Starting a new football season, the WCHS Pioneers are taking the field at Nunley Stadium on Friday for their first scrimmage. Prior to that, Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is stopping by for a visit this Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. in the high school gym. Everyone is invited to both events.
The Titans are coming off a 9-7 season and finished tied with the Houston Texans atop the AFC South. However, the Texans advanced to the playoffs due to a better division record.
With Mariota entering his third season, the Titans can taste the flavor of the postseason. They have a rugged offensive line, durable backs in DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, and a rebuilt secondary.
Mariota has emerged as a dual threat on the field with his passing and running ability.
In his rookie year, Mariota’s 87-yard TD run against the Jacksonville Jaguars was the third longest by a QB since 1960. He’s behind Terrelle Pryor, who went 93 yards in 2013 for the Raiders, and Colin Kaepernick who went 90 yards for San Francisco in 2014.
In 2015, Mariota threw for 19 touchdowns, which increased to 26 TDs in 2016, averaging 231 yards per game.
Even with a fair amount of offensive firepower, the Titans used two of their first three picks in the draft to address their need at WR to give Mariota more weapons. There are smiles all the way around entering Titans training camp, which begins this coming Saturday, July 29.
Mariota and Saint Thomas Health are partnering to visit four Middle Tennessee high schools on Tuesday. The events will feature a Q&A with Mariota. Saint Thomas Health is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system.
“We love working with Marcus and this will be a great opportunity for youth and adults in these communities,” said Dale Humphrey, CEO of Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville. “We are especially glad to help Marcus carry the message of his Motiv8 Foundation to the Middle Tennessee region.”
Mariota established the Motiv8 Foundation during his rookie year in 2015 to promote and support a healthy mind and body among youth in Hawaii, Oregon and Tennessee.
“This is the first time we’ve partnered with Marcus on a high school tour as part of our ongoing relationship,” said Andy Wachtel, CEO of Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital in Sparta, Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital in Smithville and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital in Woodbury. “We appreciate very much Marcus’ focus on the importance of physical activity, healthy eating and making healthy life choices. These are values that are very important both to him and to Saint Thomas Health.”