2015 houston texans traning camp guide

Transcription

2015 houston texans traning camp guide
HOUSTON TEXANS
2015
TRAINING
CAMP
GUIDE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015 - TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015
H
ouston Texans Training Camp presented by XFINITY begins Saturday,
August 1, as the Texans take to the field for the first time in preparation for
the 2015 season.
Six training camp practice sessions will be open to the public at the Houston
Methodist Training Center: Aug. 1-3, 11-12 and 19. From Aug. 6-8, the Texans will
participate in joint practices with the Washington Redskins in Richmond, Va. Tickets for Youth Day on Aug. 11 will be available exclusively at Houston-area Academy
Sports + Outdoors locations, including locations in Beaumont and Huntsville, while
supplies last. Free tickets to all other open sessions have already been acquired
and are no longer available to the general public.
Gates will open to fans one hour prior to practice with lines forming on Murworth
Drive. The NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect for all practice sessions open to
the public. Free parking is available off Lantern Point Drive in the Green Lot beginning at 5 a.m. on Aug. 1-2, 11-12 and 19. The lot will open at 3 p.m. on Aug. 3.
The Texans School Supply Drive presented by Toshiba is back. The drive will be
held throughout training camp and encourages fans to bring school supplies with
them to donate at practice. The school supplies will be donated to the Houston
Texans YMCA for distribution to deserving students in its service area. Anyone who
donates school supplies is eligible to receive daily giveaways and prizes. Fans
can also bring supplies to the Go Texan Store if they are unable to attend practice.
Texans Ambassadors and TORO will also be available for autographs at the practice sessions. Fans will be able to watch practice sessions as well as participate
in the Fan Zone, with kids having the opportunity to take part in TORO’s Kids Club
Kids Zone presented by Kroger, featuring various Texans interactive games.
FAN OPEN DATES (6):
Saturday, August 1
Sunday, August 2
Monday, August 3
Tuesday, August 11*
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 19
*Youth Day
8-11 a.m.
8:30-11 a.m.
6-9 p.m.
8-11 a.m.
8-11 a.m.
8-11 a.m.
Gates open one hour prior to practice. Lines will form on Murworth.
WHERE:
Houston Methodist Training Center
FREE FAN PARKING: Green Lot off Lantern Point Drive
TRAINING CAMP/PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE
All practice sessions open to media. Walkthroughs are closed.
Day DateMorning Afternoon
Friday
July 31
Team Meetings/No Practice
Saturday
August 1
8-11 a.m.
Sunday
August 2
8:30-11 a.m.
Monday
August 3
6-9 p.m.
Tuesday
August 4
Players Day Off
Wednesday August 5
9-10:30 a.m.
Travel to Richmond, Va.
Thursday
August 6
Practice at Washington Redskins
Friday
August 7
Practice at Washington Redskins
Saturday
August 8
Practice at Washington Redskins
Sunday
August 9
Return to Houston
Monday
August 10
Players Day Off
Tuesday
August 11* 8-11 a.m.
Wednesday August 12 8-11 a.m.
Thursday
August 13
8-11 a.m.
Friday
August 14
Walkthrough/No Availability
Saturday
August 15
Game vs. San Francisco 49ers, 7 p.m.
Sunday
August 16
Players Day Off
Monday
August 17
2-5 p.m.
Tuesday
August 18
8-11 a.m.
Wednesday August 19 8-11 a.m.
Thursday
August 20
8-11 a.m.
Friday
August 21
Walkthrough/No Availability
Saturday
August 22
Game vs. Denver Broncos, 7 p.m.
Sunday
August 23
Players Day Off
Monday
August 24
2-5 p.m.
Tuesday
August 25
8-11 a.m.
Bold indicates practices open to the public.
*Youth Day – Tickets available exclusively at Houston-area Academy
Sports + Outdoors locations, including locations in Beaumont and
Huntsville.
Houston Texans Communications • NRG Stadium • Two NRG Park • Houston, Texas 77054 •
@TexansPR
SCHEDULE/MEDIA INFORMATION
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
PRESEASON IMPORTANT DATES
First training camp practice
Roster cutdown to 75
Roster cutdown to 53
Claiming players off waivers ends
Practice squad signings begin
PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Media will be allowed at all practices. All walkthroughs are closed.
A member of the Houston Texans communications staff will go over the
practice guidelines at each pracice.
Photographers can shoot selected portions of practice. Tripods are allowed at practice, however they must be at least 7 yards from the sideline and behind the line of scrimmage at all times. Please do not leave
tripods unattended. To not impede the view of the fans at practice, all
photographers must kneel when shooting in front of the stands.
Members of the communications staff will be on the field during all
practices to assist with any questions. During practices held inside the
bubble, all media must stay on the near sideline.
Saturday, August 1, 8 a.m.
Tuesday, September 1, 3 p.m.
Saturday, September 5, 3 p.m.
Sunday, September 6, 11 a.m.
Sunday, September 6, Noon
*All times Central
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS SCHEDULE
Day
Sat.
Sat.
Sun.
Thurs.
Date
Aug. 15 Aug. 22
Aug. 30 Sept. 3
Day
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Thurs.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Mon.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Sun.
Date
Sept. 13
Sept. 20
Sept. 27
Oct. 4
Oct. 8
Oct. 18
Oct. 25
Nov. 1
Nov. 8
Nov. 16
Nov. 22
Nov. 29
Dec. 6
Dec. 13
Dec. 20
Dec. 27
Jan. 3
PRESEASON
Opponent
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
DENVER BRONCOS
at New Orleans Saints#
at Dallas Cowboys
TV
KTRK
KTRK
FOX
KTRK
Time (CT)
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
3 p.m.
7 p.m.
REMOTE BROADCASTS
All television stations airing live newscasts should set up at the south
end of field one (lighted) or next to the Houston Methodist Training Center, with satellite truck parking available in the Teal Lot. Each station
is responsible for its own power. Please contact the Houston Texans
communications department before doing a live broadcast following
practices.
For radio stations wishing to broadcast from Texans Training Camp,
please contact the Houston Texans communications staff.
REGULAR SEASON
Opponent
TV
Time (CT)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
CBS
Noon
at Carolina Panthers
CBS
Noon
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FOX
Noon
at Atlanta Falcons
CBS
Noon
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
CBS/NFLN 7:25 p.m.
at Jacksonville Jaguars
CBS
Noon
at Miami Dolphins
CBS
Noon
TENNESSEE TITANS
CBS
Noon
BYE
at Cincinnati Bengals
ESPN
7:30 p.m.
NEW YORK JETS
CBS
Noon
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FOX
Noon
at Buffalo Bills
CBS
Noon
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CBS
Noon
at Indianapolis Colts
CBS
Noon
at Tennessee Titans
CBS
Noon
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS CBS
Noon
CREDENTIAL PICK-UP
For credential pick-up at training camp, there will be a booth at the
entrance of the Houston Methodist Training Center. Media should park
in the Teal Lot located on the corner of Murworth and Kirby to pick up
credentials beginning Saturday, August 1.
Please contact Communications Manager Charles Hampton at
[email protected] or at (832) 667-2282 with
any questions or concerns.
TWEETING AT CAMP
Tweeting is permitted during practices open to fans. The Houston Texans communications staff asks that media refrains from tweeting specific
game strategy, player repetitions and conversations between players
and coaches on the field.
Tweeting during practices not open to the public is not permitted.
* Italics indicates games subject to flex scheduling
Home games in BOLD CAPS
All kickoff times Central; # - Televised Nationally
All games are broadcasted live on Texans Radio on 610 AM, 100.3 The
Bull and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes 1180 AM
POSTSEASON
Sat.-Sun. Jan. 9-10
Sat.-Sun. Jan. 16-17
Sun.
Jan. 24
Sun.
Jan. 31
Sun.
Feb. 7
MEDIA WORKROOM
Following Texans practice and availability, media should head to the
media workroom located on the service level at NRG Stadium across
from the Texans’ locker room. Phones, Texans information, NFL news
releases and other information are available. Wireless service will be
available in the media workroom.
During practice, media should park in the Teal Lot located on Murworth,
across from NRG Stadium in front of the Houston Methodist Training
Center. Media can walk over from practice to the media workroom where
a Houston Texans communications staff member will let them into the
building at the West VIP entrance. If the door is locked, call Omar Majzoub at (713) 553-8223.
AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs
AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs
AFC and NFC Championship Games
NFL Pro Bowl
Super Bowl 50, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (CBS)
FOR TEXANS NEWS...
TEXANS MEDIA SITE
Credentials
Transcripts
Weekly Release
Media Guide
http://media.houstontexans.com
www.HoustonTexans.com
TEXANS FTP SITE
Audio Clips
Video Clips
ftp1.houstontexans.com
Username: texmedia
Password: 2015media
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@TexansPR
MEDIA INFORMATION
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
HOUSTON TEXANS COMMUNICATIONS STAFF
Kevin Cooper
Senior Director of
Communications
Amy Palcic
Director of Corporate
Communications
Charles Hampton
Communications
Manager
Brett Maikowski
Communications
Manager
Contact Kevin for:
Interview requests for Texans Owner Bob McNair and Executive Vice
President and General Manager
Rick Smith.
Contact Amy for:
Interview requests for Texans Head
Coach Bill O’Brien & DE J.J. Watt,
information on Lone Star Sports
and Entertainment, Texans civic
and business affairs.
Contact Charles for:
Questions on credentials, parking,
media guide, FTP site, audio clips,
rosters or photo requests.
Contact Brett for:
Interview requests for players and
assistant coaches, media availabilities or to be added to an email distribution list.
CONTACTING THE TEXANS COMMUNICATIONS STAFF
Omar Majzoub
Communications
Intern
Ellie Pardee
Communications
Intern
Contact Omar for:
Media availabilities, notes, team information and gameday information.
Contact Ellie for:
Notes, team information, gameday
information and LSSE information.
Staff Member
Office Phone
Kevin Cooper
832-667-2035
Amy Palcic
832-667-2220
Charles Hampton 832-667-2282
Brett Maikowski 832-667-2037
Omar Majzoub
832-667-2241
Ellie Pardee
832-667-2085
Katie Karsh
Ted Parrish
Email Address
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Texans on Twitter: @TexansPR
Texans Media Site: http://media.houstontexans.com
Texans FTP Site: ftp1.houstontexans.com
HOUSTON TEXANS MEDIA WEBSITE
INTERVIEWS
To access the Houston Texans media website, go to http://media.
houstontexans.com. The section contains all Texans press materials, historical information and updated team statistics and media guide.
Applications are being accepted for training camp or individual game
credentials.
To apply for game credentials, please submit your request on the website by 5 p.m. CT on the Tuesday before a Texans home game.
Fans can access coverage on http://www.HoustonTexans.com
throughout the season on Texans TV. The Texans broadcast live streaming video of press conferences, as well as game highlights, interviews, indepth team features, community recaps, NFL Network footage and more.
Head Coach Bill O’Brien and players are available to media on the
field following practices.
All interview requests for Houston Texans executives, coaches
and players should go through the Texans communications department.
For out-of-town media requesting Texans players, please send your
request to Brett Maikowski at [email protected]
or call his office phone at (832) 667-2037.
Requests for Owner Bob McNair and Executive Vice President of
Football Operations and General Manager Rick Smith should be sent
to the attention of Senior Director of Communications Kevin Cooper.
His e-mail address is [email protected], and office
phone is (832) 667-2035.
Requests for Head Coach Bill O’Brien should be sent to the attention
of Director of Corporate Communications Amy Palcic at amy.palcic@
houstontexans.com or 832-667-2220.
HOUSTON TEXANS FTP SITE
The Texans upload B-roll, audio clips and clips of video interviews on
a consistent basis. If you would like to be added to the FTP email list,
members of which receive emails whenever new content is uploaded,
please contact Houston Texans Communications Manager Charles
Hampton at [email protected].
www.HoustonTexans.com
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@TexansPR
MEDIA INFORMATION
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
HOUSTON TEXANS MEDIA GUIDE
TEXANS ON TWITTER
The complete 2015 Houston Texans Media Guide is available online at
http://media.houstontexans.com.
The weekly game release, player bios and record books are updated
weekly during the season and are electronically distributed to media, as
well as made available online on the Houston Texans media website.
The online version of the media guide has been improved and is available in PDF format, allowing media to print, copy and paste information
in an easier fashion. Printed versions of the media guide are available
on a case-by-case basis.
For up-to-the second updates, notes and a variety of other information
on the Houston Texans, follow the Texans on Twitter: @TexansPR. Get
all press releases, transcripts, game information, updated bios and more.
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
From Bush International: Take US 59 South to HWY TX-288 South
(Lake Jackson/ Freeport). Follow HWY TX-288 to I-610 West. Exit Kirby
Drive (Exit 1C) and turn right. Follow Kirby Drive two blocks and NRG
Stadium will be on the right and the practice facility on the left. Turn left
on Murworth Drive and media parking is in the Teal parking lot located
on the right at the practice facility.
From Houston Hobby: Take Airport Boulevard East to Monroe Road.
Make a left on Monroe Road and proceed to I-45 North. Make a left
onto I-45 North and proceed to I-610 West. Take I-610 to Kirby Drive
(Exit 1C). Turn right onto Kirby. Follow Kirby Drive two blocks and NRG
Stadium will be on the right and the practice facility on the left. Turn left
on Murworth Drive and media parking is in the Teal parking lot located
on the right at the practice facility.
From the East: Take I-610 westbound to the Kirby Drive Exit (Exit 1C).
Turn right on Kirby Drive. Follow Kirby Drive two blocks and NRG Stadium will be on the right and the practice facility on the left. Turn left on
Murworth Drive and media parking is in the Teal parking lot located on
the right at the practice facility.
From the West: Take I-610 eastbound to the Kirby Drive Exit (Exit 1C).
Turn left on Kirby Drive. Follow Kirby Drive two blocks and NRG Stadium
will be on the right and the practice facility on the left. Turn left on Murworth Drive and media parking is in the Teal parking lot located on the
right at the practice facility.
TRANSCRIPTS
The Texans Communications Staff sends out transcripts of press
conferences, open locker room during the season and post-game interviews. To be added to the Texans transcripts email list, please contact Communications Manager Brett Maikowski at brett.maikowski@
houstontexans.com.
LIVE SHOTS
Live shots on NRG Park property must be set up through the Texans
communications department in conjunction with SMG. Please contact
Charles Hampton at [email protected] or 832667-2282 before setting up a live shot. Locations will be set up through
the communications department. Please give the Texans 12 hours to
ensure proper set up.
GAMEDAY
NFL network television partners and Texans media partners will be
given priority for live shots at NRG Stadium. Television stations are allowed to shoot live at NRG Stadium until one hour before kickoff. Please
get permission from Texans communications 48 hours before the game
in order to shoot live.
NFL network television partners and Texans media partners are the
only broadcast entities permitted to shoot live from inside NRG Stadium
in the hour following the conclusion of the game. All other entities are not
permitted to shoot live or transmit live programming from inside NRG
Stadium until one hour after the conclusion of the game.
Live shots and live streaming for transmission are NOT PERMITTED
from the Texans post-game locker room for any entity.
www.HoustonTexans.com
AUDIO CLIPS
In addition to the mp3 audio uploaded to the Houston Texans FTP site,
the Texans communications staff sends out edited clips that are 10 to 30
seconds long via email following press conferences, open locker room
during the season and after games during the season. To be added to
the Texans audio clips email list, please contact Communications Manager Charles Hampton at [email protected].
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@TexansPR
FAN ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION FOR TRAINING CAMP
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
2015 TRAINING CAMP INFORMATION
• Improved layout and new entrance is highlighted by an additional
19,000 square feet for fans to enjoy.
• Three photo opportunities on Memory Lane, including HBO Hard
Knocks backdrop.
• Additional merchandise trailer on location each day.
• Three food trucks on location at each open practice.
• Live band on five of the six open dates: August 1-3, 12, 19.
• Any fan who dates a school item will receive a free HBO Hard
Knocks rally towel.
• Fan Zone behind bleachers.
• Two Cool Zones to beat the heat.
• TORO’s Kids Club Kids Zone presented by Kroger.
• Texans Cheerleaders, Ambassadors and TORO Autographs.
• Texans giveaways.
• Food, beverage and Texans merchandise on sale.
• Houston Texans School Supply Drive benefitting the Houston
Texans YMCA.
RAIN OUT POLICY
• Training Camp activities may be cancelled due to weather.
• If Training Camp practice is canceled, fans may redeem their
tickets at the next available open Training Camp date.
• For weather updates, please call 832-667-2324.
WHAT NOT TO BRING/SECURITY
• No video cameras are allowed.
• The NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect (Link: http://www.nfl.com/
allclear).
• Guests will be wanded upon entry.
TICKET INFORMATION
The free tickets to open practices have all been downloaded. Tickets
to Youth day on August 11 are available exclusively at Houston-area
Academy Sports + Outdoors locations, including locations in Beaumont
and Huntsville, while supplies last.
LOCATION & PARKING
Training Camp will be held at the Houston Methodist Training Center
across from NRG Stadium. Free parking is available in the Green Lot,
south of the Houston Methodist Training Center.
TRAINING CAMP HOTLINE
832.667.2324
www.HoustonTexans.com
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@TexansPR
2015-16 NFL IMPORTANT DATES
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
AUGUST
6-9 Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio.
9 Hall of Fame Game, Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers,
Canton, Ohio.
11 Special League Meeting, Hyatt-Schaumburg, Schaumburg, Illinois.
11 If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he
cannot be traded to any other club in 2015, and may sign a player
contract only with the drafting club until the day of the Draft in the
2016 League Year.
13-17 First Preseason Weekend.
20-24 Second Preseason Weekend.
27-30 Third Preseason Weekend.
SEPTEMBER
1 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce their rosters
to a maximum of 75 players on the Active List.
3 Final Preseason Games.
5 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a
maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.
5 Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players
in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/
Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or
Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable;
request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue
to count the player on the Active List.
6 Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster
reduction will expire at 12:00 noon, New York time.
6 Upon receipt of the Personnel Notice at approximately 1:00 p.m.,
New York time, clubs may establish a Practice Squad of 10 players. No club, including the player’s prior club, will be permitted to
sign a player to a Practice Player Contract until all clubs have received simultaneous notification via the above Personnel Notice
that such player’s prior NFL player contract has been terminated
via the waiver system.
6 After 4:00 p.m., New York time, a club is permitted to place a
player on Reserve/Injured as “Designated for Return.”
10 At 12:00 a.m., New York time, the Top 51 Rule expires for all NFL
clubs.
10-14 Regular Season opens.
OCTOBER
4 NFL International Series, New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins, London, England.
6-7 Fall League Meeting, New York, New York.
16 Beginning on the sixth calendar day prior to a club’s seventh
regular season game (including any bye week) and continuing
through the day after the conclusion of the 11th regular season
weekend, clubs are permitted to begin practicing players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/Non-Football
Injury or Illness for a period not to exceed 21 days. Players may
be activated during the 21-day practice period, or prior to 4:00
p.m., New York time, on the day after the conclusion of the 21day period, provided that no player may be activated to participate in a Week 6 game.
25 NFL International Series, Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars,
London, England.
www.HoustonTexans.com
NOVEMBER
1 NFL International Series, Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs,
London, England
3 All trading ends for 2015 at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
4 Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons are
subject to the waiver system for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.
17 At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Franchise
Players who are eligible to receive offer sheets.
17 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their
unsigned Franchise and Transition Players, including Franchise
Players who were eligible to receive offer sheets until this date.
If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from
playing in NFL in 2015.
17 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their
Unrestricted Free Agents to whom the “May 12 Tender” was
made. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited
from playing in NFL in 2015.
17 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their
Restricted Free Agents, including those to whom the “June 1 Tender” was made. If such players remain unsigned after this date,
they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2015.
17 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their
drafted rookies. If such players remain unsigned after this date,
they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2015.
JANUARY
3 Seventeenth Week of Regular Season Games.
4 Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the
rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in any round
of the 2013 NFL Draft. Any permissible renegotiated or extended
player contract will not be considered a rookie contract, and will
not be subject to the rules that limit rookie contracts.
4 Option exercise period begins for Fifth-Year Option for FirstRound Selections from the 2013 NFL Draft. To exercise the option, the club must give written notice to the player on or after
January 4, 2016, but prior to May 3, 2016.
9-10 Wild Card Playoffs.
10 Assistant coaches under contract to playoff clubs that have byes
in the Wild Card weekend may be interviewed for head coaching
positions through the conclusion of the Wild Card games.
16-17 Divisional Playoffs.
17 Assistant coaches under contract to playoff clubs that won their
Wild Card games may be interviewed for head coaching positions
through the conclusion of Divisional Playoff games.
18 Deadline for college players that are underclassmen to apply for
special eligibility. A list of players who are accepted into the NFL
Draft will be transmitted to clubs on January 22.
23 East-West Shrine Game, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida.
24 AFC and NFC Championship Games.
30 Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama.
31 NFL Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii.
31 An assistant coach, whose team is participating in the Super
Bowl, who has previously interviewed for another club’s head
coaching job may have a second interview with such club no later
than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl.
FEBRUARY
7 Super Bowl 50, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California.
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@TexansPR
HEAD COACH BILL O’BRIEN/EXECUTIVE VP AND GM RICK SMITH
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
HEAD COACH BILL O’BRIEN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GM RICK SMITH
Bill O’Brien led the Houston Texans to a 9-7 record
in his first year as the franchise’s head coach in 2014.
Houston’s seven-win improvement led the NFL and
made the Texans the sixth team since 1978 to post a
winning season following a season in which it won two or
less games. The Texans just missed the playoffs as the
last team out in the AFC and O’Brien finished second in
NFL AP Coach of the Year voting to Arizona Cardinals
Head Coach Bruce Arians.
O’Brien earned his first victory as head coach of the
Texans with a 17-6 season-opening win against Washington at NRG Stadium,
ending Houston’s 14-game losing streak in the process. Houston went 5-2
following an open date in Week 10, with three different starting quarterbacks
leading the Texans to wins down the stretch. The Texans also led the NFL
in takeaways with a franchise-record 34 and became just the third team in
the last 20 years to lead the league in takeaways after finishing last the year
before.
On offense, the Texans ran the ball a league-high 51.9 percent of the time
and posted an AFC-best eight individual 100-yard rushing performances.
Houston’s 135.1 yards rushing per game ranked fifth in the NFL and was the
second-highest mark in franchise history. Running back Arian Foster, who
earned his fourth Pro Bowl honor, eclipsed the 100-yard mark in seven of
the 13 games he played in and rushed for 1,246 yards and scored 13 total
touchdowns.
Due to injuries, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett and Case Keenum each started at least two games under center for the Texans and combined to lead the
team to wins in five of the last seven games. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins
had a breakout season, setting career highs with 76 receptions for 1,210 yards
and six touchdowns in O’Brien’s system. Hopkins eclipsed 2,000 yards receiving for his career in just his second year and became the second-youngest
player in NFL history to do so.
O’Brien was named the third head coach in Houston Texans franchise history on Jan. 3, 2014. The 45-year old brought 21 years of collegiate and NFL
coaching experience to the Bayou City, along with a tireless work ethic, relentless tenacity, exceptional football acumen and a well-earned reputation for
succeeding against all odds.
The former Penn State head coach and New England Patriots offensive coordinator has ascended steadily throughout his coaching career. O’Brien spent 2012 and
2013 leading Penn State through one of the greatest periods of strife any major
college program has endured, garnering national and conference coach-of-the-year
awards in the process. In the five years prior to his tenure at Penn State, O’Brien
helped lead the Patriots to a pair of Super Bowl berths, first as an offensive assistant
in 2007 and then again in 2011 as offensive coordinator.
O’Brien was named head coach at Penn State on Jan. 6, 2012. In addition to
replacing Joe Paterno, the all-time winningest head coach in NCAA Football Bowl
Division history, O’Brien was saddled with guiding PSU through heavy scholarship
reductions, a four-year postseason ban, open transfer policy for players on the roster he inherited and the public aftermath of a devastating scandal that threatened
the football program’s storied existence.
Penn State won eight of its final 10 games to finish the 2012 season 8-4. O’Brien,
who also served as offensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions, was named the Bear
Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN National Coach of the Year after winning
more games than any other first-year head coach in the program’s previous 125
seasons. He was also named the Big Ten Conference’s coach of the year by both
media and coaches. The Nittany Lions posted a 7-5 record in 2013 and had upset
wins against 18th-ranked Michigan and 14th-ranked Wisconsin.
O’Brien rose from offensive assistant with the Patriots in 2007 to wide receivers
coach in 2008 and then quarterbacks coach from 2009-10 prior to his promotion to
offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2011.
O’Brien began his coaching career as tight ends coach at Brown in 1993 before
serving as inside linebackers coach in 1994. He joined Georgia Tech’s staff in 1995
as a graduate assistant and helped the program to bowl appearances in each of
his last six seasons. After three seasons coaching running backs, O’Brien was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2001 and assistant head
coach in 2002. O’Brien coached running backs at Maryland from 2003-04 before
serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke from 2005-06.
Born in Dorchester, Mass., O’Brien grew up in the Boston suburb of Andover and
graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers. O’Brien went on to play
linebacker and defensive end at Brown from 1990-92. He graduated with a double
concentration in political science and organizational behavioral management in
1992.
O’Brien and his wife, Colleen, have two sons: Jack, 12, and Michael, 9.
www.HoustonTexans.com
Rick Smith oversees all football-related operations and the
player acquisition process as Houston Texans Executive
Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager.
Smith is in his 10th season as General Manager and fifth as
Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
Named general manager by owner Bob McNair on June 5,
2006, Smith’s appointment made him the youngest general
manager in the NFL at 36. Since then, Smith has assembled
and led a football operations staff that prides itself on providing players and coaches with the tools needed for success
on and off the field, regardless of scheme.
Smith adheres to several principles that have shaped his tenure and laid the
team’s foundation of talent and depth: Build through the draft and supplement
through free agency and trades. Give players and coaches the tools they need
to succeed. Trust your evaluation of talent and character. Believe in the process.
Stay true to your board. Determine value independent of need.
Smith’s leadership, vision and success have garnered recognition by the league.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appointed Smith to the NFL’s prestigious Competition Committee on Dec. 5, 2008. His peers honored him with the Tank Younger
Award in 2008, presented annually by the Fritz Pollard Alliance for outstanding work
in an NFL front office. Smith was an original member of the General Managers
Advisory Committee, which provides advice and other feedback to the NFL Football
Operations department on the integrity of the game, expansion of technology and
other ways to improve the league.
Smith and his staff have been able to adapt and find the right personnel to fit
changing schemes and coaching staffs throughout his tenure. He was faced with
both heading into the 2014 season following a disappointing 2013 season. However, the Texans posted the greatest single-season turnaround in franchise history
and became the sixth team in the last 36 years to post a winning record of 9-7 after
having two wins or less the previous season.
Houston also forced a franchise-record 34 turnovers in 2014 and became the
third team in the last 20 years to lead the NFL in takeaways after finishing last the
year before. On offense, the Texans’ 135.1 rushing yards per game ranked fifth in
the NFL and was the second-highest mark in franchise history.
The Texans won their second consecutive AFC South division crown in 2012 and
advanced to the Divisional round of the playoffs in 2011 and 2012, compiling a 22-10
regular season record that tied for the second-best mark in the AFC. Houston set
a franchise mark with a 12-4 record in 2012; a 10-win improvement under Smith’s
leadership. Smith’s tenure in Houston began with a 6-10 record, followed by a pair of
8-8 records in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, the Texans posted the first winning season in
franchise history, narrowly missing the playoffs at 9-7. Houston bounced back from
a 6-10 mark in 2010, going 10-6 in 2011, winning the AFC South and securing a
playoff berth, both franchise firsts.
Collectively, the Texans’ current roster, all acquired by Smith, with the exception
of Andre Johnson, has earned 26 Pro Bowl selections, 18 first- or second-team Associated Press All-Pro distinctions, one Defensive Player of the Year award and one
Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Smith’s seven first-round picks, between 2007-13, have combined to start 347 of
the 366 games they have played. Three of the six have earned All-Pro honors: left
tackle Duane Brown, linebacker Brian Cushing and defensive end J.J. Watt. Watt,
the 11th overall pick in 2011, was named the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year following one of the best defensive performances in NFL history and a league-leading
20.5 sacks. Unrestricted free agents have also thrived in Houston on Smith’s watch.
Cornerback Johnathan Joseph has been to the league’s all-star game twice since
joining the Texans from Cincinnati in 2011. Smith also orchestrated the trades that
brought quarterback Matt Schaub from Atlanta in 2007 and center Chris Myers from
Denver in 2008. Both earned multiple Pro Bowl berths with the franchise.
Smith places a premium on college free agents. The most well-known college free
agent success story in Texans history is running back Arian Foster. Undrafted out
of Tennessee in 2009, Foster won the 2010 rushing title and had three consecutive
Pro Bowl nods.
In his former role leading the Denver Broncos pro personnel department, the franchise posted the league’s fifth-best regular-season record from 2000-05, going 6135 (.635). The 61 wins were the most of any AFC West team during that span and
Denver was one of only four teams in the NFL to reach the playoffs each season
from 2003-05.
Rick and Tiffany Smith live in Houston with their sons, Robert LaMar and Christian
LaMar, and daughter, Avery Jordan.
7
@TexansPR
PLAYER QUICK NOTES
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
17 EZ NWACHUKWU
5-11 198 1st season
Texas A&M
Spent the entire 2013 and 2014 seasons on the Texans practice squad...Signed by
the Texans as a college free agent out of Texas A&M on May 10, 2013...Ranked
fourth in Texas A&M annals with 152 career receptions for 2,239 yards and tied for
third with 19 receiving touchdowns...Started 44-of-52 games in which he played.
QUARTERBACKS (3)
3
7
TOM SAVAGE
6-4 228 2nd season
Pittsburgh
Drafted by the Texans in the 4th round in 2014...Made NFL debut in 4th quarter in
Week 13 vs. TEN...Finished the year 10-of-19 for 127 yards and 1 INT in 2 games...
Enrolled at 3 different schools: Rutgers, Arizona and Pittsburgh, appearing in a total
of 31 games (28 starts)...Completed 430-of-757 passes for 5,690 yards, 37 TDs and
19 INTs...As a senior at Pitt, completed 238-of-389 passes (61.2%) for 2,958 yards,
21 TDs and 9 INTs.
18 CECIL SHORTS III
6-0 202 5th season
Mount Union
Signed by the Texans as an unrestricted free agent on March 16, 2015 after spending previous 4 years in Jacksonville...In 50 career games (34 starts), has tallied 176
receptions for 2,343 yards and 12 touchdowns, all of which led the Jaguars since
2011...Has registered seven career 100-yard receiving games.
BRIAN HOYER
6-2 215 7th season Michigan St.
Seventh-year pro enters his first season with the Texans...In 32 career games (17
starts), has completed 356-of-630 pass attempts for 4,557 yards, 19 TDs, 19 INTs
and a 76.8 passer rating...Started 16-of-17 games with the Cleveland Browns over
past two seasons...Was coached by Bill O’Brien in New England from 2009-11
where he served as a backup QB behind Tom Brady.
19 TRAVIS LABHART
5-9 182 1st season
Texas A&M
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 16, 2014 and spent his first
season on the practice squad...Finished his Texas A&M career and senior season
with 626 yards and 8 TDs on 51 catches...Former college walk-on in 2011.
82 KESHAWN MARTIN
5-11 194 4th season
Michigan St.
6 rec. for 78 yards; 6.2 PR avg. in 2014...4th-round pick out of Michigan St. in
2012…48 regular season games (2 starts) and has caught 38 passes for 416 yards
and 3 TDs; 4 rushes for 53 yards (13.3 average)...Career highs of 22 receptions for
253 yards and 2 TDs in 2013...5th in AFC with 26.3 KOR average and 7th in AFC
with 8.8 PR average in 2013.
15 RYAN MALLETT
6-6 245 5th season
Arkansas
Won his first career start at CLE (11/16), completing 20-of-30 passes for 211 yards,
two touchdowns and a 95.3 passer rating...Acquired in a trade from New England on
Aug. 31...Has played in 7 career games (2 starts) and is 42-of-79 for 417 yards in his
career with 2 TDs and 3 INTs...3rd-round pick of New England in 2011...Bill O’Brien
was New England’s off. coord./QB coach his rookie year.
85 NATE WASHINGTON
6-1 183 11th season
Tiffin
Signed by the Texans as an unrestricted free agent on April 1, 2015...11th-year veteran who has started 93-of-145 regular-season games played, totaling 411 receptions for 6,296 yards and 40 TDs...Two-time Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII)... Has
averaged 15.3 yards per reception for his career, which is ninth-best in the AFC
since 2006...Leads all active wide receivers with 144 consecutive games played.
WIDE RECEIVERS (12)
3
JACE DAVIS
6-1 206 1st season Northern Colo.
Signed by the Texans on Dec. 29, 2014 after originally signing with the Baltimore
Ravens as a rookie free agent... In 43 career games at Northern Colorado, recorded
162 receptions for 2,470 receiving yards and 16 TDs…Averaged 15.2 yards per
catch, earning first-team All-Big Sky honors in 2010 and honorable mention AllConference accolades in 2012.
RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS (6)
6 CHANDLER WORTHY 5-9 173 Rookie
Troy
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015...Totaled 137 receptions for 1,767 yards and 11 touchdowns in 47 career games at Troy...Carried the
ball 34 times for 176 yards and a touchdown...Compiled 1,919 total return yards on
81 attempts (23.7 avg) with two return TDs, including a 99-yarder...14 total career
touchdowns (11 receiving, two kick return, one rushing).
23 ARIAN FOSTER
6-1 227 7th season
Tennessee
Franchise career leader with 6,309 yards rushing and 53 TDs rushing...Posted four
1,000-yard rushing seasons from 2010-12 & 2014...Led NFL in rushing in 2010 and
recorded the most rushing yards ever by an undrafted player with 1,616 yards...Has
32 100-yard rushing games and 3 100-yard receiving games in his career...4-time
Pro Bowl and 2-time All-Pro...In 2014, earned 4th Pro Bowl nod after totaling 1,573
yards of total offense in 13 games...Scored eight rushing TDs, a career-best five
receving TDs and his first career passing TD.
10 DeANDRE HOPKINS
6-1 218 3rd season
Clemson
In 2014, ranked 5th in AFC with team-best 1,210 yards receiving...Also posted 76
rec. and 6 rec. TDs...2nd-youngest player in NFL history to reach 2,000 yards receiving (22 years, 198 days)...238 yards rec. vs. Tennessee in Week 13, 2nd on
franchise all-time list...Four 100-yard games in 2014...128 rec. for 2,012 yards and
8 TDs in career...52 rec. for 802 yards in 2013 is 2nd on team’s rookie receiving
list...2013 PFWA All-Rookie Team...27th overall pick in 2013.
28 ALFRED BLUE
6-2 223 2nd season
LSU
As a rookie in 2014, became the first player in franchise history with a rushing,
receiving and return touchdown in the same season...Set the franchise record for
carries in a game (36) in Week 11 at CLE...Finished the year with 528 rushing yards
and 2 TDs along with 113 rec. yards and 1 TD...Drafted by the Texans in the 6th
round in 2014...Played in 40 games (7 starts) in 4 years for LSU rushing for 1,253
yards and 11 TDs...Also caught 16 passes for 107 yards.
11 JAELEN STRONG
6-2 217 Rookie
Arizona St.
Drafted by the Texans in the third round (70th overall) in 2015...Saw action in 26 career games in two seasons with the Sun Devils, recording 157 receptions for 2,287
receiving yards and 17 touchdowns...His career receptions total ranks fifth in all-time
in school history...In 2014, recorded 82 receptions and 1,165 rec. yards, good for
third and fifth, respectively, in ASU record books for a single-season effort...Also
added 10 TD.
32 CHRIS POLK
5-11 222 4th season
Washington
Signed by the Texans as an unrestricted free agent on April 29, 2015 after spending
the previous 3 years in Philadelphia...Compiled 270 rushing yards and 7 rushing
TDs on 57 carries (4.7 avg.) in 36 career games played...Added six rec. for 77 yards
(12.8 avg)...Recorded 348 return yards on just 13 KO returns (26.8 avg.), including
a 102-yard TD return...Scored a TD on his first-ever NFL carry in a game at DEN on
Sept. 29, 2013...Has one career forced fumble on special teams.
12 KEITH MUMPHERY
6-0 215 Rookie
Michigan St.
Drafted by the Texans in the fifth round (175th overall) in 2015...Three-year starter
at flanker and four-year letterwinner at Michigan State, who recorded 88 catches for
1,348 yards (15.3 avg.) and seven TDs in 54 career games (26 starts)...Also had 14
carries for 125 yards (8.9 avg.) and one TD...In 2014, led the team, ranked third in
the Big Ten and 16th in the NCAA FBS in yards per catch (19.0 avg.).
38 KENNY HILLIARD
5-11 226 Rookie
LSU
Seventh-round (235th overall) draft pick by the Texans in 2015...Played in 48
games (7 starts) at LSU and rushed for 1,547 yards, 27 touchdowns and 4 100-yard
games...His touchdown total ranked 8th all-time in school history.
41 JONATHAN GRIMES
5-10 209 3rd season William & Mary
Has played in 27 career games (1 start)...8 of those games have come in 2 separate
stints with the Texans, including his 1st career start, in the 2013 season finale at
TEN (12/29/13)...Has rushed for 232 yards on 62 carries and a TD and recorded 14
receptions for 169 yards in his career...Notched single-season career highs in rushing attempts (39), rushing yards (153), receptions (6) and rec. yards (86) in 2014.
13 DAMARIS JOHNSON 5-8 175 4th season
Tulsa
Acquired from waivers on Aug. 31, 2014 after spending previous 2 years with Philadelphia...In 2014, played all 16 games (8 starts) and totaled career highs of 31 rec.
for 331 yards and 1 TD...Notched a 6.0-yard punt return avg. and 22.7-yard kickoff return avg...Signed with Philadelphia in 2012 out of Tulsa (undrafted)...In 2012,
ranked 9th in NFL with 11.2 PR avg...52 rec., 601 yards in 43 career games (9
starts)...9.5-yard career PR avg. with 98-yard TD.
45 JAY PROSCH (FB)
6-1 256 2nd season
Auburn
As a rookie in 2014, played in all 16 games (5 starts) and caught one pass for 24
yards...Also had three special teams tackles...Selected by the Texans in the sixth
round (211th overall) in 2014...Started 30-of-51 games in a career that first began at
Illinois (2010-11) and completed at Auburn (2012-13)...Blocked for the nation’s No. 1
rushing offense (328.3 yards per game) in 2013.
16 ALAN BONNER
5-10 191 3rd season Jacksonville St.
Drafted by the Texans with the 195th overall pick and the 27th pick in the 6th round
in 2013...Placed on injured reserve (hamstring) on Aug. 31, 2013 and again on July
27, 2014 with a foot injury...At Jacksonville State, set school career records with 972
PR yards and 87 punt returns...Ranked 2nd with 1,986 rec. yards and 20 TDs.
www.HoustonTexans.com
8
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PLAYER QUICK NOTES
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
73 MATT FEILER
6-6 330 1st season
Bloomsburg
Signed by the Texans on May 16, 2014 and spent his rookie year on the practice
squad...Played in 46 career games and made 34 starts for Bloomsburg, starting
every game his junior and senior seasons... Selected to play in the East-West Shrine
Game.
TIGHT ENDS (6)
81 ANTHONY DENHAM
6-4 235 1st season
Utah
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 16, 2014...Played in the final
four games of the season and made 2 special team tackles...Junior college transfer
who played in 23 games for Utah in 2 years...24 rec. for 291 yards and 2 TDs, Honorable mention Academic All-Pac-12 in 2013.
74 WILL YEATMAN
6-6 315 5th season
Maryland
Signed by the Texans on June 19, 2014 and spent the season on Injured Reserve...
Previously played in 15 games (2 starts) for Miami from 2011-13...Made the transition from TE to OT prior to 2012...Saw action in 8 games before being placed on IR
on Nov. 16, 2013...Collegiate lacrosse player.
84 RYAN GRIFFIN
6-6 254 3rd season
Connecticut
Holds career marks of 29 rec. for 335 yards and 2 TDs in 31 games (10 starts)...
Started 8-of-15 games he appeared in as a rookie and recorded 19 receptions for
244 yards and a TD...7th-highest rookie receiving total in franchise history...1-of-3
6th-round draft picks by the Texans in 2013.
76 DUANE BROWN
6-4 303 8th season
Virginia Tech
Garnered All-Pro honors in 2011 and 2012 and Pro Bowl honors following the 2012
and 2013 seasons at LT...Has blocked for five 1,000-yard rushers and was a part
of a top-10 offense in 4 of his first 5 years in the League...6th on the franchise’s alltime games played list at 106...In 2014, started all 16 games for the fifth time in his
career and helped block for RB Arian Foster to compile his fourth 1,000-yard rushing
season...Selected by the Texans in 1st round (26th pick overall) in 2008.
86 KHARI LEE
6-4 235 Rookie
Bowie St.
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015...Played in the EastWest Shrine and Medal of Honor all-star games after leading the Bulldogs in receptions (34) and rec. yards (389) in 2014...Three-time All-CIAA first-team selection
(2012-14).
87 C.J. FIEDOROWICZ
6-5 265 2nd season
Iowa
Texans’ 3rd-round pick in 2014...Caught four passes for 28 yards and a TD as a
rookie...At Iowa, started 20-of-51 games he appeared in, catching 91 passes for 899
yards and 10 TDs...Closed out his career with at least one reception in his last 31
games, the second-longest streak for any active TE in the BCS.
GUARDS (5)
62 CHAD SLADE
6-5 315 Rookie
Auburn
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015...Made 49 career starts
at Auburn, second-most among SEC offensive linemen and fourth-most in school
history...As a senior in 2014, started 14 games and left and right guard.
88 GARRETT GRAHAM
6-3 243 6th season
Wisconsin
Re-signed with the Texans on March 13, 2014 after having a career year in which
he caught 49 passes for 545 yards and tied for the team lead with a career-high 5
TD receptions...Has started 29 of the 52 games he’s appeared in and has caught 96
passes for 1,029 yards and 9 TDs...4th-round pick of the Texans in 2010.
67 CODY WHITE
6-3 303 4th season
Illinois St.
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 14, 2012...Started his rookie
season on the practice squad and then was signed to the active roster on Oct. 10,
2012...Has been inactive in all but 1 game, seeing his first career action at guard at
San Francisco in 2013.
89 MIKE McFARLAND
6-5 252 Rookie
South Florida
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015...In 48 career games
(16 starts), posted 55 receptions for 643 yards and two TDs...As a senior in 2014,
posted a career highs of 27 receptions for 315 yards, averaging 11.7 yards per
catch...Was a two-time American Athletic Conference second-team selection.
71 XAVIER SU’A-FILO
6-4 307 2nd season
UCLA
Selected by the Texans in the 2nd round in 2014 (33rd overall pick)...Played in 13
games (1 start) as a rookie...Started all 40 games that he suited up for at UCLA,
starting 21 contests at LG and 19 more at LT... Returned to the UCLA program in
2012 after serving 2 years on a Mormon Church mission to Alabama and Florida.
TACKLES (9)
63 KENDALL LAMM
6-6 305 Rookie
Appalachian St.
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015...Started 42 career
games at left tackle over four years at Appalachian State...As a senior in 2014,
earned All-Sun Belt Conference first-team honors after recording 46 knockdowns
and allowing only 2.0 sacks over a team-high 817 snaps.
77 DAVID QUESSENBERRY 6-5 306 3rd season
San Jose St.
Diagnosed with with non-Hodgkins T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma during OTAs in
2014 but has worked out and attended meetings with the team this offseason...Has
not yet returned to practice...Drafted by the Texans in the 6th round in 2013...Placed
on IR (foot) on Sept. 10, 2013...#DQStrong.
66 JOSEPH TREADWELL 6-5 324 Rookie Louisiana-Monroe
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 11, 2015...Started all 48 games
he appeared in over four years at Louisiana-Monroe...As a senior in 2014, was the
starting left tackle in 11 games and helped the offense tally 340-or-more yards of
offense in 9 games.
79 BRANDON BROOKS
6-5 335 4th season
Miami (Ohio)
Has played in 36 career games with 30 starts...Became the full-time starter at RG
at the start of 2013 and has started 15 games in back-to-back seasons...Selected
by the Texans in the 3rd round in 2012...Currently pursuing his MBA at St. Thomas
University (Houston).
68 BRYAN WITZMANN
6-7 311 2nd season South Dakota St.
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 16, 2014 and spent his first
season on Injured Reserve...4-year starter at LT for South Dakota St....Started every
game in his college career (49), an SDSU record.
CENTERS (3)
60 BEN JONES (C/G)
6-3 308 4th season
Georgia
Has played in 48 career regular season games with 27 starts, 16 at LG and 11 at
RG...Started both playoff games and 10 regular season games at RG on his way to
being voted Texans Rookie of the Year in 2012...Selected by the Texans in the 4th
round of 2012...Played in all 16 games with 1 start in 2013... Ranked third in Georgia
history with 49 starts at center.
69 AARON ADAMS
6-5 303 1st season
Eastern Ky.
Signed by the Texans as a free agent on July 24, 2015...Missed the entire 2014
season after being placed on Injured Reserve...Spent the entire 2013 season on
the Packers practice squad...Lettered four years at Eastern Kentucky, where he appeared in 44 games (24 starts) at both tackle positions and right guard.
65 GREG MANCZ
6-4 301 Rookie
Toledo
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015...Made 48 starts for the
Toledo Rockets...Moved from left guard to center as a senior and earned All-MAC
first-team honors...Named to the All-MAC second-team as a junior in 2013.
70 JEFF ADAMS
6-7 305 2nd season
Columbia
Claimed off waivers by the Texans on Aug. 31, 2014 and played in two games last
season...Previously spent time on the practice squads of the Bengals, Dolphins and
Titans...Was originally signed by the Cowboys in 2012 as a rookie free agent out of
Columbia, where he was named All-Ivy League in three straight years.
78 JAMES FERENTZ
6-2 285 1st season
Iowa
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 16, 2014...Spent his roookie
season on the practice squad...Three-year starter at center at Iowa who made 38
consecutive starts...Invited to compete at the East-West Shrine Game following the
2012 season.
72 DEREK NEWTON
6-6 313 5th season
Arkansas St.
Signed to a contract extension on March 9, 2015...Has played in 60 regular season
games with 46 starts at RT since being drafted by the Texans in the 7th round in
2011...Has started 2-of-4 playoff games he has appeared in... In 2014, started all 16
games for the 2nd straight year and blocked for RB Arian Foster to rush for his fourth
1,000-yard season.
www.HoustonTexans.com
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PLAYER QUICK NOTES
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
92 LOUIS NIX III
6-2 331 2nd season
Notre Dame
Selected by the Texans in the third round (83rd overall) of 2014…Inactive Weeks 1-3
in 2014…Placed on Injured Reserve after Week 4…Started 30-of-34 games at nose
guard, recording 123 tackles (44 solos), 2.5 sacks, 14 TFLs and 18 quarterback
pressures at Notre Dame…Third-Team All-American in 2012.
DEFENSIVE ENDS (7)
64 JASPER COLEMAN
6-4 290 Rookie
William & Mary
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on June 2, 2015…Compiled 100 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries, a block and two pass break-ups
in 29 career starts at William & Mary…Invited to play in the Medal of Honor Bowl in
2014…Chosen to the CAA Academic All-Conference Team for three years straight.
95 CHRISTIAN COVINGTON 6-2 289Rookie
Rice
Selected by the Texans in the sixth round (216th overall) of 2015…First Rice interior
defensive lineman drafted since Cornelius Walker in 1976 (Kansas City, 3rd round,
59th overall selection)…Saw his 2014 season come to an end after an injury at
FIU resulted in knee surgery…First-team All C-USA pick by league coaches as well
as Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s All-Texas College second team in 2013…Led
Rice with career-high 11.5 TFLs among his 59 stops, including 4.0 sacks in 2013.
93 JARED CRICK
6-4 285 4th season
Nebraska
Has played in 47 career games (16 starts) and has totaled 119 tackles, 3.5 sacks,
7 TFLs and 11 pases defensed...Posted career highs in 2014 with 56 tackles, 11
quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, 6 TFLs and 6 passes defensed…Selected by Houston
in 4th round out of Nebraska in 2012.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (9)
94 TEVITA FINAU
6-5 288 1st season
Utah
Signed by the Texans to a futures contract on Dec. 30, 2014…Spent time on the
practice squads of the Eagles, Cowboys, and Jets from 2012-14…As a senior at
Utah in 2011, played in all 13 games, starting the final four games of the season, and
totaled 37 tackles with 5.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks…Played junior college at Phoenix
College from 2007-08…Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, but was raised in Hawaii
and Tonga.
44 CARLOS THOMPSON 6-5 243 Rookie
Mississippi
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015…Recorded 29 tackles
and 3.0 TFLs in 11 games as a senior at Ole Miss…Missed eight games in 2013 due
to neck and shoulder injuries.
47 LYNDEN TRAIL
6-7 269 Rookie
Norfolk St.
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015…Became just the second NSU defensive player in the Division I era (since 1997) to earn All-MEAC firstteam honors and some form of FCS All-America recognition in three straight years…
Finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defender at the FCS level (finished
8th in the voting) in 2013…Transferred from the University of Florida in 2012.
96 DAN PETTINATO
6-4 277 Rookie
Arizona
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015…Racked up 45 total
tackles (4.5 for loss), 4.0 sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior at Arizona in
2014…Injured his knee as a junior in 2013 and was limited to 10 games… Played in
11 games (4 starts) at DE and 5 starts at DT in 2012 where he tallied 34 tackles, 1.5
TFLs, two passes defensed and one recovered fumble.
48 KOURTNEI BROWN
6-4 253 1st season
Clemson
Signed by the Texans to a futures contract on December 29, 2014 after spending
time on the 49ers, Redskins, Bills, Lions, and Rams practice squads…Recorded 75
tackles, 10 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT, 13 quarterback pressures, 3 PDs and 2 FRs in
869 snaps over 49 games (1 start) in his college career at Clemson.
97 JEOFFREY PAGAN
6-3 310 2nd season
Alabama
Played in all 16 games, making 10 tackles and 1 TFL as a rookie in 2014...Texans
6th-round pick in 2014...60 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL, a blocked kick and a FF at
Alabama…Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the Shrine Bowl.
49 TONY WASHINGTON 6-4 247 Rookie
Oregon
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015…Finished with 11.5
TFLs and 6.0 sacks for Oregon in 2014…2011 Pac-12 Academic All-Conference
Honorable Mention.
98 CAM McLEOD
6-5 282 Rookie
Ohio
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015…Recorded 39 tackles
(15 solo), 2.0 sacks, 1.5 TFLs, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup in 12 starts
as a senior at Ohio…Tallied 38 tackles (15 solo), 2.0 sacks, 4.5 TFLs, a quarterback
hurry and a pass breakup in 2013…Attended Jones County Junior College and was
coached by former Alabama and New York Giants Head Coach Ray Perkins.
51 JOHN SIMON
6-1 252 3rd season
Ohio St.
Made 9 tackles and had 1.5 sacks in 11 games in 2014...Also had 6 quarterback hits,
2 TFLs, 3 ST tackles and 1 PD…Signed by Texans off the Ravens practice squad on
Oct. 7, 2014...Registered a sack, tackle and a special teams tackle vs. Indianapolis
in his Texans debut...Played in 7 games for Baltimore in 2013.
99 J.J. WATT
6-5 289 5th season
Wisconsin
Two-time Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014)…Three-time
Associated Press First-Team All-Pro (2012-14)…Three-time Pro Bowl selection
(2013-15) and 2014 Pro Bowl Captain…Has recorded 57.0 sacks, 11 FRs, 12 FFs
and 37 PDs in his career…Leads the NFL with 158 quarterback hits, 107 TFLs and
57.0 sacks since 2011…1-of-2 players to record 10.0 sacks and 10 PDs in 2 different
seasons since 1991 (Jason Taylor)…Became 1st player in NFL history with 14 PDs
and 14.0 sacks in the same season in 2012…Totaled 78 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 29
TFLs, 50 quarterback hits, 5 FRs and 4 FFs in 2014…1st DL since 1944 with 5 TDs
in a season…4th player with 50.0+ sacks in 1st 4 years since 1982…4th player in
NFL history with INT return, FR and receiving TDs in the same season…11th overall
pick in 2011.
58 RESHARD CLIETT
6-2 222 Rookie
South Florida
Selected by the Texans in the sixth round (211th overall) in 2015…Saw action in 42
games in his four-year career, starting 27 games at South Florida….Recorded 139
career tackles (95 solo), 9.0 sacks, 1 FF and 1 FR.
59 WHITNEY MERCILUS 6-4 258 4th season
Illinois
Signed to a contact extension on May 4, 2015...Started 13-of-15 games and registered 50 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, 9 TFLs and 2 FFs in 2014...Has
started 33-of-47 career regular season games...5th in franchise history with 18.0
sacks...Also has 36 QBHs, 21 TFLs, 4 FFs and 1 FR...Tied the franchise rookie
record with 6.0 sacks in 2012...2012 1st-round pick...Career bests of 7.0 sacks and
18 QBH in 2013.
NOSE/DEFENSIVE TACKLES (4)
61 BRANDON DEADERICK6-4 305 6th season
Alabama
Signed by Texans on June 2, 2015…Has played in 60 career regular season games
(17 starts) for the Patriots, Jaguars, and Saints since 2010…Compiled 62 career
tackles (41 solo), 5.5 sacks, 2 PDs, 4 quarterback hits, 6 TFLs, 3 FFs, and a FR…
Started 5-of-6 career postseason games, all with New England, and recorded 11
tackles (8 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and a TFL…Won the 2011 AFC Championship with the Patriots.
90 JADEVEON CLOWNEY 6-5 266 2nd season South Carolina
Played in four games (2 starts) and totaled 7 tackles (5 solo) after being drafted 1st
overall in 2014...2-time All-American...6th in the Heisman balloting in 2012...Started
23-of-36 games at South Carolina...Recorded 130 tackles (85 solos), 24.0 sacks, 47
TFLs and 20 QB pressures.
91 JASON ANKRAH
6-3 262 1st season
Nebraska
2 games, 1 tackle for the Texans as a rookie in 2014...Signed by the Texans as a
rookie free agent on May 16, 2014...Played DE at Nebraska...Appeared in 49 games
with 31 starts in college...Recorded 81 tackles, 18 TFLs and 7.0 sacks in his fouryear collegiate career.
75 VINCE WILFORK
6-2 325 12th season
Miami (Fla.)
Signed by the Texans as an unrestricted free agent on March 16, 2015 after spending 11 seasons with the Patriots…Played in 158 games (148 starts), compiling 517
tackles (352 solo), 16.0 sacks, 3 INTs, 35 quarterback hits, 28 TFLs, 12 FRs, 4 FFs,
and 26 PDs…Served as a defensive co-captain for 7 straight seasons (2008-14)
and helped the Patriots defense finish in the top-10 in points allowed 9 times (2004,
2006-10, 2012-14)…Holds a 123-35 (.778) career regular season record…Member
of the first team in NFL history to complete a 16-0 regular season (2007 Patriots)…
Patriots all-time leader in INTs by a DL…Won two Super Bowls (XXXIX, XLIX) and
4 AFC Championships (2004, 2007, 2011, 2014)…First-team All-Pro (2012)…Second-team All-Pro 4 times (2007, 2009-11)…Named to the Pro Bowl 5 times (2007,
2009-12)…Named to New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team.
www.HoustonTexans.com
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PLAYER QUICK NOTES
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
29 ANDRE HAL
5-10 188 2nd season
Vanderbilt
Selected by the Texans in the 7th round in 2014...As a rookie, played in 14 games,
made 18 tackles and had 4 PDs...Appeared in 50 games for Vanderbilt and made
133 career tackles with 6 INTs and 37 PDs...Named All-SEC second-team by both
the league head coaches and AP in 2013.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (7)
50 AKEEM DENT
6-1 239 5th season
Georgia
Started 7-of-15 games he played and tallied 27 tackles, 11 ST tackles, 6 QBHs, 2
TFLs and a sack in 2014...Acquired in a trade from Atlanta on June 19, 2014...135
tackles and 2.5 sacks in his career...Tallied 46 tackles in 2013...19 special teams
tackles his rookie season in 2011.
30 KEVIN JOHNSON
5-11 188 Rookie
Wake Forest
1st-round pick of the Texans in 2015...Played in 47 career games at Wake Forest,
starting the last 41 games he appeared in...Recorded 191 tackles (125 solo), 7 INTs,
35 pass break ups, 3 FFs and 2 FRs in 4 seasons...Had 35 pass break ups (4thhighest total in school history).
52 JEFF TARPINIAN
6-3 240 4th season
Iowa
12 special teams tackles in 2014...In 31 career games (4 starts), has recorded 36
tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 PD and 17 ST tackles…Signed by the Texans on Oct. 28, 2013
and re-signed on March 10, 2015.
31 CHARLES JAMES
5-9 179 2nd season Charleston Southern
Signed to the Texans practice squad on Oct. 1, 2014...In 2013, played in 12 games,
primarily on special teams, with the Giants...Originally signed by the Giants as a
rookie free agent on May 10, 2013...Attended Charleston Southern where he earned
All-America honors as a senior after setting a school record with 12 career INTs.
53 MAX BULLOUGH
6-3 249 1st season
Michigan St.
Made his NFL debut vs. Tennessee (11/30/14) in Week 13 and had 1 tackle on
special teams…Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 16, 2014…4year letterwinner and 3-year starter at Michigan State…2-time All-Big Ten first-team
selection (2012-13)…Collected 299 career tackles in 53 games (40 starts) at MSU.
34 A.J. BOUYE
6-0 191 3rd season Central Florida
In 2014, finished tied for the team lead with 3 INTs...Added 54 tackles, 10 PDs, 5 ST
tackles, a TFL, a FF and a FR...Ranked 6th in the NFL with 120 INT return yards...
Signed by the Texans on May 10, 2013...Played in 6 games and recorded 2 special
teams tackles in 2013...Placed on IR (hamstring) on Oct. 16, 2013.
54 MIKE MOHAMED
6-3 238 4th season
California
Played in 14 games (2 starts) and had 58 tackles, 9 ST tackles, 6 PDs, 2 TFLs,
2 QBHs and 1 INT in 2014...Career-high 9 tackles vs. Philadelphia in Week 9 of
2014...25 career games played for the Texans and Broncos...Originally signed by
the Texans to a futures contact on Jan. 17, 2013.
SAFETIES (7)
55 BENARDRICK McKINNEY 6-4 246 Rookie
Mississippi St.
Drafted by the Texans in the third round (43rd overall) in 2015…One of the all-time
great linebackers in Mississippi State history, becoming the program’s first first-team
All-America linebacker since 1999…Played in 39 games (36 starts) in 3 seasons and
recorded 244 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 7 PDs and 6 FRs.
26 RAHIM MOORE
6-1 195 5th season
UCLA
Signed by the Texans on March 12, 2015…Selected by the Broncos in the 2nd round
(45th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft...5th-year safety who has started 48-of-57 regular-season games, totaling 196 tackles (169 solo), 1.0 sack, 8 INTs, 20 PDs, 1 QBH,
5 TFLs, 2 FFs and 3 FRs…Diagnosed with acute lateral compartment syndrome in
his leg in November 2013 and spent the remainder of the season on injured reserve.
56 BRIAN CUSHING
6-3 249 7th season
USC
Registered 72 tackles, 9 QBHs and 1.0 sack in 2014...Tied franchise record with 17
tackles at NYG in Week 3 in 2014...Led Houston in tackles in 2009 and 2011, and
ranks 2nd in franchise history with 503 career tackles...9th in team history with 12.0
career sacks...15 career double-digit tackle games...AP All-Pro 2nd Team (2009,
2011)...AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (2009)...Pro Bowl Selection (2010)...2011
Texans Team MVP...Drafted by the Texans with the 15th overall pick in 2009.
27 TERRANCE PARKS
6-2 218 1st season
Florida St.
Signed by the Texans to a future contract on Dec. 29, 2014...Made his NFL debut on
special teams with the Seahawks in 2014…3-year letterman who played in 43 career
games for FSU…Started 23 games over the final 2 seasons and finished his career
with 99 tackles, 10 PDs and 1 INT…Originally signed with the Chiefs as a rookie free
agent on April 30, 2012.
57 JUSTIN TUGGLE
6-3 249 3rd season
Kansas St.
Started in 7-of-16 games and made 36 tackles, 1 INT and a FR in 2014... Played
in 15 games and had a team-best 11 special teams tackles as a rookie...Went undrafted in 2013 out of Kansas State...Former college QB...Son of former Atlanta
great Jessie Tuggle.
33 STEVIE BROWN
5-11 215 6th season
Michigan
Signed by the Texans on May 1, 2015…6th-year safety who has started 20-of-55
regular-season games with the Raiders, Colts and Giants…Has 115 tackles (96
solo), 1.0 sack, 8 INTs, 14 PDs, 3 QBHs, 5 TFLs, 2 FFs, and 2 FRs in his career...2012 NFL interception return yards leader...New York Giants single-season
interception return yards record (307, 2012)…Two-time NFC Defensive Player of
the Week…Missed the entire 2013 season after tearing his ACL in the preseason…
Selected by the Raiders in the 7th round (251st overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
CORNERBACKS (8)
20 JUMAL ROLLE
6-0 188 2nd season
Catawba
Played in 10 games and tied for the team-lead with 3 INTs in 2014...Had 15 tackles,
4 ST tackles and 4 PDs...Signed by the Texans from the Packers practice squad on
Oct. 1, 2014...Originally signed by the Bills as a rookie free agent in 2013.
35 EDDIE PLEASANT
5-10 210 3rd season
Oregon
Enjoyed his first full season on the active roster in 2013 after spending the first 14
weeks of the 2012 season on the practice squad as a rookie free agent…Has played
in 32 regular season games (1 start) and 2 postseason games…Has 16 tackles
and 14 ST tackles in his career to go along with 3 PDs…Played in 14 games and
recorded a tackle, 5 ST tackles and a PD in 2014...Re-signed by Texans on March
9, 2015...Originally signed with the Texans on May 14, 2012.
21 DARRYL MORRIS
5-10 188 3rd season
Texas St.
In 2014, appeared in 11 games (1 start) and recorded 30 tackles, an INT and 7
PDs...Acquired from waivers by the Texans on Aug. 31, 2014...Signed by the 49ers
as a rookie free agent on May 7, 2013...At Texas State, registered 223 tackles, 5
INTs, 16.5 TFLs and 26 PDs in 46 career games (43 starts).
39 LONNIE BALLENTINE 6-3 215 2nd season
Memphis
Selected by the Texans in the 7th round (256th overall) of 2014 NFL Draft...Spent
entire 2014 season on IR…Played in 42 total games at Memphis with 176 total
tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack and 3 INTs.
24 JOHNATHAN JOSEPH 5-11 188 10th season South Carolina
Has played in 127 career games (118 starts) and has recorded 492 total tackles
(423 solo), 128 PDs, 25 INTs, 5 FFs and 5 FRs...His PD total ranks first among all
players since 2006...Signed by the Texans as an unrestricted free agent on July 29,
2011...His 11 INTs with the Texans rank tied for 2nd in franchise history...AP SecondTeam All-Pro (2011)...2-time Pro Bowl selection (2012, 2013)...In 2014, started all
16 games and finished with a career-best 75 tackles...Also had 2 INTs, including a
60-yard INT return for TD, 2 FFs, 2 FRs and 11 PDs.
40 KURTIS DRUMMOND 6-1 208 Rookie
Michigan St.
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2015…Recorded 233 career
tackles in 52 games at Michigan State…2014 First-Team All-American (FWAA, Phil
Steele)…2014 Big Ten Defensive Back Of The Year…Two-time First-Team All-Big
Ten (2013, 2014)…Ranked among MSU’s all-time leaders in INTs (T-7th with 12),
PDs (11th with 33) and INT return yards (12th with 148)… Helped lead the Spartans
to a 4-0 record in bowl games during his career.
25 KAREEM JACKSON
5-10 188 6th season
Alabama
2010 1st-round pick who has started 71-of-74 games in his career...5th in team
history with 10 career INTs...In 2014, started all 13 games he played in and ended
the season with 57 tackles and 9 PDs...Tied for the team lead with 3 INTs...In 2013,
started all 14 games he played in and recorded 62 tackles, 8 PDs, a TFL and FR...
Re-signed by the Texans on March 9, 2015.
www.HoustonTexans.com
43 COREY MOORE
6-2 206 Rookie
Georgia
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 11, 2015…Played in 12 games
(6 starts) as a senior at Georgia in 2014…Recorded 2 career INTs in college and
received the Erskine “Erk” Russell Football Scholarship.
11
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PLAYER QUICK NOTES/ROSTER INFORMATION
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
SPECIALISTS (4)
4
RANDY BULLOCK (K) 5-9 206 4th season
Texas A&M
Made 16 consecutive FGs between 11/17/13-9/14/14, which ranked second in team
history...Made a FG in a franchise-record 19 consecutive games between 9/22/1410/5/14...Holds the franchise record for FGs in a game: 6, vs. BAL (12/21/14)...Holds
the franchise record for points scored in a game: 19, vs. BAL (12/21/14)...Tied the
franchise record for PATs made with 6 vs. TEN (11/30/14)...Ranks 5th on the franchise’s all-time scoring list with 234 points...Selected by the Texans in the 5th round
in 2012...2011 Groza Award winner at Texas A&M.
8
WILL JOHNSON (P)
6-2 206 Rookie
Texas State
Signed by the Texans as a rookie free agent on May 11, 2015...In 2014, averaged
63.4 yards on 71 kickoffs with 46 resulting in touchbacks...Named All-Sun Belt Conference second-team punter by both College Sports Madness and Phil Steele...Was
1-of-2 Bobcats to attend the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine.
9
SHANE LECHLER (P) 6-2 237 16th season
Texas A&M
Top career gross punting avg. in NFL history, 47.5...Fastest player in NFL history to
reach 50,000 yards punting (1,051 punts) and is just 1-of-6 players with 50,000-plus
yards punting...6-time All-Pro (2000, 2003-04, 2008-10)...7-time Pro Bowler (2001,
2004, 2007-11)...Owns league’s longest active games played streak at 206 games...
Signed by Texans as an unrestricted free agent on March 23, 2013 after 13 seasons
in Oakland...Set franchise record with 47.6 gross average in 2013.
TEXANS ROSTER SUPERLATIVES
Tallest Player..............Jeff Adams, Lynden Trail, Bryan Witzmann (6’7’’)
Shortest Player...................................................Damaris Johnson (5’8’’)
Average Height............................................................................... 6’2.2’’
Average Height of Texans 2015 Draft Class................................... 6’1.1”
Heaviest Player............................................. Brandon Brooks (335 lbs.)
Lightest Player.............................................. Chandler Worthy (173 lbs.)
Players over 300 pounds..................................................................... 20
Players under 200 pounds................................................................... 16
Average Weight........................................................................247.5 lbs.
Average Weight of Texans 2014 Draft Class...............................229 lbs.
Oldest Player.............................................................Shane Lechler (38)
Youngest Player.........................................................Jaelen Strong (21)
Players 30 or older................................................................................ 4
Players 25 or younger......................................................................... 62
Average Age........................................................................... 24.9 years
PLAYERS FROM TEXAS (8)
K Randy Bullock.............................................................................. Klein
FS Stevie Brown............................................................................ Dallas
P Will Johnson................................................................................Bryan
WR Travis Labhart................................................................. Whitesboro
P Shane Lechler................................................................. East Bernard
QB Ryan Mallett......................................................................Texarkana
CB Darryl Morris...................................................................San Antonio
WR EZ Nwachukwu......................................................................... Allen
46 JON WEEKS (LS)
5-10 246 6th season
Baylor
Played in 80 consecutive career games...Hasn’t missed a game throughout his career...Has appeared in all 4 of Houston’s playoff games...Signed with the Texans in
2010 offseason and made the roster out of training camp.
TURNING OVER PERCENTAGES
52.2% - 47 of the 90 players who were on Houston’s opening training
camp roster in 2014 are with the team as it opens training camp in 2015.
PLAYERS WHO PLAYED COLLEGE IN TEXAS (9)
K Randy Bullock.................................................................... Texas A&M
DT Christian Covington.................................................................... Rice
P Will Johnson...................................................................... Texas State
WR Travis Labhart................................................................. Texas A&M
P Shane Lechler.................................................................... Texas A&M
CB Darryl Morris................................................................... Texas State
WR EZ Nwachukwu............................................................... Texas A&M
ILB Justin Tuggle................................................................ Blinn College
LS Jon Weeks............................................................................... Baylor
66.7% -
The position group that saw the largest percentage of
turnover was the quarterbacks group. Of the three quarterbacks on
Houston’s roster at the start of training camp in 2014, only Tom Savage
returns. Ryan Mallett was acquired by Houston in a trade with New
England following the completion of the preseason Brian Hoyer was
signed as an unrestricted free agent in March 2015.
63.6% - Defensive line had the next-largest turnover at 63.6 percent. Only Jared Crick, Louis Nix III, Jeoffrey Pagan and J.J. Watt
are back from the 11 defensive linemen that opened camp for the Texans
last year.
FIRST-ROUND PICKS (10)
Year (Team)
LT Duane Brown............................................................. 2008 (Houston)
OLB Jadeveon Clowney................................................. 2014 (Houston)
ILB Brian Cushing........................................................... 2009 (Houston)
WR DeAndre Hopkins.................................................... 2013 (Houston)
CB Kareem Jackson....................................................... 2010 (Houston)
CB Kevin Johnson.......................................................... 2015 (Houston)
CB Johnathan Joseph.................................................. 2006 (Cincinnati)
OLB Whitney Mercilus.................................................... 2012 (Houston)
NT Vince Wilfork..................................................... 2004 (New England)
DE J.J. Watt.....................................................................2011 (Houston)
25.0% - The specialists saw the least turnover at 25.0 percent followed by the offensive line at 31.3 percent, as 11-of-16 players that
started camp in 2014 return in 2015.
IN CASE YOU FORGOT
Houston is routinely recognized as having the hottest training camp in
the NFL. According to currentresults.com, the average daily highs in July
and August are 94 and 95 degrees, respectively. On average, Houston
sees 26 days of 90 degrees or more in July and 27 such days in August
with a relative humidity around 76 percent.
102º
The expected high in Houston on Saturday, August 1.
www.HoustonTexans.com
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2015 SCHEDULE NOTES
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
Date
Opponent All-Time Series Note
Sept. 13 Kansas City
3-3
Houston’s season opener against Kansas City will mark the second time in team history that they have opened up vs. the Chiefs,
also hosting them in the opener in 2007. It will mark the seventh time the two teams have played in the regular season as Houston is 3-3 all-time vs. Kansas City. The teams last played in 2010, a 17-16 victory for the Chiefs.
Sept. 20 at Carolina
2-1
The Texans’ two-game winning streak vs. Carolina was snapped in 2011 with a 28-13 loss at home. Houston has outscored
Carolina, 61-59, in the all-time series. The Texans will face all four NFC South teams for the fourth time in franchise history.
Sept. 27 Tampa Bay
2-1
Oct. 4
The Texans own a 7-5 record all-time against the NFC South. All three previous Texans-Buccaneers games have been decided
by 13 points or more. Houston has outscored Tampa Bay, 65-23, in the last two games, both victories for the Texans.
at Atlanta
2-1
All three previous Texans vs. Falcons games have been decided by 10 points or less. The Texans have outscored the Falcons,
50-49, in the all-time series. Houston won the most recent matchup vs. Atlanta in 2011, a 17-10 victory at home. Texans LB
Akeem Dent played for the Falcons (2011-13) before getting traded to Houston in 2014.
Oct. 8
Indianapolis
4-22
The Texans will host the Colts on Thursday Night Football for the second straight season. Last year’s matchup ended in a
33-28 loss. DE J.J. Watt finished the game with 7 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 4 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed
and a 45-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
15-11
Nine of the 13 road matchups against Jacksonville have been decided by a touchdown or less. Houston’s six road wins
against Jacksonville are the most in franchise history against a single opponent. Texans WR Cecil Shorts III played for the
Jaguars (2011-14) before joining the Texans this offseason.
7-0
Houston has never lost to Miami in seven games. The only other team the Texans have never lost to is the Chicago Bears
(3-0). Houston has outscored Miami 169-125 all-time. The teams haven’t met since 2012.
11-15
Nov. 16 at Cincinnati
The Texans are looking for four consecutive wins at home against the Titans for the first time ever. Texans WR Nate Washington played for the Titans (2009-14) before joining the Texans this offseason.
5-4*
Houston is 3-4 all-time vs. Cincinnati in the regular season and 2-0 in the playoffs. The Texans snapped a five-game winning
streak vs. the Bengals in their most recent matchup, a 22-13 victory for Cincinnati in 2014. Texans CB Johnathan Joseph played
for the Bengals (2006-10) before joining the Texans in 2011.
Nov. 22 New York Jets
1-5
The Texans and Jets last met in 2012, a 23-17 road victory for Houston. Houston has never beat the Jets at home (0-2).
Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel served as the Jets defensive line coach (1997-99). Texans offensive line coach
Mike Devlin was the Jets tight ends coach (2006), offensive line coach (2007), tight ends and asst. offensive line coach (200812), and offensive line coach (2013-14) before joining the Texans this offseason.
Nov. 29 New Orleans 1-2
The Saints and Texans will face off in the preseason and regular season in 2015. New Orleans has outscored Houston, 81-66,
in the three previous regular season meetings. The Texans own a 7-5 record all-time against the NFC South.
Dec. 6 at Buffalo
4-3
The Texans hold a three-game winning streak over Buffalo and have outscored the Bills 75-36 since 2009. Texans wide
receivers coach Stan Hixon served in the same role with the Bills (2010-11) before joining Bill O’Brien’s staff at Penn State.
Dec. 13 New England
1-5*
Houston takes on New England for the fourth time since 2012. The Texans faced the Patriots twice in 2012, including in the
AFC Divisional Round. Texans Head Coach Bill O’Brien served as the Patriots offensive assistant (2007), wide receivers
coach (2008), quarterbacks coach (2009-10), and offensive coordinator (2011).
Dec. 20 at Indianapolis
4-22
Houston is still in search of its first win at Indianapolis. The Texans fell to the Colts, 17-10, in last year’s matchup at Lucas Oil
Stadium.
Dec. 27 at Tennessee
11-15
The Texans are 5-8 on the road against the Titans but are 3-1 in their last four matchups in Tennessee. Last year, Houston
won 30-16 behind 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) from RB Arian Foster.
Jan. 3
15-11
Houston and Jacksonville will meet in the season finale for the second consecutive season and the fourth time overall. The
Texans closed out the 2014 season with a 23-17 win against the Jaguars after posting wins against Jacksonville in the 2007
and 2010 season finales.
Oct. 18 at Jacksonville
Oct. 25 at Miami
Nov. 1
Tennessee
Jacksonville
* - INCLUDES POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
TEXANS 2015 OPPONENTS
HOME
RECORD vs. (HOME)
LAST HOME GAME
ROAD
RECORD vs. (ROAD)
LAST ROAD GAME
Kansas City
Tampa Bay
2-2
2010 (W, 35-31)
Carolina
1-0
2007 (W, 34-21)
1-0
2007 (W, 28-14)
Atlanta
0-1
2007 (L, 26-16)
Indianapolis
4-9
2014 (L, 33-28)
Jacksonville
6-7
2014 (W, 27-13)
Tennessee
6-7
2014 (W, 45-21)
Miami
3-0
2011 (W, 23-13)
New York Jets
0-2
2009 (L, 24-7)
Cincinnati
2-2
2011 (W, 20-19)
New Orleans
1-0
2007 (W, 23-10)
Buffalo
2-1
2009 (W, 31-10)
New England
1-2
2013 (L, 34-31)
Indianapolis
0-13
2014 (L, 17-10)
Jacksonville
9-4
2014 (W, 23-17)
Tennessee
5-8
2014 (W, 30-16)
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2014 TEXANS AT A GLANCE
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
2014 TEXANS REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
Total First Downs
Rushing
Passing
Penalty
3rd Down: Made/Att
3rd Down Pct.
4th Down: Made/Att
4th Down Pct.
Possession Avg.
Total Net Yards
Avg. Per Game
Total Plays
Avg. Per Play
Net Yards Rushing
Avg. Per Game
Total Rushes
Net Yards Passing
Avg. Per Game
Sacked/Yards Lost
Gross Yards
Attempts/Completions
Completion Pct.
Had Intercepted
Punts/Average
Net Punting Avg.
Penalties/Yards
Fumbles/Ball Lost
Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing
Returns
2014 TEXANS REGULAR SEASON TEAM RANKINGS
Houston Opponents
313
329
108
89
171
206
34
34
91/235
74/218
38.7%
33.9%
10/17
6/17
58.8%
35.3%
30:53
29:07
5,513
5,571
344.6
348.2
1,062
1,077
5.2
5.2
2,161
1,681
135.1
105.1
551
420
3,352
3,890
209.5
243.1
26/108
38/251
3,460
4,141
485/295
619/363
60.8%
58.6%
13
20
84/45.883/45.1
38.7
41.4
94/83499/786
19/9
24/14
4036
12
6
22
28
6
2
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
SPECIAL TEAMS
MarkAFCNFL MarkAFCNFL
MarkAFCNFL
Total
344.6 8 17 348.2 10 16 PR Avg 6.1 16 31
Rushing 135.1 2 5 105.1 6 10 Punt Cov. 12.4 16 31
Passing 209.51224243.11321 KR Avg. 21.1 16 29
KR Cov. 26.0 13 25
2014 TEXANS LEADERS
AFC NFL
Category
Player
TotalRankRank
Pass Attempts
R. Fitzpatrick
312
15
27
Pass Completions
R. Fitzpatrick
197
15
27
Completion Percentage R. Fitzpatrick
63.1
9
18
Yards Passing
R. Fitzpatrick
2,483
15
26
Average Gain
R. Fitzpatrick
7.96
2
4
Touchdown Passes
R. Fitzpatrick
17
12
22
Touchdown Percentage R. Fitzpatrick
5.4%
4
6
Interception Percentage R. Fitzpatrick
2.6%
9
18
Rating
R. Fitzpatrick
95.3
5
9
Fourth-Quarter Rating R. Fitzpatrick
102.1
3
7
Third-Down Passing
R. Fitzpatrick
83.7
9
18
Yards Rushing
A. Foster
1,246
3
6
Receptions
A. Johnson
85
5
13t
Yards Receiving
D. Hopkins
1,210
5
12
Third-Down Receptions D. Hopkins
23
7t
18t
Scoring, non-kickers
A. Foster
78
3
5t
Scoring, Kickers
R. Bullock
130
5
9
Touchbacks
R. Bullock
40
6
15t
Yards from Scrimmage A. Foster
1,573
4
8
First Downs
A. Foster
67
6t
14t
Gross Punting Average S. Lechler
46.3
8
12
Net Punting Average
S. Lechler
38.7
11
22
Punt Return Average
K. Martin
6.2
14
24
Kickoff Return Average D. Johnson
22.7
NR
NR
Interceptions
A. Bouye
3
11t
NR
Interceptions
K. Jackson
3
11t
NR
Interceptions
J. Rolle
3
11t
NR
Sacks
J. Watt
20.5
2
2
Def. Fumble Recoveries J. Watt
5
1
1
2014 HONORS
MAXWELL CLUB BERT BELL PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
J.J. Watt
ASSOCIATED PRESS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
J.J. Watt
PRO FOOTBALL WRITERS’ DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
J.J. Watt
NFL 101 AFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
J.J. Watt
ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-PRO
First Team
DE J.J. Watt (unanimous)
PFWA ALL-NFL
First Team
DE J.J. Watt
PRO BOWL
LT Duane Brown
RB Arian Foster TEAM AWARDS
MVP
Rookie of the Year
Ed Block Courage Award
Mark Bruener Award
DE J.J. Watt
RB Alfred Blue
T David Quessenberry
WR Andre Johnson
DE J.J. Watt (captain)
AFC PLAYER OF THE MONTH
DE J.J. Watt
September and December
AFC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
K Randy Bullock
Special Teams
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Offensive
DE J.J. Watt
Defensive
Week 16
Week 13
Week 4 & 11
FEDEX AIR PLAYER OF THE WEEK
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Week 13
www.HoustonTexans.com
14
@TexansPR
2014 FINAL REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
WON 9, LOST 7
Date W/LScore
9/7 W
17-6
9/14
W
30-14
9/21
L
30-17
9/28
W
23-17
10/5
L
20-17 (OT)
10/9
L
33-28
10/20
L
30-23
10/26
W
30-16
11/2
L
31-21
11/16
W
23-7
11/23
L
22-13
11/30
W
45-21
12/7
W
27-13
12/14
L
17-10
12/21
W
25-13
12/28
W
23-17
TEXANS STATISTICS
Total First Downs
Rushing
Passing
Penalty
3rd Down: Made/Att
3rd Down Pct.
4th Down: Made/Att
4th Down Pct.
Possession Avg.
Total Net Yards
Avg. Per Game
Total Plays
Avg. Per Play
Net Yards Rushing
Avg. Per Game
Total Rushes
Net Yards Passing
Avg. Per Game
Sacked/Yards Lost
Gross Yards
Attempts/Completions
Completion Pct.
Had Intercepted
Punts/Average
Net Punting Avg.
Penalties/Yards
Fumbles/Ball Lost
Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing
Returns
Attendance
71,770
54,063
77,462
71,756
91,159
71,787
56,375
69,143
71,780
67,431
71,777
71,714
61,070
65,148
71,771
71,777
TEXANSOpponents
313
329
108
89
171
206
34
34
91/235
74/218
38.7%
33.9%
10/17
6/17
58.8%
35.3%
30:53
29:07
5,513
5,571
344.6
348.2
1,062
1,077
5.2
5.2
2,161
1,681
135.1
105.1
551
420
3,352
3,890
209.5
243.1
26/108
38/251
3,460
4,141
485/295
619/363
60.8%
58.6%
13
20
84/45.8
83/45.1
38.7
41.4
94/834
99/786
19/9
24/14
40
36
12
6
22
28
6
2
SCORE BY PERIODS
TEXANS
Opponents
SCORING
R.Bullock
A.Foster
D.Hopkins
J.Watt
A.Blue
A.Johnson
R.Fitzpatrick
J.Joseph
G.Graham
K.Lewis
D.Johnson
R.Griffin
A.Bouye
C.Fiedorowicz
Team
Opponents
Opponent
Washington
at Oakland
at New York Giants
Buffalo
at Dallas
Indianapolis
at Pittsburgh
at Tennessee
Philadelphia
at Cleveland
Cincinnati
Tennessee
at Jacksonville
at Indianapolis
Baltimore
Jacksonville
TD
0
13
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
40
36
www.HoustonTexans.com
No. Yds
260 1,246
169 528
50 184
39 153
10
35
5
19
6
4
6
-2
6
-6
5512,161
4201,681
AvgLong TD
4.8
51
8
3.1
46
2
3.7
16
2
3.9
11
0
3.5
13
0
3.8
12
0
0.7
2
0
-0.3
2
0
-1.0
1
0
3.9 51 12
4.0 41 6
RECEIVING
A.Johnson
D.Hopkins
A.Foster
D.Johnson
G.Graham
A.Blue
R.Griffin
J.Grimes
K.Martin
C.Fiedorowicz
J.Watt
D.Posey
J.Prosch
R.Brown
TEXANS
Opponents
No. Yds
85 936
76 1,210
38 327
31 331
18 197
15 113
10
91
6
86
6
78
4
28
3
4
1
30
1
24
1
5
2953,460
3634,141
AvgLong TD
11.0
35
3
15.9
76t
6
8.6
56t
5
10.7
44t
1
10.9
26
1
7.5
22
1
9.1
25
1
14.3
31
0
13.0
32
0
7.0
9
1
1.3
2t
3
30.0
30
0
24.0
24
0
5.0
5
0
11.7 76t 22
11.4 80t 28
INTERCEPTIONS
A.Bouye
K.Jackson
J.Rolle
J.Joseph
K.Lewis
D.Swearinger
J.Watt
J.Tuggle
B.Reed
M.Mohamed
D.Morris
TEXANS
Opponents
No. Yds AvgLong TD
3 120 40.0
67
1
3
97 32.3
65
0
3
25
8.3
13
0
2
85 42.5
60t
1
2
32 16.0
27t
1
2
31 15.5
25
0
1
80 80.0
80t
1
1
8
8.0
8
0
1
5
5.0
5
0
1
0
0.0
0
0
1
0
0.0
0
0
20 48324.2 80t 4
13120 9.2 55t 1
PUNTING
S.Lechler
TEXANS
Opponents
PUNT RETURNS
K.Martin
D.Johnson
TEXANS
Opponents
1234
OT
Total
69 111
88 104
0 372
58
99
64
83
3 307
Ru Pa RtPAT FG2PT TP
0
0
0 40/40 30/35
0 130
8
5
0 0/0 0/0
0
78
0
6
0 0/0 0/0
0
36
0
3
2 0/0 0/0
0
32
2
1
1 0/0 0/0
0
24
0
3
0 0/0 0/0
0
18
2
0
0 0/0 0/0
0
12
0
0
1 0/0 0/0
0
6
0
1
0 0/0 0/0
0
6
0
0
1 0/0 0/0
0
6
0
1
0 0/0 0/0
0
6
0
1
0 0/0 0/0
0
6
0
0
1 0/0 0/0
0
6
0
1
0 0/0 0/0
0
6
12 22
640/4030/35
0 372
6 28
232/3319/22
0 307
2-Pt. Conversions: TEXANS 0/0, Opponents: 0/3
Sacks: J.Watt 20.5, W.Mercilus 5.0, J.Crick 3.5, B.Reed 3.0, T.Jamison 1.5, J.Simon 1.5,
D.Swearinger 1.0, B.Cushing 1.0, A.Dent 1.0. TEXANS: 38.0, Opponents: 26.0
FUMBLES/LOST: A. Johnson 3/3, A. Foster 2/2, D. Hopkins 2/1, R. Fitzpatrick 5/1, T. Savage 2/1, C. Keenum 1/1, D. Johnson 2/0, D. Manning 1/0, C. Myers 1/0.
TEXANS: 18/8, Opponents: 22/14.
OPP. FUMBLE RECOVERIES: J. Watt 5, J. Joseph 2, A. Blue 1, A. Bouye, D. Hopkins 1,
T. Jamison 1, K. Lewis 1, D. Swearinger 1, J. Tuggle 1. Total: 14
PASSING Att Comp YdsCmp%Yds/Att
R.Fitzpatrick
312
197
2,483
63.1%
8.0
C.Keenum
77
45
435
58.4%
5.6
R.Mallett
75
41
400
54.7%
5.3
T.Savage
19
10
127
52.6%
6.7
S.Lechler
1
1
10
100.0%
10.0
A.Foster
1
1
5
100.0%
5.0
TEXANS 485 2953,46060.8% 7.1
Opponents 619 3634,14158.6% 6.7
RUSHING
A.Foster
A.Blue
R.Fitzpatrick
J.Grimes
C.Keenum
D.Johnson
R.Brown
R.Mallett
T.Savage
TEXANS
Opponents
KICKOFF RETURNS
D.Manning
D.Johnson
K.Martin
TEXANS
Opponents
FIELD GOALS
R.Bullock
TEXANS
Opponents
No.YdsAvg Net TB In Lg B
83 3,845 46.3 38.7
10
27
71
1
84
3,845
45.8
38.71027711
833,74245.141.4 5 34 62 1
Ret
FC Yds Avg Long TD
25
24 154
6.2
21
0
9
4
54
6.0
12
0
34282086.1210
3224396
12.4480
No. Yds AvgLong TD
13 267 20.5
41
0
6 136 22.7
31
0
1
19 19.0
19
0
20 42221.1 41 0
451,169 26.0 42 0
1-1920-2930-3940-49 50+
0/0
6/7 13/15
7/8 4/5
0/06/7
13/157/84/5
0/03/3
10/115/51/3
R.Bullock: (42G) (33G, 39G, 46G, 27B) (27G) (41G, 55G, 50G) (29G) (37WR) (39G, 38G,
31G) (30G, 29G, 49G) (39 WL) (52WR, 46G, 37G, 50G) (36G, 25G) (37G, 43BL) (44G,
44G) (53G) (35G, 25G, 30G, 20G, 39G, 33G) ( )
Opponents: ( ) ( ) (39G, 29G, 31G) (31G) (33G, 53WL, 49G) (27G, 34G) (44G, 30G, 40G)
(35G) (45G) (38WR) (31G, 49G) ( ) (33G, 37G) (29G) ( ) (53G, 51LU)
TD TD%
Int Int% Long
Sack/LostRating
17
5.4%
8
2.6%
76t
21/83
95.3
2
2.6%
2
2.6%
35
3/15
72.2
2
2.7%
2
2.7%
41
1/5
67.6
0
0.0%
1
5.3%
35
1/5
51.9
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
10
0/0
108.3
1
100.0%
0
0.0%
5t
0/0
127.1
224.5% 132.7% 76t
26/108 86.5
284.5% 203.2% 80t
38/251 80.4
15
@TexansPR
2014 FINAL DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS STATISTICS
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS - All stats are from NFL play-by-plays
TACKLES
Solo Asst Total
Sk Sk Yds
TFL QBH Int (Yd) PD
FF
FR
Kendrick Lewis
52
32
84
0.0
0.0
4
1
2 (32)
6
3
1
J.J. Watt
59
19
78 20.5 140.0
29
50
1 (80) 10
4
5
Johnathan Joseph
70
5
75
0.0
0.0
1
0
2 (85) 11
2
2
D.J. Swearinger
52
22
74
1.0
8.0
3
3
2 (31)
6
3
1
Brian Cushing
41
31
72
1.0
8.0
1
9
0
2
1
0
Mike Mohamed
31
27
58
0.0
0.0
2
1
1 (0)
6
0
0
Kareem Jackson
48
9
57
0.0
0.0
4
1
3 (97)
9
0
0
Jared Crick
29
27
56
3.5 20.0
6
11
0
6
0
0
A.J. Bouye
47
7
54
0.0
0.0
1
0 3 (120) 10
1
1
Whitney Mercilus
31
19
50
5.0 30.0
9
11
0
0
2
0
Brooks Reed
25
16
41
3.0 19.0
5
10
1 (5)
4
0
0
Danieal Manning
25
12
37
0.0
0.0
1
1
0
2
0
0
Justin Tuggle
19
17
36
0.0
0.0
1
1
1 (8)
2
0
1
Darryl Morris
25
5
30
0.0
0.0
1
0
1 (0)
7
0
0
Akeem Dent
20
7
27
1.0
7.0
2
6
0
0
0
0
Ryan Pickett
11
9
20
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
3
0
0
Tim Jamison
12
7
19
1.5 14.0
1
3
0
0
0
1
Andre Hal
15
3
18
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
4
0
0
Jumal Rolle
14
1
15
0.0
0.0
1
0
3 (25)
4
0
0
Jerrell Powe
6
4
10
0.0
0.0
1
0
0
1
0
0
Jeoffrey Pagan
5
5
10
0.0
0.0
1
0
0
0
0
0
John Simon
4
5
9
1.5
5.0
2
6
0
1
0
0
Jadeveon Clowney
5
2
7
0.0
0.0
3
0
0
0
0
0
Elbert Mack
4
0
4
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ricky Sapp
2
0
2
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Jeff Tarpinian
1
1
2
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Eddie Pleasant
1
0
1
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
1
0
0
TEAM
1
0
1
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Jason Ankrah
101
0.0
0.000 0
000
TEXANS
656292948
38.0
251.079114
20 (483)
951612
Opponents
69130699726.0
108.0 75 80
13 (120)69 11 9
MISCELLANEOUS TACKLES: Andre Johnson 4, Ben Jones 3, Damaris Johnson 2, C.J. Fiedorowicz 1, Arian Foster
1, Garrett Graham 1, Ryan Griffin 1, DeAndre Hopkins 1, Keshawn Martin 1, Chris Myers 1.
MISCELLANEOUS FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Ryan Fitzpatrick 4, DeAndre Hopkins 2, Alfred Blue 1, Tom Savage 1.
SPECIAL TEAMS STATISTICS
BlockedBlockedBlocked
TACKLES
Solo AsstTotal PATPunt FG FF FR
Jeff Tarpinian
7
5
12
0
0
0
1
0
Akeem Dent
5
6
11
0
0
0
0
0
Mike Mohamed
8
1
9
0
0
0
0
0
Danieal Manning
7
2
9
0
0
0
0
1
Jonathan Grimes
5
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
A.J. Bouye
5
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
Eddie Pleasant
4
1
5
0
0
0
0
0
Alfred Blue
3
1
4
0
1
0
0
1
Jumal Rolle
3
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
John Simon
3
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
Andre Hal
3
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
Jay Prosch
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
Justin Tuggle
2
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
Elbert Mack
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Jon Weeks
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Anthony Denham
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Darryl Morris
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Max Bullough
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Zac Diles
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Ryan Griffin
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Randy Bullock
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Ricky Sapp
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Damaris Johnson
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
J.J. Watt
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
TEXANS
67228911013
Opponents
50196901200
www.HoustonTexans.com
16
SACKS
Player
J.J. Watt
Whitney Mercilus
Jared Crick
Brooks Reed
John Simon
Tim Jamison
D.J. Swearinger
Akeem Dent
Brian Cushing
Totals
INTERCEPTIONS
Player
A.J. Bouye Kareem Jackson Jumal Rolle Johnathan Joseph
Kendrick Lewis D.J. Swearinger J.J. Watt Justin Tuggle Brooks Reed Mike Mohamed
Darryl Morris Totals
SacksYards
20.5 140.0
5.0 30.0
3.5 20.0
3.0 19.0
1.5
5.0
1.5 14.0
1.0
8.0
1.0
7.0
1.0
8.0
38.0251.0
IntYards Long
3 120
51t
3
97
65
3
25
13
2
85
60t
2
32
27t
2
31
25
1
80
80t
1
8
8
1
5
5
1
0
0
1
0
0
20483 80t
FUMBLES FORCED AND RECOVERED
Player
FFFR
J.J. Watt
4
5
Johnathan Joseph
2
2
Kendrick Lewis
3
1
D.J. Swearinger
3
1
A.J. Bouye
1
1
Tim Jamison
0
1
Justin Tuggle
0
1
Whitney Mercilus
2
0
Brian Cushing
1
0
Totals
1612
QUARTERBACK HITS
PlayerQBH
J.J. Watt
50
Whitney Mercilus
11
Jared Crick
11
Brooks Reed
10
Brian Cushing
9
John Simon
6
Akeem Dent
6
D.J. Swearinger
3
Tim Jamison
3
Kendrick Lewis
1
Kareem Jackson
1
Mike Mohamed
1
Justin Tuggle
1
Danieal Manning
1
Totals114
PASSES DEFENSED
PlayerPD
Johnathan Joseph
11
J.J. Watt
10
A.J. Bouye
10
Kareem Jackson
9
Darryl Morris
7
Mike Mohamed
6
Kendrick Lewis
6
D.J. Swearinger
6
Jared Crick
6
Brooks Reed
4
Jumal Rolle
4
Andre Hal
4
Ryan Pickett
3
Danieal Manning
2
Brian Cushing
2
Justin Tuggle
2
John Simon
1
Eddie Pleasant
1
Jerrell Powe
1
Totals95
TACKLES FOR LOSS
PlayerTFL
J.J. Watt
29
Whitney Mercilus
9
Jared Crick
6
Brooks Reed
5
Kendrick Lewis
4
Kareem Jackson
4
D.J. Swearinger
3
Jadeveon Clowney
3
Mike Mohamed
2
Akeem Dent
2
John Simon
2
Brian Cushing
1
Johnathan Joseph
1
A.J. Bouye
1
Justin Tuggle
1
Danieal Manning
1
Jeoffrey Pagan
1
Darryl Morris
1
Tim Jamison
1
Jerrell Powe
1
Jumal Rolle
1
Totals79
@TexansPR
2015 TEXANS TRANSACTIONS
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
JANUARY
23 Promoted Brian Gaine to director of player personnel and Jon
Carr to director of college scouting.
Hired Matt Jansen as college scouting coordinator.
JUNE
2 Signed free agents DE Jasper Coleman and NT Brandon Deaderick.
2 Waived RB Mack Brown.
18 Signed CB Johnathan Joseph to a contract extension.
FEBRUARY
2 Hired Brian Bell as assistant strength and conditioning coach,
Mike Devlin as offensive line coach, Pat O’Hara as offensive assistant and Paul Pasqualoni as defensive line coach.
2 Named Anthony Pleasant as defensive assistant.
JULY
2 Waived DT Brandon Ivory.
24 Signed free agent T Aaron Adams.
27 Placed G David Quessenberry on the Active/Non-Football Illness
list.
27 Placed WR Alan Bonner on the Active/Non-Football Injury list.
27 Placed OLB Jadeveon Clowney and ILB Akeem Dent on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.
MARCH
4 Released C Chris Myers.
9 Re-signed CB Kareem Jackson, WR Damaris Johnson, T Derek
Newton and S Eddie Pleasant.
10 Re-signed QB Ryan Mallett, QB Case Keenum and ILB Jeff Tarpinian.
11 Signed unrestricted free agent QB Brian Hoyer (Cleveland).
11 Traded QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets and QB Case
Keenum to St. Louis.
13 Signed unrestricted free agent FS Rahim Moore (Denver).
16 Signed unrestricted free agent WR Cecil Shorts III (Jacksonville).
17 Signed unrestricted free agent NT Vince Wilfork (New England).
24 Re-signed ILB Akeem Dent.
APRIL
1Signed unrestricted free agent WR Nate Washington (Tennessee).
10 Re-signed G Cody White.
29 Signed free agent RB Chris Polk (Philadelphia).
MAY
1 Signed unrestricted free agent S Stevie Brown (New York Giants).
5 Signed OLB Whitney Mercilus to a contract extension.
8 Signed rookie free agents G Jake Cotton, S Kurtis Drummond,
DT Brandon Ivory, T Kendall Lamm, TE Khari Lee, C Greg
Mancz, TE Mike McFarland, DE Cam McLeod, DE Dan Pettinato, DE James Rouse, G Chad Slade, OLB Carlos Thompson,
OLB Lynden Trail, OLB Tony Washington and WR Chandler
Worthy.
8 Signed draft selections LB Reshard Cliett, DT Christian Covington, RB Kenny Hilliard, CB Kevin Johnson, LB Benardrick
McKinney, WR Keith Mumphery and WR Jaelen Strong.
8 Waived S Josh Aubrey, DE Keith Browner and RB Ben Malena.
11 Signed rookie free agents RB Mack Brown, P Will Johnson, S
Corey Moore and T Joseph Treadwell.
11 Waived-Injured DE James Rouse.
11 Waived G Jake Cotton and S D.J. Swearinger.
15 Waived DE James Rouse.
21 Released T Tyson Clabo.
www.HoustonTexans.com
17
@TexansPR
ALPHABETIC ROSTER (as of July 30)
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
NFL
NO. NAME
POS
HT WTAGE EXP
69 Adams, Aaron
T
6-5 303 26
1
70 Adams, Jeff
T
6-7 305 25
2
91 Ankrah, Jason
OLB
6-3 262 24
1
39 Ballentine, Lonnie
S
6-3 215 22
2
28 Blue, Alfred
RB
6-2 223 24
2
34 Bouye, A.J.
CB
6-0 191 23
3
79 Brooks, Brandon
G
6-5 335 25
4
76 Brown, Duane
T
6-4 303 29
8
48 Brown, Kourtnei
OLB
6-4 253 27
1
33 Brown, Stevie
FS
5-11 215 28
6
4 Bullock, Randy
K
5-9 206 25
4
53 Bullough, Max
ILB
6-3 249 23
1
93 Crick, Jared
DE
6-4 285 25
4
56 Cushing, Brian
ILB
6-3 249 28
7
2 Davis, Jace
WR
6-1 206 23
1
61 Deaderick, Brandon
NT
6-4 305 27
6
81 Denham, Anthony
TE
6-4 235 24
1
73 Feiler, Matt
T
6-6 330 23
1
78 Ferentz, James
C
6-2 285 26
1
87 Fiedorowicz, C.J.
TE
6-5 265 23
2
94 Finau, Tevita
DE
6-5 288 29
1
23 Foster, Arian
RB
6-1 227 28
7
88 Graham, Garrett
TE
6-3 243 28
6
84 Griffin, Ryan
TE
6-6 254 25
3
41 Grimes, Jonathan
RB
5-10 209 25
3
29 Hal, Andre
CB
5-10 188 23
2
10 Hopkins, DeAndre
WR
6-1 218 23
3
7 Hoyer, Brian
QB
6-2 215 29
7
25 Jackson, Kareem
CB
5-10 188 26
6
31 James, Charles
CB
5-9 179 25
2
13 Johnson, Damaris
WR
5-8 175 25
4
60 Jones, Ben
G/C
6-3 308 26
4
24 Joseph, Johnathan
CB
5-11 188 31 10
19 Labhart, Travis
WR
5-9 182 24
1
9 Lechler, Shane
P
6-2 237 38 16
15 Mallett, Ryan
QB
6-6 245 26
5
82 Martin, Keshawn
WR
5-11 194 25
4
59 Mercilus, Whitney
OLB
6-4 258 25
4
54 Mohamed, Mike
ILB
6-3 238 27
4
26 Moore, Rahim
FS
6-1 195 25
5
21 Morris, Darryl
CB
5-10 188 24
3
72 Newton, Derek
T
6-6 313 27
5
92 Nix III, Louis
NT
6-2 331 23
2
17 Nwachukwu, EZ
WR
5-11 198 24
1
97 Pagan, Jeoffrey
DE
6-3 310 22
2
27 Parks, Terrance
S
6-2 218 25
1
35 Pleasant, Eddie
SS
5-10 210 26
3
22 Polk, Chris
RB
5-11 222 25
4
45 Prosch, Jay
FB
6-1 256 22
2
20 Rolle, Jumal
CB
6-0 188 25
2
3 Savage, Tom
QB
6-4 228 25
2
18 Shorts III, Cecil
WR
6-0 202 27
5
51 Simon, John
OLB
6-1 252 24
3
71 Su’a-Filo, Xavier
G
6-4 307 24
2
52 Tarpinian, Jeff
ILB
6-3 240 27
4
57 Tuggle, Justin
ILB
6-3 249 25
3
85 Washington, Nate
WR
6-1 183 31 11
99 Watt, J.J.
DE
6-5 289 26
5
46 Weeks, Jon
LS
5-10 246 29
6
67 White, Cody
G
6-3 303 27
4
75 Wilfork, Vince
NT
6-2 325 33 12
68 Witzmann, Bryan
T
6-7 311 25
2
74 Yeatman, Will
T
6-6 315 27
5
HIGH SCHOOL 2014 Season
COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
GP-GS-DNP-IA
Eastern Kentucky Lake Worth, Fla.
0-0-0-0
Columbia
Berwyn, Ill.
2-0-2-12
Nebraska
Gaithersburg, Md.
2-0-0-3
Memphis
Memphis, Tenn.
0-0-0-0
LSU
Boutte, La.
16-3-0-0
Central Florida
Tucker, Ga.
14-7-0-2
Miami (Ohio)
Milwaukee, Wisc.
15-15-0-1
Virginia Tech
Richmond, Va.
16-16-0-0
Clemson
Charlotte, N.C.
0-0-0-0
Michigan
Dallas, Texas
*16-8-0-0
Texas A&M
Klein, Texas
16-0-0-0
Michigan State
Traverse City, Mich.
1-0-0-2
Nebraska
Cozad, Neb.
16-15-0-0
Southern California Park Ridge, N.J.
14-14-0-2
Northern Colorado Lone Tree, Colo.
0-0-0-0
Alabama
Elizabethtown, Ky.
+13-2-0-3
Utah
Monterey Park, Calif.
4-0-0-0
Bloomsburg
Strasburg, Pa.
0-0-0-0
Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
0-0-0-0
Iowa
Johnsburg, Ill.
15-8-0-1
Utah
Lahaina, Hawaii
0-0-0-0
Tennessee
San Diego, Calif.
13-13-0-3
Wisconsin
Brick, N.J.
11-8-0-5
Connecticut
Londonderry, N.H.
16-2-0-0
William & Mary
Palmyra, N.J.
16-0-0-0
Vanderbilt
Port Allen, La.
14-0-0-2
Clemson
Central, S.C.
16-16-0-0
Michigan State
North Olmsted, Ohio
#14-13-1-1
Alabama
Macon, Ga.
13-13-0-3
Charleston Southern Jacksonville, Fla.
0-0-0-0
Tulsa
Norco, La.
16-8-0-0
Georgia
Centreville, Ala.
16-16-0-0
South Carolina
Rock Hill, S.C.
16-16-0-0
Texas A&M
Whitesboro, Texas
0-0-0-0
Texas A&M
East Bernard, Texas
16-0-0-0
Arkansas Texarkana, Texas
3-2-8-0
Michigan State
Inkster, Mich.
16-0-0-0
Illinois
Akron, Ohio
15-13-0-1
California
Brawley, Calif.
14-2-0-2
UCLA
Los Angeles, Calif.
$16-16-0-0
Texas State
San Antonio, Texas
12-1-0-4
Arkansas State
Utica, Miss.
16-16-0-0
Notre Dame
Jacksonville, Fla.
0-0-0-3
Texas A&M
Allen, Texas
0-0-0-0
Alabama
Asheville, N.C.
16-0-0-0
Florida State
Fairburn, Ga. ^1-0-0-0
Oregon
Compton, Calif.
14-0-0-2
Washington
Redlands, Calif.
&14-0-0-2
Auburn
Mobile, Ala.
16-5-0-0
Catawba
Wilson, N.C.
10-0-0-2
Pittsburgh
Springfield, Pa.
2-0-1-13
Mount Union
Cleveland, Ohio
!13-12-0-3
Ohio State
Youngstown, Ohio
11-0-0-0
UCLA
American Fork, Utah
13-1-0-3
Iowa
Omaha, Neb.
14-0-0-2
Kansas State
Alpharetta, Ga.
16-8-0-0
Tiffin
Toledo, Ohio
@16-11-0-0
Wisconsin
Pewaukee, Wisc.
16-16-0-0
Baylor
Bethpage, N.Y.
16-0-0-0
Illinois State
Columbus, Ohio
0-0-0-0
Miami (Fla.)
Boynton Beach, Fla.
%16-16-0-0
South Dakota State Houlton, Wisc.
0-0-0-0
Maryland
San Diego, Calif.
0-0-0-0
Draft Picks (7)
58 Cliett, Reshard
LB
6-2 222 23 R
South Florida
Thomasville, Ga.
95 Covington, Christian
DT
6-2 289 21 R
Rice
Vancouver, BC, Canada
38 Hilliard, Kenny
RB 5-11 226 23 R
LSU
Patterson, La.
30 Johnson, Kevin
CB
5-11 188 22 R
Wake Forest
Clarksville, Md.
55 McKinney, Benardrick
LB
6-4 246 22 R
Mississippi State Tunica, Miss.
12 Mumphery, Keith
WR
6-0 215 23 R
Michigan State
Vienna, Ga.
11 Strong, Jaelen
WR
6-2 217 21 R
Arizona State
Philadelphia, Pa.
Undrafted Rookies (16)
64 Coleman, Jasper
DE
6-4 290 22 R
William & Mary
Richmond, Va.
40 Drummond, Kurtis
S
6-1 208 23 R
Michigan State
Masury, Ohio
8 Johnson, Will
P
6-2 206 22 R
Texas State
Bryan, Texas
63 Lamm, Kendall
T
6-6 305 23 R
Appalachian State Charlotte, N.C.
86 Lee, Khari
TE
6-4 235 23 R
Bowie State
Baltimore, Md.
65 Mancz, Greg
C
6-4 301 23 R
Toledo
Cincinnati, Ohio
89 McFarland, Mike
TE
6-5 252 23 R
South Florida
Tampa, Fla.
98 McLeod, Cam
DE
6-5 282 22 R
Ohio
McLain, Miss.
43 Moore, Corey
S
6-2 206 22 R
Georgia
Griffin, Ga.
96 Pettinato, Dan
DE
6-4 277 23 R
Arizona
Grass Valley, Calif.
62 Slade, Chad
G
6-5 315 23 R
Auburn
Moody, Ala.
44 Thompson, Carlos
OLB
6-5 243 23 R
Mississippi
Hollandale, Miss.
47 Trail, Lynden
OLB
6-7 269 24 R
Norfolk State
Miami, Fla.
66 Treadwell, Joseph
T
6-5 324 22 R
Louisiana-Monroe Pine Bluff, Ark.
49 Washington, Tony
OLB
6-4 247 23 R
Oregon
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
6 Worthy, Chandler
WR
5-9 173 21 R
Troy
Griffin, Ga.
Active Non-Football Illness (1)
77 Quessenberry, David
G
Active/Non-Football Injury (1)
16 Bonner, Alan
WR
Active/Physically Unable to Perform (2)
90 Clowney, Jadeveon
OLB
50 Dent, Akeem
ILB
www.HoustonTexans.com
6-5 306
24
3
San Jose State
Encinitas, Calif.
5-10 191
24
3
Jacksonville State Newnan, Ga.
6-5 266
6-1 239
22
27
2
5
South Carolina
Georgia
Rock Hill, S.C.
Atlanta, Ga.
18
COACHING ROSTER
COACHPOSITION
Bill O’Brien
Head Coach
Romeo Crennel Defensive Coordinator
George Godsey Offensive Coordinator
Bob Ligashesky Special Teams Coordinator
Brian Bell
Assistant Strength and
Conditioning
Jim Bernhardt Director of Football Research
John Butler
Secondary
Doug Colman Assistant Special Teams
Mike Devlin
Offensive Line
Craig Fitzgerald Head Strength and Conditioning
Sean Hayes
Assistant Strength and
Conditioning
Stan Hixon
Wide Receivers
Tim Kelly
Offensive Quality Control
Will Lawing
Defensive Quality Control
Charles London Running Backs
Anthony Midget Assistant Secondary
Pat O’Hara
Offensive Assistant
Paul Pasqualoni Defensive Line
John Perry
Tight Ends
Anthony PleasantDefensive Assistant
Mike Vrabel
Linebackers
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
PLAYER
Jason Ankrah
ANE-krah
Lonnie Ballentine
Bal-en-TINE
A.J. Bouye
boy-YAY
Max Bullough
BULL-ah
Reshard Cliett
reh-SHARD KLY-ett
Jadeveon Clowney
juh-DEV-ee-uhn
Anthony Denham
DEN-em
Matt Feiler
FI-ler
C.J. Fiedorowicz
feh-DOR-uh-wits
Tevita Finau
tuh-VEE-ta fee-NOW
DeAndre Hopkins D-Andre
Greg Mancz MANTS
Keshawn Martin
KEY-shawn
Cam McLeod muh-CLOUD
Whitney Mercilus
MER-sih-lus
Louis Nix III
LEWIS
EZ Nwachukwu
WATCH-ah-coo
Jay Prosch
PRAWSH
Xavier Su’a-Filo
SOO-ah-fee-lo
Jeff Tarpinian
TAR-pin-e-an
Will Yeatman
YATE-man
GP
GS
DNP
IA
*
^
#
$
%
!
@
&
+
PARTICIPATION KEY
Games Played
Games Started
Did Not Play
Inactive
With New York Giants
Played in one game for Seattle
With Cleveland Browns
With Denver Broncos
With New England Patriots
With Jacksonville Jaguars
With Tennessee Titans
With Philadelphia Eagles
With New Orleans Saints
0-0-0-0
0-0-0-0
4-2-0-9
15-7-0-1
@TexansPR
NUMERIC ROSTER (as of July 30)
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
NFL
HIGH SCHOOL HOW
NO. NAME
POS
HT WTAGE EXP
COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
ACQUIRED
2 Jace Davis
WR
6-1 206 23
1
Northern Colorado Lone Tree, Colo.
FA-’14
3 Tom Savage
QB
6-4 228 25
2
Pittsburgh
Springfield, Pa.
D4-’14
4 Randy Bullock
K
5-9 206 25
4
Texas A&M
Klein, Texas
D5-’12
7 Brian Hoyer
QB
6-2 215 29
7
Michigan State
North Olmsted, Ohio UFA-’15 (CLE)
9 Shane Lechler
P
6-2 237 38 16
Texas A&M
East Bernard, Texas UFA-’13 (OAK)
10 DeAndre Hopkins
WR
6-1 218 23
3
Clemson
Central, S.C.
D1-’13
13 Damaris Johnson
WR
5-8 175 25
4
Tulsa
Norco, La.
W-’14 (PHI)
15 Ryan Mallett
QB
6-6 245 27
5
Arkansas Texarkana, Texas
T-’14 (NE)
17 EZ Nwachukwu
WR
5-11 198 24
1
Texas A&M
Allen, Texas
FA-’14
18 Cecil Shorts III
WR
6-0 202 27
5
Mount Union
Cleveland, Ohio
UFA-’15 (JAX)
19 Travis Labhart
WR
5-9 182 24
1
Texas A&M
Whitesboro, Texas CFA-’14
20 Jumal Rolle
CB
6-0 188 25
2
Catawba
Wilson, N.C.
FA-’14
21 Darryl Morris
CB
5-10 188 24
3
Texas State
San Antonio, Texas W-’14 (SF)
22 Chris Polk
RB
5-11 222 25
4
Washington
Redlands, Calif.
FA-’15
23 Arian Foster
RB
6-1 227 28
7
Tennessee
San Diego, Calif.
CFA-’09
24 Johnathan Joseph
CB
5-11 188 31 10
South Carolina
Rock Hill, S.C.
UFA-’11 (CIN)
25 Kareem Jackson
CB
5-10 188 27
6
Alabama
Macon, Ga.
D1-’10
26 Rahim Moore
FS
6-1 195 25
5
UCLA
Los Angeles, Calif. UFA-’15 (DEN)
27 Terrance Parks
S
6-2 218 25
1
Florida State
Fairburn, Ga. FA-’14
28 Alfred Blue
RB
6-2 223 24
2
LSU
Boutte, La.
D6b-’14
29 Andre Hal
CB
5-10 188 23
2
Vanderbilt
Port Allen, La.
D7a-’14
31 Charles James
CB
5-9 179 25
2
Charleston SouthernJacksonville, Fla.
FA-’14
33 Stevie Brown
FS
5-11 215 28
6
Michigan
Dallas, Texas
UFA-’15 (NYG)
34 A.J. Bouye
CB
6-0 191 23
3
Central Florida
Tucker, Ga.
CFA-’13
35 Eddie Pleasant
SS
5-10 210 26
3
Oregon
Compton, Calif.
CFA-’12
39 Lonnie Ballentine
S
6-3 215 22
2
Memphis
Memphis, Tenn.
D7b-’14
41 Jonathan Grimes
RB
5-10 209 25
3
William & Mary
Palmyra, N.J.
FA-’13
45 Jay Prosch
FB
6-1 256 22
2
Auburn
Mobile, Ala.
D6c-’14
46 Jon Weeks
LS
5-10 246 29
6
Baylor
Bethpage, N.Y.
FA-’10
48 Kourtnei Brown
OLB
6-4 253 27
1
Clemson
Charlotte, N.C.
FA-’14
51 John Simon
OLB
6-1 252 24
3
Ohio State
Youngstown, Ohio
FA-’14
52 Jeff Tarpinian
ILB
6-3 240 27
4
Iowa
Omaha, Neb.
FA-’13
53 Max Bullough
ILB
6-3 249 23
1
Michigan State
Traverse City, Mich. CFA-’14
54 Mike Mohamed
ILB
6-3 238 27
4
California
Brawley, Calif.
FA-’13
56 Brian Cushing
ILB
6-3 249 28
7
Southern California Park Ridge, N.J.
D1-’09
57 Justin Tuggle
ILB
6-3 249 25
3
Kansas State
Alpharetta, Ga.
CFA-’13
59 Whitney Mercilus
OLB
6-4 258 25
4
Illinois
Akron, Ohio
D1-’12
60 Ben Jones
G/C
6-3 308 26
4
Georgia
Centreville, Ala.
D4a-’12
61 Brandon Deaderick
NT
6-4 305 27
6
Alabama
Elizabethtown, Ky. FA-’15
67 Cody White
G
6-3 303 27
4
Illinois State
Columbus, Ohio
CFA-’12
68 Bryan Witzmann
T
6-7 311 25
2
South Dakota State Houlton, Wisc.
CFA-’14
69 Aaron Adams
T
6-5 303 26
1
Eastern Kentucky Lake Worth, Fla.
FA-’15
70 Jeff Adams
T
6-7 305 25
2
Columbia
Berwyn, Ill.
W-’14 (TEN)
71 Xavier Su’a-Filo
G
6-4 307 24
2
UCLA
American Fork, Utah D2-’14
72 Derek Newton
T
6-6 313 27
5
Arkansas State
Utica, Miss.
D7a-’11
73 Matt Feiler
T
6-6 330 23
1
Bloomsburg
Strasburg, Pa.
CFA-’14
74 Will Yeatman
T
6-6 315 27
5
Maryland
San Diego, Calif.
FA-’14
75 Vince Wilfork
NT
6-2 325 33 12
Miami (Fla.)
Boynton Beach, Fla. UFA-’15 (NE)
76 Duane Brown
T
6-4 303 29
8
Virginia Tech
Richmond, Va.
D1-’08
78 James Ferentz
C
6-2 285 26
1
Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
CFA-’14
79 Brandon Brooks
G
6-5 335 25
4
Miami (Ohio)
Milwaukee, Wisc.
D3b-’12
81 Anthony Denham
TE
6-4 235 24
1
Utah
Monterey Park, Calif. CFA-’14
82 Keshawn Martin
WR
5-11 194 25
4
Michigan State
Inkster, Mich.
D4b-’12
84 Ryan Griffin
TE
6-6 254 25
3
Connecticut
Londonderry, N.H. D6d-’13
85 Nate Washington
WR
6-1 183 31 11
Tiffin
Toledo, Ohio
UFA-’15 (TEN)
87 C.J. Fiedorowicz
TE
6-5 265 23
2
Iowa
Johnsburg, Ill.
D3a-’14
88 Garrett Graham
TE
6-3 243 28
6
Wisconsin
Brick, N.J.
D4b-’10
91 Jason Ankrah
OLB
6-3 262 24
1
Nebraska
Gaithersburg, Md.
CFA-’14
92 Louis Nix III
NT
6-2 331 23
2
Notre Dame
Jacksonville, Fla.
D3b-’14
93 Jared Crick
DE
6-4 285 25
4
Nebraska
Cozad, Neb.
D4c-’12
94 Tevita Finau
DE
6-5 288 29
1
Utah
Lahaina, Hawaii
FA-’14
97 Jeoffrey Pagan
DE
6-3 310 22
2
Alabama
Asheville, N.C.
D6a-’14
99 J.J. Watt
DE
6-5 289 26
5
Wisconsin
Pewaukee, Wisc.
D1-’11
Draft Picks (7)
11 Jaelen Strong
WR
6-2 217 21 R
Arizona State
Philadelphia, Pa.
D3-’15
12 Keith Mumphery
WR
6-0 215 23 R
Michigan State
Vienna, Ga.
D5-’15
30 Kevin Johnson
CB
5-11 188 22 R
Wake Forest
Clarksville, Md.
D1-’15
38 Kenny Hilliard
RB 5-11 226 23 R
LSU
Patterson, La.
D7-’15
55 Benardrick McKinney
LB
6-4 246 22 R
Mississippi State Tunica, Miss.
D2-’15
58 Reshard Cliett
LB
6-2 222 23 R
South Florida
Thomasville, Ga.
D6-’15
95 Christian Covington
DT
6-2 289 21 R
Rice
Vancouver, BC, Canada D6-’15
COACHING ROSTER
COACHPOSITION
Bill O’Brien
Head Coach
Romeo Crennel Defensive Coordinator
George Godsey Offensive Coordinator
Bob Ligashesky Special Teams Coordinator
Brian Bell
Assistant Strength and
Conditioning
Jim Bernhardt Director of Football Research
John Butler
Secondary
Doug Colman Assistant Special Teams
Mike Devlin
Offensive Line
Craig Fitzgerald Head Strength and Conditioning
Sean Hayes
Assistant Strength and
Conditioning
Stan Hixon
Wide Receivers
Tim Kelly
Offensive Quality Control
Will Lawing
Defensive Quality Control
Charles London Running Backs
Anthony Midget Assistant Secondary
Pat O’Hara
Offensive Assistant
Paul Pasqualoni Defensive Line
John Perry
Tight Ends
Anthony PleasantDefensive Assistant
Mike Vrabel
Linebackers
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
PLAYER
Jason Ankrah
ANE-krah
Lonnie Ballentine
Bal-en-TINE
A.J. Bouye
boy-YAY
Max Bullough
BULL-ah
Reshard Cliett
reh-SHARD KLY-ett
Jadeveon Clowney
juh-DEV-ee-uhn
Anthony Denham
DEN-em
Matt Feiler
FI-ler
C.J. Fiedorowicz
feh-DOR-uh-wits
Tevita Finau
tuh-VEE-ta fee-NOW
DeAndre Hopkins D-Andre
Greg Mancz MANTS
Keshawn Martin
KEY-shawn
Cam McLeod muh-CLOUD
Whitney Mercilus
MER-sih-lus
Louis Nix III
LEWIS
EZ Nwachukwu
WATCH-ah-coo
Jay Prosch
PRAWSH
Xavier Su’a-Filo
SOO-ah-fee-lo
Jeff Tarpinian
TAR-pin-e-an
Will Yeatman
YATE-man
HOW ACQUIRED KEY
CFA
College Free Agent
D
Draft Pick
FA
Free Agent
TTrade
UFA
Unrestricted Free Agent
W
Waivers
()
Previous Team
Undrafted Rookies (16)
6 Chandler Worthy
WR
5-9 173 21 R
Troy
Griffin, Ga.
CFA-’15
8 Will Johnson
P
6-2 206 22 R
Texas State
Bryan, Texas
CFA-’15
40 Kurtis Drummond
S
6-1 208 23 R
Michigan State
Masury, Ohio
CFA-’15
43 Corey Moore
S
6-2 206 22 R
Georgia
Griffin, Ga.
CFA-’15
44 Carlos Thompson
OLB
6-5 243 23 R
Mississippi
Hollandale, Miss.
CFA-’15
47 Lynden Trail
OLB
6-7 269 24 R
Norfolk State
Miami, Fla.
CFA-’15
49 Tony Washington
OLB
6-4 247 23 R
Oregon
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. CFA-’15
62 Chad Slade
G
6-5 315 23 R
Auburn
Moody, Ala.
CFA-’15
63 Kendall Lamm
T
6-6 305 23 R
Appalachian State Charlotte, N.C.
CFA-’15
64 Jasper Coleman
DE
6-4 290 22 R
William & Mary
Richmond, Va.
CFA-’15
65 Greg Mancz
C
6-4 301 23 R
Toledo
Cincinnati, Ohio
CFA-’15
66 Joseph Treadwell
T
6-5 324 22 R
Louisiana-Monroe Pine Bluff, Ark.
CFA-’15
86 Khari Lee
TE
6-4 235 23 R
Bowie State
Baltimore, Md.
CFA-’15
89 Mike McFarland
TE
6-5 252 23 R
South Florida
Tampa, Fla.
CFA-’15
96 Dan Pettinato
DE
6-4 277 23 R
Arizona
Grass Valley, Calif. CFA-’15
98 Cam McLeod
DE
6-5 282 22 R
Ohio
McLain, Miss.
CFA-’15
Active/Non-Football Illness (1)
77 David Quessenberry
G
Active/Non-Football Injury (1)
16 Alan Bonner
WR
Active/Physically Unable to Perform (2)
50 Akeem Dent
ILB
90 Jadeveon Clowney
OLB
www.HoustonTexans.com
6-5 306
24
3
San Jose State
Encinitas, Calif.
5-10 191
24
3
Jacksonville State Newnan, Ga.
D6b-’13
6-1 239
6-5 266
27
22
5
2
Georgia
South Carolina
T-’14 (ATL)
D1-’14
Atlanta, Ga.
Rock Hill, S.C.
19
D6a-’13
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ROSTER BY POSITION
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Quarterbacks (3) 3 Tom Savage
QB 6-4 228 2 Pittsburgh
7 Brian Hoyer
QB 6-2 215 7 Michigan State
15 Ryan Mallett
QB 6-6 245 5 Arkansas
Wide Receivers (12)
2 Jace Davis
WR 6-1 206 1 Northern Colorado
6 Chandler Worthy WR 5-9 173 R Troy
10 DeAndre Hopkins WR 6-1 218 3 Clemson
11 Jaelen Strong
WR 6-2 217 R Arizona State
12 Keith Mumphery WR 6-0 215 R Michigan State
13 Damaris Johnson WR 5-8 175 4 Tulsa
16 Alan Bonner
WR 5-10 191 3 Jacksonville State
17 EZ Nwachukwu WR 5-11 198 1 Texas A&M
18 Cecil Shorts III WR 6-0 202 5 Mount Union
19 Travis Labhart
WR 5-9 182 1 Texas A&M
82 Keshawn Martin WR 5-11 194 4 Michigan State
85 Nate Washington WR 6-1 183 11 Tiffin
Running Backs (6)
23 Arian Foster
RB 6-1 227 7 Tennessee
28 Alfred Blue
RB 6-2 223 2 LSU
32 Chris Polk
RB 5-11 222 4 Washington
38 Kenny Hilliard
RB 5-11 226 R LSU
41 Jonathan Grimes RB 5-10 209 3 William & Mary
45 Jay Prosch
FB 6-1 256 2 Auburn
Tight Ends (6)
81 Anthony Denham TE 6-4 235 1 Utah
84 Ryan Griffin
TE 6-6 254 3 Connecticut
86 Khari Lee
TE 6-4 235 R Bowie State
87 C.J. Fiedorowicz TE 6-5 265 2 Iowa
88 Garrett Graham TE 6-3 243 6 Wisconsin
89 Mike McFarland TE 6-5 252 R South Florida
Offensive Line (17)
63 Kendall Lamm
T 6-6 305 R Appalachian State
66 Joseph Treadwell T 6-5 324 R Louisiana-Monroe
68 Bryan Witzmann T 6-7 311 2 South Dakota State
69 Aaron Adams
T 6-5 303 1 Eastern Kentucky
70 Jeff Adams
T 6-7 305 2 Columbia
72 Derek Newton
T 6-6 313 5 Arkansas State
73 Matt Feiler
T 6-6 330 1 Bloomsburg
74 Will Yeatman
T 6-6 315 5 Maryland
76 Duane Brown
T 6-4 303 8 Virginia Tech
60 Ben Jones
G/C 6-3 308 4 Georgia
62 Chad Slade
G 6-5 315 R Auburn
67 Cody White
G 6-3 303 4 Illinois State
71 Xavier Su’a-Filo G 6-4 307 2 UCLA
77
David QuessenberryG 6-5 306 3 San Jose State
79 Brandon Brooks G 6-5 335 4 Miami (Ohio)
65 Greg Mancz
C 6-4 301 R Toledo
78 James Ferentz C 6-2 285 1 Iowa
Defensive Line (11)
64 Jasper Coleman DE 6-4 290 R William & Mary
93 Jared Crick
DE 6-4 285 4 Nebraska
94 Tevita Finau
DE 6-5 288 1 Utah
96 Dan Pettinato
DE 6-4 277 R Arizona
97 Jeoffrey Pagan DE 6-3 310 2 Alabama
98 Cam McLeod
DE 6-5 282 R Ohio
99 J.J. Watt
DE 6-5 289 5 Wisconsin
61 Brandon Deaderick NT 6-4 305 6 Alabama
75 Vince Wilfork
NT 6-2 325 12 Miami (Fla.)
92 Louis Nix III
NT 6-2 331 2 Notre Dame
95
Christian CovingtonDT 6-2 289 R Rice
Linebackers (16)
50 Akeem Dent
ILB 6-1 239 5 Georgia
52 Jeff Tarpinian
ILB 6-3 240 4 Iowa
53 Max Bullough
ILB 6-3 249 1 Michigan State
54 Mike Mohamed ILB 6-3 238 4 California
55
Benardrick McKinneyILB 6-4 246 R Mississippi State
56 Brian Cushing
ILB 6-3 249 7 Southern California
57 Justin Tuggle
ILB 6-3 249 3 Kansas State
44 Carlos Thompson OLB 6-5 243 R Mississippi
47 Lynden Trail
OLB 6-7 269 R Norfolk State
48 Kourtnei Brown OLB 6-4 253 1 Clemson
49 Tony Washington OLB 6-4 247 R Oregon
51 John Simon
OLB 6-1 252 3 Ohio State
58 Reshard Cliett OLB 6-2 222 R South Florida
59 Whitney Mercilus OLB 6-4 258 4 Illinois
90 Jadeveon ClowneyOLB 6-5 266 2 South Carolina
91 Jason Ankrah
OLB 6-3 262 1 Nebraska
Secondary (15)
20 Jumal Rolle
CB 6-0 188 2 Catawba
21 Darryl Morris
CB 5-10 188 3 Texas State
24 Johnathan Joseph CB 5-11 188 10 South Carolina
25 Kareem Jackson CB 5-10 188 6 Alabama
29 Andre Hal
CB 5-10 188 2 Vanderbilt
30 Kevin Johnson CB 5-11 188 R Wake Forest
31 Charles James CB 5-9 179 2 Charleston Southern
34 A.J. Bouye
CB 6-0 191 3 Central Florida
26 Rahim Moore
FS 6-1 195 5 UCLA
27 Terrance Parks S 6-2 218 1 Florida State
33 Stevie Brown
FS 5-11 215 6 Michigan
35 Eddie Pleasant SS 5-10 210 3 Oregon
39 Lonnie Ballentine S 6-3 215 2 Memphis
40 Kurtis Drummond S 6-1 208 R Michigan State
43 Corey Moore
S 6-2 206 R Georgia
www.HoustonTexans.com
SPECIAL TEAMS
20
4
8
9
46
Randy Bullock Will Johnson
Shane Lechler
Jon Weeks
K
P
P
LS
5-9
6-2
6-2
5-10
206 4
206 R
237 16
246 6
Texas A&M
Texas State
Texas A&M
Baylor
@TexansPR
HOW THE TEXANS WERE BUILT
2015 HOUSTON TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RELEASE
Year
College Draft (33)
Trades (2)
Free Agents (55)
2008
T Duane Brown (1) 8-8, 3rd, AFC South
2009
ILB Brian Cushing (1) RB Arian Foster (CFA)
9-7, 2nd, AFC South
2010
CB Kareem Jackson (1)
LS Jon Weeks (FA)
6-10, 3rd, AFC South
TE Garrett Graham (4b)
2011
DE J.J. Watt (1)
CB Johnathan Joseph (UFA-CIN)
10-6, AFC South Champions T Derek Newton (7a)
2012
OLB Whitney Mercilus (1)
SS Eddie Pleasant (CFA)
12-4, AFC South Champions G Brandon Brooks (3b)
G Cody White (CFA)
G/C Ben Jones (4a)
WR Keshawn Martin (4b)
DE Jared Crick (4c)
K Randy Bullock (5) 2013
WR DeAndre Hopkins (1)
CB A.J. Bouye (CFA)
2-14, 4th, AFC South
G David Quessenberry (6a)
RB Jonathan Grimes (FA)
WR Alan Bonner (6b)
P Shane Lechler (UFA-OAK)
TE Ryan Griffin (6d)
ILB Mike Mohamed (FA)
ILB Jeff Tarpinian (FA)
ILB Justin Tuggle (CFA)
2014
OLB Jadeveon Clowney (1)
ILB Akeem Dent (ATL)
T Jeff Adams (W-TEN)
9-7, 2nd, AFC South
G Xavier Su’a-Filo (2)
QB Ryan Mallett (NE)
OLB Jason Ankrah (CFA)
TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (3a)
DE Kourtnei Brown (FA)
NT Louis Nix III (3b)
ILB Max Bullough (CFA)
QB Tom Savage (4)
WR Jace Davis (FA)
DE Jeoffrey Pagan (6a)
TE Anthony Denham (CFA)
RB Alfred Blue (6b)
C James Ferentz (CFA)
FB Jay Prosch (6c)
T Matt Feiler (CFA)
CB Andre Hal (7a)
DE Tevita Finau (FA)
FS Lonnie Ballentine (7b)
CB Charles James (FA)
WR Damaris Johnson (W-PHI)
WR Travis Labhart (CFA)
CB Darryl Morris (W-SF)
WR EZ Nwachukwu (FA)
S Terrance Parks (FA)
CB Jumal Rolle (FA)
OLB John Simon (FA)
T Bryan Witzmann (CFA)
T Will Yeatman (FA)
2015
CB Kevin Johnson (1)
T Aaron Adams (FA)
LB Bernardrick McKinney (2)
FS Stevie Brown (UFA-NYG)
WR Jaelen Strong (3)
DE Jasper Coleman (CFA)
WR Keith Mumphery (5)
NT Brandon Deaderick (FA)
LB Reshard Cliett (6)
S Kurtis Drummond (CFA)
DT Christian Covington (6)
QB Brian Hoyer (UFA-CLE)
RB Kenny Hilliard (7)
P Will Johnson (CFA)
T Kendall Lamm (CFA)
TE Khari Lee (CFA)
C Greg Mancz (CFA)
TE Mike McFarland (CFA)
DE Cam McLeod (CFA)
S Corey Moore (CFA)
FS Rahim Moore (UFA-DEN)
DE Dan Pettinato (CFA)
RB Chris Polk (FA)
WR Cecil Shorts III (UFA-JAX)
G Chad Slade (CFA)
OLB Carlos Thompson (CFA)
OLB Lynden Trail (CFA)
T Joseph Treadwell (CFA)
WR Nate Washington (UFA-TEN)
OLB Tony Washington (CFA)
NT Vince Wilfork (UFA-NE)
WR Chandler Worthy (CFA)
www.HoustonTexans.com
21
@TexansPR