Butler grad Turzilli brings big plays from Rutgers to Titans

As part of a commitment to surround their new quarterback, No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick Marcus Mariota, with the proper weapons, the Tennessee Titans were looking to collect big-play wide receivers.

Enter Andrew Turzilli and his 34.7 yards per reception as a redshirt senior at Rutgers to catch deep passes from the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner.

"Looking at the roster and looking at the opportunity, I thought it was the right fit," Turzilli said. "I felt good knowing they drafted Marcus Mariota early. I'm going to try and make the most of it. I'm not satisfied by any means. I'm going to go in there and try and prove my worth and make some noise."

Turzilli was plenty loud in one season as a graduate transfer at Rutgers after spending three at Kansas, the only FBS school to offer him a scholarship out of tiny Butler High School. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder made 10 catches for 347 yards and four touchdowns, including two covering at least 80 yards.

The Titans drafted wide receivers Dorial Green-Beckham and Tre McBride in the second and seventh rounds, respectively, and added Turzilli and Deon Long in free agency. So how can Turzilli stand out?

"I think showing that I have big-play capability and I can contribute on special teams," he said. "I can come in and learn the playbook really quickly and I'm a smart football player. Just being coachable, transferring over to the NFL the things I learned at Rutgers and Kansas from a bunch of great coaches."

Turzilli made a splash at Rutgers Pro Day despite battling hamstring tightness, an issue that cost him two games last season. He ran the fastest times on the team in the 40-yard dash (4.44) and the three-cone drill (6.89) and finished second in the 20-yard shuttle (4.05).

"I spoke to one of the Titans scouts at my Pro Day, just briefly," Turzilli said. "He stayed in close contact with me and my agent. (Saturday) around 10 a.m. the receivers coach for the Titans gave me a call and said they were going to try and draft me in the seventh round, but if not they wanted me to come aboard as a free agent. Right there, I knew I had that offer in place."

Turzilli said he plans to fly next Sunday to Tennessee, where he will be united with Rutgers star and Titans cornerback Jason McCourty.

"In my first year at school, guys told me you have the talent, you just have to perform and continue to work hard and get better," Turzilli said. "It just took a while to get adjusted to the game. I just had to get an opportunity – which is why I transferred to Rutgers – and show that I could make big plays, and I did that for the most part."

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleav@gannettnj.com