The Tennessee Titans bolstered their running backs group with the selection of Hassan Haskins in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
The University of Michigan tailback accumulated 1,327 rushing yards while averaging 4.9 yards per carry, along with 20 touchdowns in 2021.
The Eureka, Missouri native capped off an impressive regular season, accounting for five touchdowns in Michigan’s monumental win against their rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Going from Ann Arbor to Nashville, Haskins will now be coached by former Buckeye Mike Vrabel.
While noting that he officially met with just three teams, he did have Zoom calls with several others, but says he had the best connection with Titans running backs coach, Tony Dews.
“I talked to [the Titans] a couple of times,” Haskins said to reporters of the draft process. “I just felt a good connection with the running backs coach, and whoever I talked to during the process. Ohio State was a big rivalry, but now, I’m just here to play. I’m ready to rock and ready to work. Just ready.”
Haskins comes into the organization at a pivotal juncture.
After Derrick Henry was lost for the majority of the 2021 regular season with a foot injury, the Titans turned to Adrian Peterson, D’Onta Foreman, and Dontrell Hilliard to carry the load.
With only the latter returning next season, Tennessee added both depth at the position and potentially Henry’s successor. Haskins noted that he grew up modeling his game after Peterson, but he couldn’t be more thrilled about learning under Henry’s tutelage.
“Man, it’s a blessing,” he said. “He’s one of the best. I’m gonna learn and get better with him. I just feel like it’s going to be a good combination. We’re going to see.”
Henry was on pace to set a career-high in receptions last season, but Haskins’ ability to catch passes out of the backfield could see him inserted into a role sooner than expected.
In 2021, he hauled in 24 receptions for 171 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per catch. Haskins is more known as a between-the-tackles, downhill runner rather than a pass-catcher, but feels he’s “pretty good” in that area.
“I don’t drop too many passes, and when I get the opportunity, I’m going to make something happen. I’m pretty good at pass-catching,” a confident Haskins said.
Coming into the Titans’ system, Haskins will be asked to be an effective pass-blocker if he wants to play on third downs. Asked whether he was capable of doing so, he was quick to respond.
“Ever since I’ve been playing in college, that was one of the biggest things that my coaches taught me [was to pass block],” he concluded. “And I always kept that to heart, and I will always be a good pass blocker.”
We’ll get our first look at Hassan Haskins when the Titans’ rookie minicamp opens on May 13.