Tre McBride’s lengthy and stressful NFL draft experience finally bore fruit, when the ex-William and Mary wide receiver was chosen by Tennessee in the seventh round Saturday.
McBride was rated among the top 20 at his position by many scouting services in a receiver-heavy draft, but fell to the end of the third day and was the 34th wideout drafted and the 245th overall selection. He had no direct contact with the Titans before Saturday.
The 6-foot, 210-pound native of Atlanta joins a Titans team remaking its passing game. Tennessee drafted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick and former Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham in the second round.
The Titans also added several free agent wide receivers in the offseason, including veterans Hakeem Nicks and Harry Douglas. Tennessee was 22nd in the NFL in passing last season, averaging 213.2 yards per game. Tight end Delanie Walker was the leading receiver last season with 63 catches for 890 yards.
The Titans played three quarterbacks last season: Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst and Jake Locker.
McBride was the fifth William and Mary player drafted since 2009. Cornerback B.W. Webb, from Newport News, was a fourth-round pick in 2013.
Defensive end Adrian Tracy went in the sixth round to the New York Giants in 2010, and tackle Sean Lissemore went in the seventh round to Dallas in 2010. Defensive back Derek Cox was a third-round pick to Jacksonville in ’09.
Lissemore plays for San Diego, while Webb is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Former Tribe standouts Jerome Couplin III and Jonathan Grimes were free agents who are on NFL rosters, Couplin with the Philadelphia Eagles and Grimes with the Houston Texans.
McBride was the 15th-best available wide receiver, according to CBSSports.com, and No. 18 according to ESPN.
He visited three teams: Denver, Detroit and Buffalo. Another half-dozen came to Williamsburg for individual workouts, including New England, Carolina and Atlanta. He played in the East-West Shrine all-star game in St. Petersburg, Fla., when his stock began to rise among scouts.
McBride was a two-time first-team all-conference wide receiver, despite the fact that the Tribe had inconsistent quarterbacking most of his career. He finished second in career receptions (196), fifth in career receiving yards (2,653) and fifth in all-purpose yardage (4,281).
McBride was the third player from the Colonial Athletic Association drafted, behind Towson cornerback Tye Smith and Delaware tight end Nick Boyle. Smith went to Seattle in the fifth round with the 170th overall choice, and Boyle went one pick later to Baltimore.
Fairbank can be reached at 747-247-4637
![Baseball 757Teamz Top 15 #2 Cox 7, Kempsville 6 Michael Barreiro’s RBI bunt single with 2 outs in the bottom of the seventh capped a four-run seventh inning, securing the victory for the Falcons. #7 First Colonial 10, Landstown 5 Wes Stubbe, Ryan Dugan, and Joey Karpovich combined for 7 hits for First Colonial. Cade Howlett earned the win on the mound, striking out 5 batters. #14 Princess Anne 15, Bayside 0 Brae Williams hit his first career home run, and Reid Vandergrift added a 2-run homer. Luke Sweeney showcased strong pitching, allowing only 3 hits through 5 innings. Beach […]](https://www.dailypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/202306011631TMS_____BESTREVW_B4488E18F790DA0D4D6910F30FFFB39_41170-4.jpg?w=620 "Baseball 757Teamz Top 15 #2 Cox 7, Kempsville 6 Michael Barreiro’s RBI bunt single with 2 outs in the bottom of the seventh capped a four-run seventh inning, securing the victory for the Falcons. #7 First Colonial 10, Landstown 5 Wes Stubbe, Ryan Dugan, and Joey Karpovich combined for 7 hits for First Colonial. Cade Howlett earned the win on the mound, striking out 5 batters. #14 Princess Anne 15, Bayside 0 Brae Williams hit his first career home run, and Reid Vandergrift added a 2-run homer. Luke Sweeney showcased strong pitching, allowing only 3 hits through 5 innings. Beach […]")
