Texas Football: 3 forgotten teammates of Vince Young in the NFL

Starting his NFL career with the Titans two years before VY did, former Florida Gators tight end Ben Troupe was a highly touted second round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Troupe began his run in the NFL at the age of 22, and looked good out of the gates. He was productive in his first two years in the league, but it started to dip actually once VY arrived in Nashville.

In his first two years with the Titans, Troupe registered nearly 900 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. His catch percentage during his first two years in the NFL also sat well north of 60. But once VY arrived in Nashville, Troupe’s catch percentage dropped to 44.8 in 2006 and 55.6 in 2007.

Moreover, Troupe also started getting targeted a lot less with VY behind center. He was targeted just 38 times in the passing game in 2006 and 2007 combined. Compare that to more than 80 targets in his first two years in the league, and you notice a discrepancy and permanent change in Troupe’s role with the Titans offense from then on out.

The career of Troupe would actually be over as soon as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let him go once their previously suspended tight end Jerramy Stevens returned in 2008. Troupe played in just two games during the 2008 season, and started in just two the season prior with the Titans.

There were some true bright spots and real promise for Troupe at the outset of his professional football journey, but that promise died out really fast.