“They [Tennessee officials] give you a workout to do on your own,” Fuller said. “But I thrive when I’m around people who are working hard and no one works harder than the players here. I’ve been doing this for the past few years now and I haven’t missed a beat.”
Fuller’s workout this summer consisted of meeting with Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray in the morning. Gray, a former NFL assistant coach, put Fuller through an array of drills, and once finished, Fuller went to the weight room to lift with Mike Gentry and his crew. After lunch and a nap, he returned to campus to participate in the passing drills with the players.
It appears to be paying off. A year ago, Fuller worked as the Titans’ nickel back and made several eye-popping plays. In a Monday night game against the New Orleans Saints, Fuller intercepted a Drew Brees pass and returned it 61 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Two weeks later, he snared an errant pass by Detroit’s Joey Harrington and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown.
“I got a ton of calls and text messages,” Fuller said. “I think, after the game against New Orleans, I had like 34 text messages and my voicemail was full. You’ve got to love that support. It was really cool.”
Fuller played in every game a year ago and finished with 35 tackles, one sack and the two interceptions. All of those were career highs.
Last year marked a stark contrast to his first couple of years. As a rookie, the former fourth-round pick broke his right leg in the second game of the season while covering a kickoff against the Baltimore Ravens. He spent the season on injured reserve.
“That was a transition year, kind of like a redshirt year,” he said. “Then, the next year, I was just trying to make the roster, whether it be by playing on special teams or as a nickel back or just doing something. Last year, it was pretty much the same thing.
“This year, though, I’m trying to establish myself as a player. I want our coaching staff and our organization to know that I can help this team be successful.”
In the NFL, Fuller knows the margin for error is small, particularly in his case because the Titans play in arguably the best division in football (the AFC South). The Titans play Jacksonville and Indianapolis – two playoff teams – twice. In Fuller’s case, he’s matching wits with Peyton Manning, arguably the best player in the NFL.
“His best trait is his accuracy,” Fuller said. “He knows defenses and he knows where everybody is. There were a couple of times where I swore I did everything right and he still made the completion.
“That’s the way it is in this league, though. You’ve got to bring your ‘A’ game. If you don’t bring your ‘A’ game, then you’re going to be on SportsCenter – and not in a good way.”
Fuller’s time in Tennessee may come to an end at the conclusion of this upcoming season, his fourth in Nashville. As a restricted free agent, he signed a one-year, $927,000 deal for this season and will be eligible for free agency following the year.
He hopes to stay in the Music City, though.
“This is a good organization and Coach [Jeff] Fisher is a players’ coach,” Fuller said. “He’s got a good staff, too, and I want to play well for them.
“And Nashville’s grown on me. It’s a college city. You’ve got Vanderbilt and Lipscomb and Belmont and a bunch of others here. There are a lot of young people here and a lot of young professionals. I’ve bought a condo on the West End and I like it here. There’s a lot going on, so hopefully I can stay for a while.”
