Green staying home with Texans
COLLEGE STATION — Offensive lineman Kenyon Green was happily prepared to pack his bags for anywhere in the country to play football. Turns out his destination is a conversation away from his hometown of Atascocita — a delightful conversation.
The Texans selected Green, who developed into a first-round selection at Texas A&M, with the No. 15 overall pick of the NFL draft on Thursday night.
“This is a blessing, staying in Houston,” Green said. “I’m a hometown kid, so we’re going from (here). I’m ready to work. I know where my (NFL) roots are now, so it’s time to work.”
Green, one of fifth-year coach Jimbo Fisher’s first five-star recruits at A&M, is the first Aggies player selected in the first round since 2017. Five years ago defensive end Myles Garrett became A&M’s first No. 1 overall selection in program history.
Green was the fourth offensive lineman and the first guard taken in the draft, following North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu (sixth to Carolina), Alabama tackle Evan Neal (seventh to New York Giants) and Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross (ninth to Seattle).
In many ways Green (6-4, 323) was Fisher’s most valuable player the past couple of seasons, based on his willingness to help out wherever needed. He started at both guard positions and both tackles last season, and even played center for a bit the prior year.
“Kenyon was the ultimate team player,” Fisher said. “He played all five positions along our offensive line during his career, and started from his very first game. He’s one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever been around. He worked hard on his technique and is always trying to get better.”
The Aggies finished 8-4 last season with Green as a junior — he bypassed his senior season to turn pro and did not redshirt at A&M — following a 9-1 finish in 2020.
“When we lost four offensive linemen from the 2020 squad, Kenyon stepped forward in a leadership role and has always had a great attitude,” Fisher said. “For him, being a part of a winning team comes way before any individual accomplishments.”
Green, in becoming A&M’s first first rounder on the offensive line since Germain Ifedi in 2016, was as relaxed as he had been in weeks late Thursday, after being surrounded by family and friends when hearing his name called in the draft.
“I’m not nervous anymore, I’m not having jitters anymore,” Green said with a grin. “I know where I’m (playing) at, and it’s time to work and it’s time to grind.”
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. described Green as “nasty and physical” — and quite versatile.
“He’s got the frame you look for,” Kiper said. “You can kick him out to tackle and he held his own — he more than held his own in some games at tackle. He’s not just a guard … you’re not going to be in trouble if you have to move him outside, he showed he can play four different positions at a high level.
“… He gets after you, and he’s seasoned and he’s tough.”
Green was an Associated Press first team AllAmerican last season and an AP second team AllAmerican the year prior. He also was a Lombardi Award finalist as a junior in 2021. He started every game all three seasons at A&M, and was the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to tally at least 80 plays at four different positions.
“It’s fun to watch a talented young man like Kenyon grow and become a man,” Fisher said. “To see his dreams come true, and that all of that hard work has paid off.”
Green becomes the ninth A&M offensive lineman selected in the last 10 drafts, with five of those first-round picks (Green, Ifedi, Cedric Ogbuehi, Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel). A&M exited the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference a decade ago and Green said playing in the nation’s top league helped his development into an NFL player.
“You’re playing against great players each week, and it doesn’t get any better than that,” Green said. “You’re going through every week … it’s like a gauntlet, and you have to be prepared and ready for each battle you have each week.”
Texans coach Lovie Smith attended A&M’s pro day in March and Green said Smith told him “I really want Texas guys to rebuild this thing from the ground up.” Smith, like Green, is from Texas, having grown up in Big Sandy.
“He grew up in Texas and went to Texas A&M, so he understands football in this state,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said of Green, who was born in Humble. “He has roots here, and has the support of his family, and people around him. And your support system is as important as anything.”