Buoyed by lessons from his dad, CB A.J. Bouye is aiming for his best season yet.
The authoritative voice inside A.J. Bouye’s head comes from his toughest critic, the stern man and retired corrections officer once responsible for guarding hardened criminals at the federal prison in Atlanta.
When the Texans cornerback’s mother died when he was a child, it was left to Steve Bouye to raise his son and impart knowledge about how to be a man.
A youth sports coach in his spare time who played football growing up in Waco, Steve Bouye was responsible for guarding and transporting celebrity criminals ranging from infamous Mafia figures John Gotti and John Gotti Jr. and Nicky Scarfo to rapper T.I. and former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.
“I saw a lot of things at the prison as far as individuals who traveled down the wrong path, and I had to use tough love on A.J.,” Steve Bouye said in a telephone interview. “We would argue a lot because I’m harder on him than anybody. I don’t sugarcoat it. I tell it like it is. I’ll tell him, ‘You looked terrible out there.’ I’m a lot like my father. I love A.J. and I’m not going to sit back and not tell him the truth.
“I told him to treat every play like it’s your last and ask yourself one thing: ‘Did you win or did you lose?’ There’s no in between. I’ve known what this kid could do all along. He’s taking in what I’ve been preaching. The light finally came on.”
Fueled by family
For the younger Bouye, motivation provided by his family and his burgeoning football skills have propelled him into his strongest training camp and offseason since joining the Texans as an undrafted free agent from Central Florida four years ago.
Stronger in his upper body and confident in his coverage techniques, Bouye (6-0, 191) has adeptly shadowed wide receivers, including Pro Bowl selection DeAndre Hopkins. He’s regularly disrupted passing lanes and intercepted passes. The 24-yearold’s development gives the Texans enviable depth behind starters Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson and third corner Kevin Johnson.
His father’s words along with his smiling 15-monthold daughter, Zoe, are never far from Bouye’s mind.
“It fuels me a lot, man,” A.J. Bouye said. “I had my stepmom come into my life, but my dad did the hardest job as a correctional officer. He set an example. Just him not being able to work anymore, I got a lot on my shoulders to make sure I take care of him and always be there for my daughter.
“I want her to look up to me. She’s my heart. She motivates me. She keeps me smiling. I have a lot of respect for fathers and mothers because raising a daughter is hard, but you learn so much about life. Just taking care of my dad and my daughter, just making them proud.”
Confidence is key
Bouye started twice and played in 15 games for the AFC South champions last season.
Bouye operated as the fourth cornerback and had 15 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defended. Although he was productive, Bouye got picked on occasionally and has vowed it will be different this fall. He has no intentions of backing down to any receiver regardless of their NFL status.
“I believe I’m a lot more confident,” Bouye said. “I got beat a lot and I was just worried about what people said, but I can’t let that get to me.
“You come in and you think you know it all. You have a lot of humbling moments. At the time, I was down but I appreciate certain times I got beat, as much as I don’t want to, because I learned from it.”
After briefly discussing a long-term deal with the Texans before being assigned a $1.671 million restricted free-agent tender, Bouye upgraded his game and impressed the coaching staff and teammates.
“A.J. is one of the most improved players on our defense from the offseason program to where he is now,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s had a really good training camp. Very competitive guy, very focused guy. He’s really done a lot of things to make himself better.”
Bouye bulked up his upper body and gained roughly 10 pounds working with Texans strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald. He’s capable of jamming bigger wide receivers at the line of scrimmage while maintaining his speed.
“Definitely, I went home and worked out a lot,” Bouye said. “I know I’m going up against big receivers. I feel I can lift with any of them and I got the same strength.”
Entering his fourth NFL season, Bouye has played in 35 games for the Texans with eight career starts. He has 68 career tackles, five interceptions and 16 passes defended as a valuable reserve.
Now, Bouye is entering a contract year and intent on proving himself to the Texans and the NFL. And the message from his father never leaves him.
“I’ve been pushing him and having him do footwork drills since he was old enough to walk,” Steve Bouye said. “I believe in God, and I have faith in A.J. I know he’s ready. I feel like this will be his best season ever.”