Rookie RB D’Onta Foreman wants to shed a few pounds as he acclimates to pros.
Rookie running back working to shed a few more pounds
The initiation of Texans rookie D’Onta Foreman into the fraternity of NFL running backs remains an ongoing process.
Foreman is absorbing knowledge about everything by watching his older colleagues, including veteran starter and Pro Bowl alternate runner Lamar Miller.
Now that the thirdround draft pick from the University of Texas has completed minicamps and organized team activities, he’s intent on putting that information to use when the Texans report for training camp in July at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.
“It was great,” Foreman said during a Tristar Productions autograph show at NRG Arena this past weekend. “I just tried to get out there and learn as much as I can and apply it on the field. Just how to be a pro, being around a lot of pros and watching what they do. You learn from those guys. You try to fit in the best way you can, just trying to learn the playbook.
“I talk to Lamar. I learn a lot from him. He’s more of a lead-by-example person. I just try to take the things away from him that I can apply on the field when I’m out there.”
Listed at 6-0, 233 pounds after playing last season at 249 pounds, Foreman provides a mixture of power and speed. He led the nation with 2,048 rushing yards during his final season with the Longhorns before declaring early for the draft.
Signed to a four-year, $3.259 million contract that included a $759,484 signing bonus, Foreman is still working to get into optimal shape. He’d like to drop a few pounds before training camp.
“One of the things I want to do is try to tighten up a little bit more and lose some more weight and try to go in there the best that I can,” Foreman said. “It’s going good. It’s a lot of time to get out there and make sure we’re doing extra running on weekends and off days. Every day we were off, I was in there running and getting extra conditioning in. I think it’s going good.”
A native of Texas City, Foreman ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and had a 33-inch vertical leap at the Longhorns’ Pro Day workout. He rushed for 15 touchdowns and averaged 184.4 rushing yards per game as a UT senior.
Now that he’s in the NFL, Foreman is determined to make his rookie season count as he adjusts to professional football. He hasn’t been surprised so far by what the NFL is like.
“Right now, I’m just really focused on making the team and getting out there and making sure I contribute,” Foreman said. “I figured it would be like this. I’m very happy to be in Houston. It’s wonderful for me and my family. I’m looking forward to the season.”