Team

6’6” • 309 lbs. • Born: 7.31.86 • Tulane • D4b – 2009 • 135th Overall • Archbishop Rummel H.S. • Metairie, La.

COLLEGE: Troy Kropog is a quick, agile offensive lineman that possesses good size and an outstanding work ethic. The 6-foot-6-inch, 309-pounder has the ability to play both tackle and guard in the NFL and will compete for a reserve role with the Titans in training camp. A three-year starter at left tackle for the Green Wave, Kropog started 36 career games and his blocking consistency grade of 84.9 percent as a starter was the best of any down lineman in the Conference USA ranks during his career. He served as a team captain as a senior and led all Conference USA offensive linemen with 14 touchdown-resulting blocks and an 87.3 percent grade for blocking consistency. As a junior in 2007, Kropog helped pave the way for current Chicago Bears running back Matthew Forté when he post more than 2,000 rushing yards. The Metairie, La., native was selected by the Titans in the fourth round (135th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

TITANS TIDBITS:

• Kropog is a long-time friend of current Chicago Bears safety Craig Steltz. The two of them grew up playing football together from the age of 10 until they went their separate ways to college.

• Kropog is familiar with the Nashville area having spent two months prior to the NFL Combine at D1 Sports Training in Franklin, Tenn.

• Kropog and his family used to vacation in Gatlinburg, Tenn., during his childhood. His family was introduced to the area when he 11 years old, after Kropog played in a youth all-star game during Thanksgiving weekend. The family enjoyed the area so much that they made Gatlinburg an annual destination spot for the next five to six years.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• AS A SENIOR (2008), named second-team All-American and first-team All-Conference USA by The NFL Draft Report. Also received second-team Conference USA midseason accolades from The Sporting News. One of the team's offensive captains, he started all 12 games at left tackle and led the conference with an 87.33 percent grade for blocking consistency while also pacing the league with 14 touchdown resulting blocks.

• What makes his 14 touchdown-resulting blocks even more impressive is the fact that the Green Wave scored only 24 touchdowns in 2008 (responsible for 58.33 percent of those scores). Only Eugene Monroe of Virginia (69.57 percent; 16 of 23 touchdowns) registered a better percentage of touchdown-resulting blocks for their team among the nation's offensive linemen.

• Allowed just two sacks and no pressures on 409 pass plays while helping the Green Wave offense average 339.7 yards of total offense per game.

• Produced a league season-record four games with grades of at least 90 percent, topping the old annual record of three that was first set in 1997 by Houston center Ben Fricke.

• AS A JUNIOR (2007), named an All-Conference USA second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and earned honorable mention from the league's media and coaches. Started 10 games at left tackle, sitting out the Alabama-Birmingham clash with a shoulder sprain and coming off the bench against Rice as the team opened with two tight ends and four down linemen.

• Registered 89 knockdowns, producing 15 blocks down field and 18 other blocks that resulted in Green Wave touchdowns, grading 87.18 percent for blocking consistency.

• Part of an offense that ranked 20th in the nation, averaging 201 yards per game on the ground and helped open holes so that the running attack generated 1,619 of its 2,412 yards over the left side of the line.

• AS A SOPHOMORE (2006), took over left tackle duties, starting all 12 games. Was a part of a unit that saw the offense average 338.7 yards per game.

• Delivered 73 individual knockdowns, including six touchdown resulting blocks and eight blocks down field.

• Led all Green Wave down linemen with a 78.83 percent grade for blocking consistency.

• AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2005), appeared in the team's first eight games, playing mostly as a reserve left offensive tackle. Was pressed into starting duty on the right side against Houston and Marshall. Did not play in the Rice, Tulsa and Southern Mississippi games, but saw considerable action with the first unit in the Southern Methodist and Southeastern Louisiana contests.

• Finished with 28 knockdowns and three touchdown-resulting blocks while participating in 304 plays.

• Against Houston, recorded an assisted tackle during a brief appearance on defense.

• AS A FRESHMAN (2004), was redshirted for the season and saw action on the scout team.

• Originally joined the team as a 260-pound freshman, but added over 25 pounds to his frame in the offseason prior to the 2005 campaign.

• Majored in humanities at Tulane.

PERSONAL:

• Single, splits time between Nashville and Metairie, La.

• Attended Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) High School and was a two-year starter at left tackle.

• Member of the prestigious Clarion-Herald Elite Catholic Schools squad, adding All-District 10 first-team honors as a senior. Led the team to the 2003 Class 5A District 10 championship and a

berth in the state quarterfinals.

• In 2002, he helped Rummel advance to the state semifinals after taking the district crown. The team also captured the district title in 2001.

• In addition to football, he also lettered in track, where he was a state finalist in the shot put his junior year after winning the district title and finishing second in the regionals.

• Selected as a two-time Beta Honor Roll recipient and was a member of the 2003 All-State Academic squad. Listed in the "Who's Who Among American High School Students" for 2002-03.

• List of favorites: (movie) “Big Trouble in Little China”; (TV show) “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”; (actor) Kurt Russell; (music artist/group) Rise Against; (school subject) literature; (car) Ford Shelby GT 500; (author) Orson Scott Card; (video game) SOCOM; (sports hero) discus thrower Brain “The Big O” Oldfield; and (food) steak.

• Born Troy Michael Kropog on July 31, 1986 in Metairie, La.