Titans rookie on the rise: Jarvis Brownlee Jr. is all ball, no drip during practice

NASHVILLE - Look good, play good. At least that's what they say. But I'm not sure that adage always holds true.

Sports in today's society have some athletes, from the pros to youth leagues, more fixated on being the most fashionable player on the field than the best player on the field.

It's all about the drip. But Tennessee Titans rookie cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. is leaving the gimmicks at home during Titans training camp. Brownlee has recently taken the internet by storm for his lack of accessories while balling out during practice.

The former Louisville Cardinals cornerback has been showing up to training camp wearing no gloves, no socks, no wrist bands, no arm sleeves...nothing. The only flashy thing about Brownlee's kit are the neon green cleats he has been wearing since the predraft process. But those cleats were retired after practice on Wednesday when Brownlee gave them away to a lucky Titans fan in attendance for practice.

Earlier this week, I took a video of Brownlee locking up wide receiver Tyler Boyd during 1-on-1 drills and let it fly on Twitter. The video has since amassed nearly 2 million views thanks to hundreds of comments about Brownlee's wardrobe.

I showed Brownlee a number of these comments after a recent practice and he couldn't help but laugh. It's all jokes. But there is some truth the commentary too. Brownlee is worried about one thing: Ball. That's exactly where you want your rookie cornerback's head to be.

"Some days I just like to come out here and feel loose, let that air hit me, and feel that breeze. For me man, I don't think it's about putting on gear or anything like that. I'm coming out here to work," Brownlee told me after practice on Wednesday.

"The reason I don't wear gloves in practice is because I try to work on my hands. So in the game, when I do wear gloves, I'll be better at catching," said the 23-year-old rookie.

It's all very endearing, especially for a man who has had to overcome a lot of adversity just to get his shot in the NFL.

When Brownlee was in the third grade, he was wounded in a Miami drive-by shooting. It's an experience that Brownlee says traumatized him for a while, but also changed his mindset on life. It motivated him to make it, and even as a child, Brownlee had his sights set on the NFL.

Now he's here, a fifth-round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans fighting for a job in training camp . It's no surprise that Brownlee's only concern is playing football and getting better. He has to prove himself and there's too much on the line.

Through the first week of camp, Brownlee's focus has helped him make the most of his opportunities. Veteran cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed (management) and Chidobe Awuzie (calf) have missed practices. That has given younger players like Brownlee more opportunities to take snaps with the first team defense.

"The thing I like about Jarvis is he doesn't make the same mistake," defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson told me. "He attacks the day with that dawg attitude. He's physical, he can play multiple positions. Now it's about him sharpening his tool bag."

Taking reps against Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd is a pretty good way for Brownlee to get sharper.

The rookie has already been standing out, and that's only going to continue now that pads are on in practice. Brownlee is a physical corner that likes to get his hands on a receiver. That's going to fit in well with Wilson's defense and positional versatility will help him get more playing time in a loaded cornerback room.

Contrary to what the internet is currently saying, Brownlee has all the swag he needs. He has passion and chooses to wear his heart, instead of an armband, on his sleeve. That's going to take him much farther down his NFL path.

By the time training camp is all said and done, I don't just think Brownlee is going to achieve his childhood goal of making an NFL roster. I think he is going to force his way into some meaningful playing time with the Titans.

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