Rooting interest develops in players
After my colleague, Aaron Wilson, and I filed our 12th and final mock draft this week and also turned in another mock on the Texans’ seven-round projection, I thought about some interesting prospects I’d like to see them select on Friday and Saturday.
Unless Bill O’Brien trades into the first round, which I believe is doubtful, the Texans won’t make a pick on Thursday, the first night of the draft. But I expect Trader Bill to be active on the second (second and third rounds) and third days (fourth through seventh rounds).
Beginning with the second round, 40th overall, the Texans have seven draft choices. For one reason or another, I’ve developed some interest in a lot of prospects who are eligible for this draft. I think I’d enjoy covering them with the Texans, and I think you’d enjoy watching them play.
Some are local, some aren’t. With the draft two days away, this is a good time for me to tell you about them, and perhaps you’ll see why I’m interested.
Let’s begin with what I believe is the Texans’ biggest need, an interior defensive lineman, someone who can play end in the three-man front and tackle in a four-man front. He’ll have to push the pocket and get pressure on the quarterback.
I don’t think TCU’s Ross Blacklock, who grew up in Missouri City, will be available when the Texans pick. He’s projected to go in the bottom half of the first round. But he fits what they need. Blacklock has talent and character and is the kind of “good teammate” O’Brien always talks about.
I watched Blacklock’s father, Jimmy Blacklock, play guard for the University of Texas basketball team. He was an outstanding player who tormented Baylor. At the combine, I did an in-depth story on his son. I was impressed with his interview, and now I’m intrigued about where he’s going to play and how he develops.
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who grew up in The Woodlands, would make a terrific free safety for the Texans. He’s only 5-9, 203, but his father, Antoine Sr., was undersized, but that didn’t keep him from a 14year career.
Junior ran a 4.45 at the combine. He’s smart and tough and has great instincts and awareness. He reminds me of two smaller safeties, Earl Thomas (Texas) and Tyrann Mathieu (LSU), when they were preparing for the NFL.
I’ve been fascinated with Vanderbilt running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn since the 2018 Texas Bowl. Baylor defeated Vanderbilt 45-38 at NRG Stadium, where Vaughn ran 13 times for 243 yards and two touchdowns. That’s an 8.7-yard average. He scored on runs of 68 and 69 yards.
During that junior season, Vaughn averaged 7.9 yards a carry and 8.3 yards from scrimmage. He returned for his senior year and reached 1,000 yards but wasn’t able to duplicate his extraordinary junior year. The Texans need another running back, and Vaughn’s not highly rated. Maybe they can get him in a lower round.
Perhaps the most versatile prospect in the draft is Memphis receiver Antonio Gibson. A oneyear wonder as a senior, Gibson caught 38 passes for 735 yards (19.3 average) and eight touchdowns. He also ran 33 times for 369 yards and four touchdowns. That’s 11.2 yards per carry. And he averaged 28 yards on kickoff returns.
Gibson is the best receiver at getting yards after the catch because he’s a former running back who’s 6-0, 228 and ran a 4.39 at the combine. Talk about speed and versatility — wouldn’t you like to see Gibson in a Texans uniform?
At some point, I think O’Brien will draft a cornerback. I’ve been intrigued by Utah’s Javelin Guidry since the combine. His name first got my attention.
Guidry should be a low pick, or maybe he’ll be a priority free agent, but he showed two eyeopening things at the combine — speed and strength.
Guidry, 5-9, 191, ran a 4.29, and he benched 225 pounds 21 times. A lot of linemen couldn’t reach 21 reps. Obviously, Guidry needs a lot of work on his coverage skills or he’d be rated higher, but there’s no cornerback prospect with his combination of speed and strength. It should be fun to watch him develop.
And, finally, everyone should pull for Louisiana-Lafayette offensive tackle Robert Hunt. He’s 6-5, 323 and also plays guard. I saw a feature on Hunt in which he described growing up in East Texas in tiny Burkeville.
Hunt has an engaging personality, a big smile and credits God for everything he’s been able to achieve. The Hunt family was so poor they resided in a trailer with rats and holes in the floor not knowing if there would be food on their table. When they were finally able to move into a house, it burned to the ground, and they lost everything.
At the combine, Hunt told us his high school was so small they sometimes had to play with 14 players. They won only two games in his career. His dad took some odd jobs to help him get close enough to the $30 it would cost to attend a Louisiana-Lafayette tryout camp.
The University of Houston was the only other school interested in Hunt. He said the Cougars’ coaching staff turnover helped him decide on Louisiana-Layfette. His team finished 11-3 last season and won a bowl game.
Hunt is projected to go in the second round. How can you not pull for a player like him?