Rennie Flomo Curran Jr. life and biography

PRO: The Titans used a third-round draft choice in 2010 on one of the Southeastern Conference’s top linebackers, former Georgia Bulldog Rennie Curran. An undersized and explosive player, Curran led the conference in tackles before entering the NFL with a year of college eligibility remaining. He has the opportunity as a rookie to become a key special teams performer and contend for playing time at linebacker.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Curran led his team in tackles in both of his final two seasons at Georgia, becoming the first Bulldog since 1996-97 (Greg Bright) to record at least 100 tackles in back-to-back campaigns.
• Despite playing only three seasons at Georgia, Curran ranked 16th in school history with 298 career tackles.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Curran is proud of his rich Liberian heritage. His middle name, Flomo, means “protector” or “provider” and has been passed down for three generations in his family. His parents, Rennie and Josie, came to the United States from Liberia in the 1980s and stayed when civil war broke out in their West African homeland. His mother earned her master’s degree in nursing, and his father started a shoe repair business. Together, they used half of their income to support family members in Liberia and to bring many to the United States. Rennie Jr.’s great-grandfather was a tribal chief in Liberia and had 25 children, and his grandfather, Arthur Kulah, is a nationally-recognized church bishop who played an important role in the country’s peace efforts during the 14-year war. Rennie Jr., who has never been to Liberia, hopes to soon earn enough money to take his entire family back to the country to visit.
• Since Curran was a junior in high school, former Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Tuggle has served as one of his mentors. Curran attended a football camp spearheaded by members of the Falcons, including Tuggle, an undersized former undrafted free agent who saw himself in Curran. The two have stayed in touch ever since then.
• Curran is a talented musician. He learned the drums, piano and viola in his youth, playing at his church and in his high school orchestra. He also now considers himself a budding music producer.
• He has earned a few nicknames from friends and teammates through the years, including Rock Man, Meatball and Liberian Dream.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Snellville, Ga., native was selected by the Titans with their second pick in the third round (97th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE:
• In three seasons, Curran played in 37 games at Georgia with 30 starts at weakside outside linebacker, including starts in his final 29 consecutive games. He left the college ranked 16th in school history with 298 career tackles, and he was the 10th player in school history to lead the team in tackles more than once in a career. With 115 tackles as a sophomore and 130 stops as a junior, he became the first Bulldog since 1996-97 (Greg Bright) to record back-to-back 100-plus tackle seasons. He added 6.5 sacks, 24 stops for losses, 34 quarterback pressures, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

AS A JUNIOR (2009), was a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and was named first-team All-SEC by Associated Press and the SEC coaches. Also earned team’s Vince Dooley MVP Award. In 13 games (12 starts), recorded SEC-leading 130 tackles and added five tackles for loss, a half sack, 10 quarterback pressures and three pass break-ups. Led or tied for team lead in tackles 11 different times. Registered 16 tackles inside the red zone, including seven on goalline plays.
• Against No. 4 LSU (10/3), set a new career high with 16 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack.
• Notched 15-tackle games against South Carolina (9/12) and No. 7 Georgia Tech (11/28).

AS A SOPHOMORE (2008), was a Butkus Award finalist and was named first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches and second-team All-SEC by Associated Press. Also earned the team’s Defensive MVP Award. Honored as the Collegiate Athlete of the Year by the Allied Athlete Group Foundation in Atlanta. Started all 13 games and led the team with 115 tackles, including a team-leading 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. Led the squad in tackles nine different times.
• Notched 14-tackle games against No. 8 Alabama (9/27) and at No. 11 LSU (10/25).
• At Kentucky (11/8), set a then-career high with 15 tackles.

AS A FRESHMAN (2007), appeared in 11 games (five starts) and recorded 53 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. Named first-team Freshman All-American by Rivals.com, second-team Freshman All-American by Scout.com and Honorable Mention by The Sporting News.
• Against Troy (11/3), posted five tackles and his first career sack.
• Against Kentucky (11/17), named SEC Freshman of the Week after leading team with season-high 13 tackles.
• Against Hawaii in Sugar Bowl (1/1/08), registered seven tackles and a pair of sacks in 41-10 victory.
• Majored in business management.

PERSONAL:

• Splits time between Nashville and Snellville, Ga., with a daughter, Eleana.
• At Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.) High School, was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100 and Class 5A First Team, Georgia Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Team, SuperPrep All-American and All-Dixie Team. As a junior, was named Gwinnett County Linebacker of the Year. Played fullback in addition to linebacker.
• Also spent one season on wrestling team and two seasons on track team in high school.
• Follow Curran on Twitter at @liberiandream35.
• List of favorites: (movie) “The Matrix”; (TV show) “Chappelle’s Show”; (actor) Denzel Washington; (music artist) Pharrell Williams; (school subjects) social studies and history; (car) Dodge Challenger; (book) “The Purpose Driven Life”; (food) jollof rice; (sports hero) Michael Vick; and (sports teams as a child) Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons.
• Born Rennie Flomo Curran Jr. on Nov. 10, 1988 in Atlanta, Ga.

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