The Texans invited 11 un-drafted rookies to training camp this season. Three of them, as Lovie Smith likes to say, "showed us they should be on the roster."
DT Kurt Hinish, LB Jake Hansen, FB Troy Hairston are the three that have been signed to the active 53-man roster.
While wide receiverJohnny Johnson III, defensive back Jacobi Francis, defensive lineman Adedayo Odeleye, defensive back Tristin McCollum and wide receiver Drew Estrada have all been signed to the practice squad.
Lovie Smith has said numerous times this preseason that constructing the roster isn't just about the 53 actives alone.
"A lot has been said about the 53-man roster, but it's really about the 69-person roster," Smith said. "Some of our guys are vested, we ask them to come in a little bit different way, whether it's practice squad or whatever. We're choosing for the Indianapolis game, from that entire group and we like what we're choosing from."
The Texans currently have 69 players on the roster, including defensive lineman Adedayo Odeleye as the international player exemption.
Any number of players could factor into team success in one form or fashion this season, and likely will, as it is a grind and injuries will occur.
The Texans have a number of un-drafted rookies that could help this team, even in the early stages of the season.
The Texans, like any team rebuilding, if their doing it right, have a youth movement going on and those rookies have made it increasingly more exciting as the regular season approaches, with their play and approach to the opportunity of a lifetime.
Troy Hairston seems like he could be given an opportunity to make the biggest impact early, given that he's the only fullback on the roster and will be lead blocking for fourth round standout rookie Dameon Pierce.
While Pierce has not officially been named a starter to this point, that's just semantics. He's their best back, and will see plenty of carries early, and Hairston could play a role in creating opportunities to shine.
Couple that with the fact that Pierce will have Hairston, who has been an absolute beast this preseason, blocking with the likes of Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green and Justin Britt on the left side of the line, with AJ Cann and Tytus Howard anchoring the right side.
It should be noted that Smith has not officially named Green a starter yet either, but found a creative way to say as much Thursday when he met with the media.
"I can say that Kenyon Green will play for us quickly this year," Smith
The Texans have put together what they think to be a far more competitive roster this year than last, and that's a credit to the depth they've created from a strong rookie class, veterans acquired in free agency and the un-drafted rookies that have proven thus far they've earned every opportunity to make their mark in the league with the Texans.
Kurt Hinish has easily been the biggest surprise among the un-drafted rookies.
The unheralded nose tackle out of Notre Dame has showcased the impact he could have this season behind nose tackle Roy Lopez in a big way.
Hinish compiled two sacks and three tackles for loss this preseason with his physical and down right nasty play in the middle. While Lopez has taken another step in his development as a run stuffer and pass disruptor as well, the emergence of Hinish boosts the defensive line, which is probably the deepest position group on the team.
Quite similarly, the linebacker core has plenty of quality depth as well to go along with Kamu Grugier-Hill and Christian Kirksey.
However, a hamstring injury to rookie third round pick Christian Harris has kept him out, along with second year pro Garret Wallow who's been sidelined with an ankle injury the last couple of weeks.
Jake Hansen, an underdog linebacker out of Illinois impressed his former college coach Lovie Smith, who knows his game well.
"If he hadn't gotten hurt one year at Illinois, I think he would have set the record for the defender taking the ball away," Smith said. "We understand what we are trying to get accomplished defensively. I like some of the plays he's made. He's like Kurt (Hinish) and other guys, told us he needs to be around."
It became more clear as the preseason drew to a close that Hansen fit right into what Lovie wants to do with this defense.
Hansen always seemed to be around the football, routinely knocking passes down or coming up with a big intercepting in practice.
He credited Lovie and his son Miles, who coached him at Illinois and now as Texans linebackers coach, for putting him in position to succeed.
"Coach Miles (Smith) grew up in that defense so he knows it better than anyone. He coaches us hard and he coaches us well," Hansen said. "I had a little experience with him at Illinois so I knew what he was about and knew what he stood for so coming here was an easy decision for me as an undrafted free agent. They both know the system super well.
As the regular season draws closer, the opportunity of a lifetime awaits these young Texans.
It'll be fun to watch the progress and growth in the early stages of the season, if a mature and hungry rookie class, many entering the league with a chip on their shoulder, can continue, as general manger Nick Caserio often says, stack more good days together than bad.
