Draft prep at showcase crucial for Texans
MOBILE, Ala. — For teams that didn’t make the Super Bowl, there’s always next year. And the one benefit of losing is that they get a head start on the offseason.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off this week, and multiple teams have descended upon Mobile, Ala., to get a look at some of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL draft.
With 11 picks in this draft, the Texans could use a few that pan out superbly. Among their needs are quarterback, wide receiver, center, guard, linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, safety, backup running back and cornerback. Some of these positions will be addressed in free agency, but some can be addressed in the draft.
There will be three Senior Bowl practices beginning Tuesday and ending Thursday.
Here are some players participating in the Senior Bowl whom Texans fans should keep an eye on:
Quarterbacks
• Max Duggan (TCU):
More than likely, The Texans will draft a quarterback with the second overall pick, and it won’t be Duggan. But if by chance they decide to pass on a quarterback with one of their first few picks, Duggan is expected to be available in the later rounds.
Duggan, 21, is a projected Day 3 pick (rounds four to seven). He burst onto the scene last season, leading the Horned Frogs to a 12-2 record and the national title game against Georgia in January. The 6-foot-2, 210pound quarterback was a Heisman finalist after passing for 3,698 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran for nine touchdown and 432 yards.
He finished second in Heisman voting behind USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
• Hendon Hooker (Tennessee): Hooker finished fifth in Heisman voting after passing for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 430 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 218pound quarterback led Tennessee to an 11-2 season that was its best in many years.
Hooker, 25, suffered an ACL injury in Tennessee’s final game of the season in November. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl but won’t participate in on-field activities. He’ll still be able to do interviews with teams and media.
Because of the injury and his age, he’s projected to be a Day 3 pick.
• Clayton Tune (UH): Tune is 6-3, 220 pounds and considered a Day 3 prospect. During his senior season, he passed for 4,074 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Cougars finished the year with an 8-5 record and a win in their bowl.
Wide receivers
• Nathaniel “Tank” Dell (UH): Dell might be small, but he can definitely ball. The 5-10, 165-pounder was in the top two statistically in nearly every receiving category. He was second in the country with 109 catches. He also had 1,398 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns, both of which led the nation.
Dell is projected to be a Day 3 pick because of his size. But with a solid performance in the Senior Bowl, he could move up.
• Jayden Reed (Michigan State): Reed, who is 6-foot, 180 pounds, finished with 55 catches for 636 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.
When he was a junior, he had 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Spartans. Reed is also projected to go on Day 3.
Linebackers
• Ivan Pace Jr. (Cincinnati): Pace played only one season at Cincinnati after transferring from Miami (Ohio). He finished his only season with the Bearcats with 137 tackles, 21½ tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Pace is 6-foot and 240 pounds, so he’s slightly undersized. He’s projected to go on Day 3.
• Isaiah Land (Florida A&M): He is considered one of the top pass rushers and outside linebacker in the country. Land, who is 6-4, 225 pounds, had seven sacks last season. He is projected to be a late-Day 3 pick.
Other Texas ties
• Linebacker: DeMarvion Overshown (Texas), Dee Winters (TCU)
• Offensive line: Steve Avila (TCU)
• Wide receiver: Derius Davis (TCU)
• Running back: Roschon Johnson (Texas)
• Defensive lineman: Dylan Horton (TCU)