METAIRIE, La. -- Corey Fuller knows full well that they don’t hand out MVP awards three days into training camp.
But the New Orleans Saints receiver also experienced enough highs and lows during his first four years with the Detroit Lions to appreciate the value of a fast start.
“It’s (only) Day 3. The first day in pads. But I do feel good,” said Fuller, who might be off to the fastest start of anyone in Saints camp, adding a few more highlights Saturday, including a one-handed catch on a deep ball behind cornerback Delvin Breaux in one-on-one drills.
“I mean, it builds confidence. So I think for me it’s just continue to be consistent, that’s the biggest thing," Fuller said. "I learned a few years ago, once you have self-confidence then really nobody can stop you.
"So now it’s just, 'I’m good enough to compete in this league, so why not go and do it?'”
Fuller (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) showed potential in Detroit, but he never locked down a full-time gig. He was red-shirted as a rookie sixth-round draft pick in 2013. Then he had his best season with 14 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown (which came against the Saints) in 2014 before fading down the depth chart in 2015 and suffering a summer foot injury in 2016.
The Saints signed him off of Detroit’s practice squad late last season, but he didn’t appear in a game.
When asked what held him back in Detroit, Fuller said it was probably a combination of opportunity and performance.
“When I first came in, I think I had too much respect. Like, I (was) still trying to learn, ‘I want to learn, I want to learn.’ And I did that. But I never transitioned to just, ‘OK, I’m good enough to just compete,'" said Fuller, 27, who was a bit of a late bloomer as a football player since he began his college career as a track standout at Kansas.
Two years into his track career, he wanted to start playing football because he said he saw how much success his brothers were having. But he had to transfer schools to get that opportunity.
So he went to Virginia Tech, a.k.a., the Fuller Football Factory.
Fuller’s older brother, Vincent, played defensive back in the NFL for seven years with the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions. Younger brother Kyle plays cornerback for the Chicago Bears after being drafted in the first round in 2014. And younger brother Kendall was drafted as a cornerback by the Washington Redskins in the third round last year. All of them played at Virginia Tech.
When asked if he feels a lot of pressure growing up in a family like that, Fuller let out a loud, “Pssshhhh.”
“From each other,” Fuller said. “I mean, I can go out here and you guys might think I did good. They’ll find the littlest thing and call me up, ‘What is this? What are you doing?’ And it’s vice versa.”
Fuller's most impressive trait so far this summer has been his speed, which is a bit deceptive for his size.
To make the Saints roster, Fuller will likely have to unseat Brandon Coleman as the No. 4 receiver or prove himself invaluable on special teams.
It’s possible he could surpass Coleman if he continues his impressive summer, especially if he shows the ability to be an effective blocker. But then again, Coleman has had a nice start to camp, as well.
“I tell you what, that guy is making plays right now,” Saints quarterback Chase Daniel said of Fuller. “He’d be the first to tell you it’s just Day 1 in pads, but he’s making plays when he gets the opportunities, and that’s the big thing in this league.
“When your opportunity comes, no matter what the situation is, you have to be ready. And he’s making plays right now.”