A clear candidate has emerged for Titans’ No. 3 running back spot
Brian Callahan has been complimentary of Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard whenever he has been asked about the Tennessee Titans’ situation at running back, but they aren’t just keeping two of them on the roster.
The Titans will carry at least three running backs on the 53 man roster. A slew of players are battling for that spot. They are Hassan Haskins, Julius Chestnut, and undrafted free agent Jabari Small. All three players have impressed in spurts at training camp.
Last week, Titans running backs coach Randy Jordan was asked what he is looking for from a third running back on this team.
At the 7:57 mark in the video below, Jordan described his ideal third running back like this:
“Thumper. Guy that is physical. Guy that is going to be an enforcer. Guy that can play on first, second, and third down, able to hand it to him and finish games because I think in this National Football League, when you are trying to finish it [using a four-minute offense] you are trying to play keep away and you want that guy at 230 [pounds], 225 that you can hand it to and get those hard yards.”
That describes Haskins perfectly. Look no further than the biggest win of his college football career when he ran for five touchdowns against Ohio State. Of those five touchdowns, five were runs of 13 or fewer yards, four were runs of four or fewer yards, and three were runs from inside the two-yard line.
At 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, Haskins possesses the ideal size for what the Titans want out of that position.
Haskins missed the entire 2023 campaign, but he was a big piece of the Titans’ special teams units as a rookie in 2022. He was a starter on kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage. He was one of the most active and productive special teamers in the league.
The bulk of the team reps during training camp have gone to Pollard and Spears, but Haskins has made plays when given the chance. On Sunday, Haskins made an appearance in Jim Wyatt’s training camp observations with Wyatt saying, “Running back Hassan Haskins had a nice run up the middle, and he’s been a consistent performer in camp.”
Due to the offseason additions the Titans have made, there are going to be some promising players who don’t make the 53-man roster this year. If the Titans want to sneak a player who doesn’t play special teams onto the roster because of what he can do as a role player or because of his long-term potential, they need to keep as many guys who can moonlight as special teamers as they can.
Haskins has proven that he can pull double-duty as a third running back and a special teams player. If he can stay consistent between now and when roster cuts happen, he should be a near-lock to make this roster.
