It’s the pulse that moves through the stands and the rhythm that unites thousands of fans every game day. That beat comes from the Tennessee Titans Drumline, and this season, one of the newest faces driving that energy is Kennan Spencer, a CrossFit enthusiast, lifelong percussionist, and first-year member of the Titans Blue Crew Drumline.
The Maryland native, who moved to Nashville in 2023 to pursue his music career, is now in his rookie season with the Tennessee Titans Blue Crew Drumline, and his story started through social media and fate.
Spencer’s journey with percussion began early, at just seven years old, when he joined his fourth-grade band program in Annapolis, Maryland. That single decision set the foundation for a lifetime of music in his careers’ to come.
He carried that passion through high school and into college, attending the University of Maryland, College Park, where he studied jazz and performed with the university’s renowned marching band, the Mighty Sound of Maryland. There, he balanced performance with the physically demanding work of collegiate bands.
“I love the feeling” Spencer says. “Everyone remembers the drum beat,” Spencer says.
That shared experiences are exactly why drumlines have become an integral part of the NFL experience. While cheerleaders and players often dominate the spotlight, drum lines create the emotional sound that fans respond to without even realizing it.
The transition from college drumline to professional football entertainment wasn’t something he had planned. After moving to Nashville specifically to pursue music as a freelance musician, Spencer stumbled upon the opportunity through social media.
While scrolling one day on TikTok, he noticed a drummer joking around, casually displaying a Tennessee Titans Blue Crew bass drum head in the background. Spencer took notice and immediately felt inspired.
“Wait, do the Titans have a drumline?” he laughingly asked.
They did and auditions were coming up.
Within weeks, Spencer had audition materials in hand, practicing from his home before stepping onto the Nissan Stadium turf.
Candidates weren’t just evaluated on musical ability, but on something equally important: energy.
“They want to know if you can play, obviously,” he explains. “But more than that, can you entertain? Can you smile? Can you hype people up?”
And after a lively audition process, a lifelong drummer found himself on an NFL field.
Spencer says he moved to Nashville to work in music and says this is the perfect way to lend his talents and passions in Music City.
“I moved here for music. This is music. Let’s just add it to the list,” Spencer adds.
Though Spencer grew up surrounded by football culture, split between Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens fandom, joining the Titans marked the first time he fully immersed himself in following an NFL team.
“This is the first year I’m watching every game,” he says. “Home or away. I’m tracking scores, paying attention to everything.”
Now a rookie with the Titans organization, Spencer says the welcome he received exceeded anything he expected.
“It’s been nothing but positive, welcoming and supportive, and that’s kept my motivation up to stay positive and just keep a smile on while working as hard as I do,” Spencer shares. “Everyone on the team is amazing. I definitely want to take time to shout them out,” he adds.
That sense of community is a recurring theme among everyone within Tennessee Titans Entertainment. As previous Nashville Fit features have highlighted, this is a culture built on genuine connection.
Carrying around a large, heavy drum in front of thousands of fans can take immense physical and mental strength. Spencer’s journey in keeping strong and healthy did not start at Nissan Stadium, but instead at CrossFit gyms.
Spencer’s fitness journey began in high school when he enrolled in a strength and conditioning class, motivated by wanting to prove himself. “I was always that skinny, scrawny kid that everyone wrote off,” Spencer says. “If someone needs a heavy box lift, they would never look at me. I’m like, ‘Man, I want people to pick me.’”
Spencer’s CrossFit journey began in high school, not through social media or gym culture, but through a strength and conditioning class taught by his football coach (shoutout Coach Walsh).
CrossFit became less about athletics and more about intentionality and discipline for Spencer. He says CrossFit taught him how to keep focus in school, music and eventually in the NFL.
While in season with the Titans, Spencer has had to pull back with his CrossFit routines, but says he is never stopping.
Currently, Spencer maintains his fitness through many approaches including circuit training, power cleans, and following CrossFit workouts, when equipment is available. Sometimes his CrossFit passion takes him near and far.
He holds a membership at CrossFit Mayhem in Cookeville, Tennessee, about an hour and 20 minutes from Nashville.
Despite the distance, he chose this gym because of its reputation as one of the biggest, most decorated CrossFit gyms in the world.
This gym has even racked up many gold medals in the CrossFit world, and Spencer knew if he was going to continue his CrossFit journey, he would do it right. “I was like, worth the drive. Come out there, learn from the best,” he adds.
He has competition experience from high school, participating in the CrossFit Open, which involves one workout a week for five weeks and serves as qualification for higher-level competitions. He’s also expressed interest in HYROX, noting the CrossFit overlaps in the growing competition.
The Titans organization provides fitness support for their entertainment crew members. Spencer has access to a staff gym in the stadium equipped with basic equipment including treadmills, a Peloton, squat rack, leg press, bench, and dumbbells.
During the summer, the organization provided access to OTE CrossFit near Vanderbilt, where instructors led joint workout sessions for both cheerleaders and drumline members, covering both strength training and conditioning.
Beyond his Titans commitments, Spencer stays active throughout Nashville in various ways. He works out regularly at a TrueFit facility and has discovered local recreational activities like playing pickleball at the Shelby Park Community Center.
For nutrition, Spencer frequently visits Nadine’s in Hermitage, praising their “biscuits, hash browns, eggs” as exactly what he needs.
Spencer emphasizes the welcoming nature of the Titans organization. He credits the entire Tennessee Titans Entertainment family, including the Blue Crew drumline, Titans cheer, and TRAC, for maintaining his motivation through their positive and supportive environment.
Looking ahead, Spencer is committed to continuing with the Titans, “It’s one-hundred percent something that I plan on doing in the future as well,” he shared. As the season nears its end, he’s already anticipating returning to more regular CrossFit training and potentially exploring competition opportunities.
For someone who moved to Nashville to pursue music and discovered an NFL opportunity through a casual TikTok scroll, Spencer’s story represents the serendipitous connections that can happen in Music City when passion meets preparation.
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