It doesn't take long to realize the kind of player the Tennessee Titans selected with the 22nd pick in the 2021NFL Drafton Thursday.
Caleb Farley isn't interested in talking about the injuries he hassuffered, including histwo back surgeries and a knee injury before college. His recent positive COVID-19 test result is of no mind, andhis decision to opt out of the 2020 college football season at Virginia Tech has already been discussed ad nauseam.
Farley is a Titan. And that's enough for him.
Would have been enough for his late mother, too.
"I was telling my mother I was going to be a first-round draft pick when I was like 7 years old," he said. "I hope she's smiling down on me from the sky."
Any physical obstacles Farley hasfaced through footballpale in comparisonto the loss of his mother, Robin, to breast cancer in 2018.
The memories ofconversations he had with her as a child are still fresh, and his thoughts drifted to her when the Hickory, North Carolina, native heard his name called Thursday.
"She always believed in me," he said.
ESTES:Caleb Farley a risk when Tennessee Titans needed a sure thing
WILL CALEB FARLEY MISS TRAINING CAMP?:'I rebuke that in the name of Jesus'
DAY 2 TARGETS:These 10 players make sense for Titans in Rounds 2-3
Robin was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and endured two years of chemotherapy and radiation. For a while it looked like she had beatenthe disease. But the cancer returned aggressively and invaded her bones.
"After some time it started to wear on her," Caleb's father, Robert Farley, told The Tennessean. "I think Caleb accepted what happened because he knew that his mother had faithfully lived the life she wanted to live. She didn't die in regret."
Robin died without seeing her son play college football.
She attended every game from the time he began playing little league at 7 through his high school career at Maiden High School in North Carolina,where he starred as a quarterback.
Caleb tore theACL and MCL ligaments in one of his knees prior to arriving at Virginia Tech in 2017. He tooka redshirt his first year on campus, and was moved to wide receiver. Months later, in January 2018, Robin died with her family, including Caleb, by her side.
"He never once thought about not playing football after his mother's death," Robert said. "He's always been committed to it. His mom encouraged that commitment. I mean it was difficult on all of us and it took some time to adjust but Caleb pours himself into football. He loves it that much."
Football is Caleb's love, but family has been the foundation. It's the reason why he decided to opt out last falldespite coming off a 2019 year in which heled the ACC in passes defended (16) and finished with four interceptions as a converted cornerback.
It was a risky move. He was the first high-profile college football player to make that decision, andsome questioned whether it would hurt his rising draft stock.
"Yeah, it's just frustrating," Farley said about having to answer questions about his health. "Itgets to the point where you want a team to draft you, that believes in you, and if you don't believe in me, then play against me."
"Caleb opted out because of his concern with COVID," Robert said. "It was as simple as that. It had nothing to do with his injuries. He wasn't hurt.You have to understand, we were still learning about the short- and long-term effects of this virus. He didn't want to risk his health or possibly thehealth of his family members."
Caleb maintained astrength and conditioning schedule last fall. Despite not seeing the field in 2020,his instincts and ability in man coverage were enough to convince NFL scouts. The Titans felthis 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame and athletic skillset at cornerback— a position of need—weretoo good to pass up.
"He's long and I think (man coverage) is something they did a lot of at Virginia Tech," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. "Those guys were manned up outside without a whole lot of help. He's coming from a very aggressive scheme that puts a lot of pressure on those guys on the outside."
Farley was invited to attend the draft in Cleveland on Thursday, but a positive COVID-19 test result earlier in the week prevented him from attending.
Farley was tested again Thursday and that result cameback negative, he said. But the questions about his health remain. And so will the memories of his late mother, and the motivation she gave him to overcome any obstacles en route to the NFL.
"When coach called me to tell me I was going to be a Tennessee Titans, the first thing out of my mouth was 'When can I get the playbook?'," Caleb said. "I'm extremely excited to get back on the field and rep these colors."
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.
