NASHVILLE – It's been a heck of a week for Colton Dowell.
On Sunday, the Titans rookie receiver made his NFL debut.
Two days later, at a City Council meeting, Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell proclaimed October 3rd to be "Colton Dowell Day" in Lebanon.
"It was pretty cool," Dowell said in the locker room on Friday. "I am extremely humbled and blessed, that the city would notice me like that. It's awesome."
A seventh-round draft pick of the Titans in the 2023 NFL Draft, Dowell graduated from Wilson Central High School. He is the son of Tracy Dowell and former Lebanon fire chief, Chris Dowell. He has an older brother named Coleby.
Dowell played in college at Tennessee-Martin, where he attracted attention from NFL scouts.
Dowell was born in Lebanon on April 19, 1999.
"It was at the very beginning of the typical City Council meeting in Lebanon," Dowell said. "Once they got done with the opening notes, (the mayor) went up there and read the proclamation.
"It was recognition of making it this far. My family was there – I had a lot of my aunts and uncles, my cousins were there. It was a really good thing to be noticed, and to bring some notoriety to my family."
Dowell said some of his teammates caught wind of his big honor, and they've teased him a little bit.
"The receivers know, and they wanted to fine me," Dowell said, laughing. "They joke with me, but I know they mean it out of love."
Dowell said he'll never forget dressing out for his first regular season game against the Bengals.
Inactive for the first three games of the season, Dowell played 15 snaps on offense, and nine more on special teams, against Cincinnati.
"It was amazing," Dowell said. "It was definitely different than a preseason game. It was louder, the overall atmosphere was insane. And it was definitely a dream come true.
"I am working hard each and every week to keep making that dream come true week in and week out."
