Watt wants to follow in his brothers’ footsteps

Most prospects at the NFL combine are hoping to make a name for themselves.

Not. T.J. Watt, who is set to join brothers J.J., the Texans superstar defensive end returning from back surgery , and Derek, a Chargers fullback coming off a solid rookie season.

Although T.J., 22, is closer to Derek, 24, the former Wisconsin Badgers outside linebacker wants to be just like his biggest brother, who is five years older.

“Early on when J.J. first started blowing up, I didn’t know how to handle it, but now definitely I love it,” T.J. said. “My brother is the best defensive player to ever play the game, in my opinion. When you play the sport of football and you have the person as your role model a phone call, a text away, it’s special. And he does it so well and so right. I’m just trying to replicate what he does.”

J.J. loaded up T.J. with advice heading into the combine, where Watt showed off his skills Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“The biggest piece of advice I got from J.J. is just to be yourself, don’t overthink things,” T.J. said. “Just be yourself, relax and you show people who you really are.”

At six-foot-four and 238 pounds, T.J. gives away an inch and 51 pounds to J.J., but he is bigger than Derek, who is sixfoot-two, 234.

Like his brothers, grinder.

“What I bring is just my work ethic,” T.J. said. “I know it’s a cliche, but I do have a motor that’s nonstop. I’m just always going after the ball. I’m always going to give a team everything that I have.”

T.J. was a tight end up until 2015, when he converted to linebacker.

“Playing offence most of my life, reacting to different plays and dropping into coverage was new to me,” T.J. said. “But at this point in my game I’m pretty good at everything I do.”

In his only season as a starter last year, he parlayed a big game against LSU in the opener into an excellent junior year that included 11 and a half sacks, 15 and a half tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

That was enough to convince him he was he ready to join his brothers in the NFL, so he put his education on hold. he’s a