AYOMANOR IS EATING: Why Titans' Second-Year WR Is Terrorizing Training Camp

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans loaded up at receiver this offseason. Wan'Dale Robinson got a $78 million bag. Carnell Tate got drafted fourth overall. Nobody told Elic Ayomanor to step aside.

Instead, the second-year wideout is out here making training camp his personal highlight reel. On the first padded practice, Mitchell Trubisky chucked a 40-yard bomb downfield. Ayomanor ran under it, hauled it in for a touchdown, and let out a roar. That's the energy. That's the whole point.

More Than Just Hype

Ayomanor wasn't satisfied with a rookie year that saw him post 41 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns — tied with Chimere Dike for the team lead. So he went to Atlanta to train with receiver coach Drew Lieberman, putting in two-plus hours of route-running per day alongside K.J. Osborn and Wan'Dale Robinson.

The result? A frame that still checks in at 206 pounds, but with body fat slashed from 11% to 6.5%. More importantly, a mindset built on aggression and forward lean in every single route.

"Body language even subconsciously has a lot to do with how you attack each rep," Ayomanor told ESPN. "It all starts with the mindset and the body language."

Standing Out In A Crowded Room

Calvin Ridley is back. Osborn and Bryce Oliver are in the mix. But it's Ayomanor who keeps making plays over and over again in camp — back-shoulder snags, contested catches, tough grabs over the middle. Trubisky has noticed.

"I love his body language. He brings that juice and energy for our offense. He's just a mismatch problem for a lot of DBs," Trubisky said.

Ridley put it even simpler: "Elic is a star. The kid's a stud."

It hasn't all been smooth. Ayomanor briefly left practice after colliding with safety Kevin Winston Jr. in the end zone, but he returned for Friday's scrimmage and was a full participant Sunday.

The Next Step: Consistency

New coach Robert Saleh sees the preparation. But he's also throwing the challenge down: "Everyone can do it once. The great ones can do it multiple times over time."

Ayomanor knows the knock. He caught just 13 of 31 targets over the final six games last season. That's the gap between flash and star. He says he's focused on making a difference every single time he steps on the field.

Next up: a return to the Bay Area for a joint practice with the 49ers, followed by the preseason opener at Levi's Stadium. Saleh's old squad. New message to send.

"I'm excited to go back there and put in some work," Ayomanor said. "We need to go send a message."