Locker Set to Make First Career Start

Jake Locker is scheduled to make his first career start at quarterback on Sunday against the Patriots. The eighth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft was one of 37 quarterbacks chosen in the first round between 1999 and 2011.

Of the other 36 players:

• 14 won their first start
• 28 made their first start in their rookie season
• 5 made their first start in their second season
• 3 made their first start in their third or fourth seasons
• 12 passed for two or three touchdowns in their first start

Locker will also become the fourth Titans/Oilers quarterback to be drafted in the first round by the organization and start a game for the team. He joins Dan Pastorini (1971 draft pick), Steve McNair (1995) and Vince Young (2006). Jim Everett was also selected by the Oilers in the first round but never played for the team.

In four preseason games, Locker was 31-of-60 passing for 316 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 71.3. His best game came against Arizona when he completed 11-of-20 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns, a 10-yard pass to Kendall Wright and a 28-yard strike to Nate Washington.

In limited action as a rookie, Locker passed for 542 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, while adding a rushing TD. His 282-yard passing performance vs. New Orleans was the second-highest in franchise history by a rookie signal-caller and the highest since 1960.