The NFL Draft process is a sprawling, nationwide search for talent, and the Tennessee Titans are leaving no stone unturned. As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the team's scouts have fanned out across college campuses, attending Pro Days to get a final, up-close look at prospects. According to a report from Easton Butler via Yahoo Sports, one such stop led the Titans to Oxford, Ohio, where they met with Miami (Ohio) running back Jordan Brunson.
For a player like Brunson, who projects as a late-round selection or a priority free agent, these meetings are everything. They are a chance to move from a name on a spreadsheet to a person in a team's war room. For the Titans, it represents diligent work building a comprehensive draft board, evaluating every possible avenue to improve the roster. While star players at powerhouse programs grab headlines in the first round, championships are often built in the draft's later stages with finds like Brunson.
Who is Jordan Brunson?
Jordan Brunson is not a household name coming out of the Mid-American Conference, but he is precisely the type of player who can carve out a successful NFL career. In his final season with the RedHawks in 2025, Brunson rushed for 767 yards, demonstrating a consistent ability to be the focal point of his team's ground game. His Pro Day performance, as noted in the report, impressed scouts with his movement skills -- a broad but crucial category that encompasses agility, change of direction, burst, and overall athletic fluidity.
At the NFL level, running backs must be more than just powerful; they need the lateral quickness to make defenders miss in tight spaces, the acceleration to hit a suddenly opened hole, and the balance to absorb contact and keep moving. A positive review of a back's "movement" at a Pro Day suggests he checked several of those boxes in a controlled setting, separate from the chaos of live game tape.
The Titans' Running Back Landscape and Draft Philosophy
To understand why the Titans would spend time on a prospect like Brunson, we must look at their current roster and overarching team-building strategy. The running back room, as of early March 2026, features established veterans and younger players on prove-it deals. The team's philosophy under General Manager Mike Borgonzi emphasizes competition and depth at every position, avoiding over-reliance on any single player.
Drafting a running back in the late rounds or signing one as a priority free agent is a low-risk, potentially high-reward maneuver. The financial commitment is minimal, but the payoff can be a core special teams contributor and a reliable depth piece who can step in during a long NFL season. These players are expected to contribute immediately on kick and punt coverage units, showcasing the toughness and athleticism that first caught scouts' eyes. If they develop, they can become valuable rotational backs or even starters.
For the Titans, a team that has historically prided itself on a physical, run-oriented identity, maintaining a pipeline of capable, hungry runners is essential. Even with a primary workhorse, the wear and tear of an NFL season demand multiple capable bodies. A player like Brunson represents an opportunity to add a fresh, cost-controlled competitor to the mix, pushing everyone in the room while providing insurance.
The Significance of the Pro Day Meeting
A formal meeting at a Pro Day is more significant than a scout simply being in attendance. It indicates a level of interest that has progressed beyond initial film review. This is where teams get to sit down with the prospect, discuss football IQ, learn about his personal background and work ethic, and see how he interacts in a more formal football environment.
For Brunson, meeting with a team like the Titans -- an organization with a clear tradition at the position -- is a significant opportunity. He can learn what the team values in its backs, from pass protection schemes to route-running nuances. For the Titans' representatives, it's a chance to answer key questions: Does his football intelligence match his athletic testing? How does he handle coaching points? What is his character like off the field?
These intangible evaluations often separate two athletically similar prospects on a team's final draft board. A great meeting can catapult a late-round grade into a firm "draftable" designation. Conversely, a poor meeting can see a player's name crossed off a list entirely.
What Would Brunson Bring to Nashville?
Projecting a late-round or undrafted running back's fit requires looking at specific traits rather than expecting immediate stardom. Based on the report, Brunson's positive movement skills suggest a potential fit in a zone-running scheme, where vision, patience, and one-cut explosiveness are paramount. The Titans have utilized these schemes extensively, and a back who can make decisive cuts and get upfield quickly could find a role.
His 767-yard season, while not gaudy by Power Five standards, shows he can handle a workload. The jump to the NFL is about proving he can do that against bigger, faster, and more disciplined defenses. His immediate path to a roster spot would almost certainly be through special teams, where his athleticism and willingness to tackle would be tested from day one in training camp.
In the running back room, he would be competing not for a starting job initially but for a spot as the third or fourth back -- a role that requires versatility, reliability, and special teams prowess. He would need to show he can pass protect, catch the ball out of the backfield, and understand complex playbooks. The Titans' interest suggests they believe he has the foundational tools to develop in those areas.
The Bigger Picture: Titans' Draft Strategy in Focus
This reported meeting is a single data point but illuminates the Titans' broader draft approach. It shows a commitment to scouting the entire country, not just the major conferences. Some of the most successful pros have come from the MAC, and finding those gems requires boots on the ground.
It also reinforces the idea that the Titans are doing their homework on every tier of the draft. While fans and analysts focus on first-round mock drafts and big-name free agents, the team's personnel department is equally focused on the final 100 names on their board. These are the picks that fill out the back end of the roster, develop into key role players, and sometimes surprise everyone by becoming much more.
The 2026 NFL Draft is still weeks away, and the Titans' plans will evolve with free agency and further evaluations. However, the interest in Jordan Brunson is a classic example of the foundational work that goes into building a team. It is a reminder that every interaction, every meeting, and every timed sprint could lead to the next player who helps the Titans win a crucial game.
Only time will tell if Jordan Brunson's path leads to Nashville, but for now, he is a name to remember. He represents the endless possibilities of draft season and the unwavering search for talent that defines every NFL front office this time of year.