Wilsons heading to Ohio; Eagles land Greg Ward Jr.
They share the same last name, although not related, and spent the past few years together in the University of Houston secondary.
Now Howard Wilson and Brandon Wilson will call Ohio home.
The Cleveland Browns selected Howard Wilson, a cornerback who opted to skip his final two seasons, in the fourth round of Saturday’s NFL draft. Almost four hours later, the Cincinnati Bengals picked Brandon Wilson, who excelled at cornerback, special teams and even in the backfield, in the sixth round.
“This is the greatest day of my life,” Howard Wilson said after being taken with the 126th overall pick. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.”
Howard Wilson banked that one breakout season would turn into a lifelong dream.
Coming back from a severe knee injury, he was UH’s top defensive back last season when he was an All-American Athletic Conference first-team selection with career-high five interceptions and nine pass breakups.
The Browns traded two fifth-round picks, Nos. 145 and 175, to move back into the fourth round to take Wilson.
“That’s love right there, man, that’s love,” Wilson said on a conference call with Cleveland reporters.
Brandon Wilson, a versatile playmaker for the Cougars, was taken with the 207th overall pick. But it was at UH’s pro day in late March that Wilson wowed scouts, running 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 41-inch vertical, which both would have ranked among the best among his position group had he been invited to the NFL combine.
“It’s a great feeling,” Brandon Wilson said. “I can’t explain how I feel. It’s a blessing.”
While Brandon Wilson delivered one of the most memorable plays for UH in 2016 — a 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown off a missed field goal in the season opening upset of Oklahoma — he was bothered by an ankle injury.
The Bengals project him to compete for playing time at nickel corner, safety and on kick returns. He will join a secondary that includes former UH player William Jackson III, the Bengals’ firstround selection a year ago.
“He tested off the charts,” Bengals secondary coach Kevin Coyle said. “This guy should’ve been at the combine.”
Ward agrees to join Eagles
Quarterback-turnedwide receiver Greg Ward Jr. has agreed to join the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity,” Ward said “I feel like I fit in well with their scheme, their style of play. Just weighing all my options, I felt like it was the best choice for me.”
Ward ended his collegiate career as one of the most decorated in UH history, finishing fourth with 8,705 passing yards and fifth with 52 touchdown passes. His 39 rushing touchdowns tied a school record and his 2,375 yards rank tenth all-time. Ward finished third in total offense behind Case Keenum and Kevin Kolb.
“It was a dream come true,” Ward said. “I’m just thankful to be on an NFL team, to be in the locker room and wear that helmet.”
Odds and ends
Cameron Malveaux, a mainstay on the defensive line the past two seasons, has agreed to join the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. Malveaux had 16 tackles for loss his last two seasons . ... The 49ers agreed to terms with undrafted free agent tight end Tyler McCloskey.