NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Kalan Reed played in his first NFL game on Saturday night, but first he had a flashback.
During the National Anthem before the Titans-Chargers game, four Pee-Wee football teams lined up on the Titans sideline, in front of the players. Later, they'd play at halftime.
As a youngster, Reed did the same thing.
"I played for the Flatrock Vols,'' Reed said. "And yeah, we played at the half of a Titans game. I remember playing out there when I was little."
Reed thought about that on Saturday.
"When I got drafted it was like, 'Wow, it's come full circle,''' Reed said. "To see those kids out there, I shook some of their hands. It was pretty special."
Selected by the Titans with the final pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, Reed has stood out in training camp. The 5-foot-11, 192-pounder from Southern Mississippi has been around the football in practices, and made plays.
He's getting more comfortable each day.
"I am starting to pick up the playbook and getting a better understanding of what to do. It should help me play as fast as I possibly can,'' Reed said. "(On Saturday) it was about getting those nerves out the first play, seeing what it was like. And after that it's just football, which I have been playing my whole life."
Titans coach Mike Mularkey has complimented both Reed and LeShaun Sims during camp. Sims was a fifth-round draft pick by the team.
"Kalan has stood out to me. He can run all day. You talk about a guy that is always around the ball … I don't care where he was when the play started," Mularkey said of Reed during the offseason. "He can run and he doesn't even look like he's winded. ... He has really great awareness."
This week, Mularkey said Reed is trending up.
This Saturday against the Carolina Panthers, Mularkey said he plans to give Reed and another rookie, Kevin Byard, a chance in the return game.
"Anything I can do,'' Reed said.
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The Titans select Southern Miss CB Kalan Reed in the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. (AP Photos)
