<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> announce the signings of their rookie UDFA class. <a href="http://t.co/NgqIiziKoM">pic.twitter.com/NgqIiziKoM</a></p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/596687819327733760">May 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Most of them are huge. Five of them over 300 lbs. and seven of them 6'5" or taller. According to reports, they may be best group of free agents the Texans have ever had.
Mancz will make the 53 and eventually be the starting center (2016). He is good, just needs to get into a NFL training program.
This is encouraging... Kurtis Drummond a steal for Houston Texans, says Michigan State's Harlon Barnett EAST LANSING — Kurtis Drummond's pre-snap reads and ability to quickly apply what he learned in the film room was to the extent that Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett nicknamed him "The Matrix." "You know how Neo was able to slow things down, and dodge those bullets?" Barnett said last week on "The Griff and Grinz" show on Lansing's The Team, 92.1 FM. "Well that's Kurtis, he's calling things out on the field before the play happens, and he would do that every day in practice, too.'' NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said he was "shocked" that Drummond — the 2014 Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, a first-team All-American and a three-year starter and team captain — wasn't selected. Drummond, who led the Spartans' top 10 defense in tackles (72), pass breakups (11) and interceptons (four), has a free-agent contract with Houston and will head down to Texas this week for the Texans rookie mini-camp. Barnett, who has produced back-to-back first-round picks at cornerback in Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes while seeing safeties Isaiah Lewis and Drummond go undrafted, said Houston did well snatching up Drummond. "They are going to get an extremely smart football player who understands his job,'' Barnett said. "Kurtis is a guy who can run and tackle in space.'' Drummond's downfall was a relatively slow 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine in February - 4.65 seconds. The year before, Lewis ran a 4.60, and that, too was a factor in Lewis not being picked. Like Drummond, Lewis has a free-agent deal entering this offseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Personally? I have no idea, but the article clearly indicates that the kid can cover, tackle, and has football smarts galore. Seems that, from the article, his only problem is a lack of speed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Basketball conversion Ross Travis is putting his name into the hat for a contract. Soft hands and big target tight end at 6-6. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/597143056786132992">May 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Travis has not played football since freshman year in high school but has put together a solid pass catching day today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/597143256959332352">May 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Travis Labhart said his main goal is to make 53-man roster. Trying to improve on special teams. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/597083701399277568">May 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Interesting....Ross Travis didn't play college football at all?! Last played freshman year in high school?!