© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans NFL Draft Prospect Reveals First Impression Of Coach DeMeco Ryans
Coach DeMeco Ryans was in attendance during the Houston Texans' Pro Day, where he left a great first impression on Texas A&M-Kingsville prospect Ezrah Thibodeaux.
HOUSTON — Texas A&M-Kingsville EDGE rusher Ezrah Thibodeaux was one of several players who participated in the Houston Texans' Local Pro Day on April 4. As a Houston native, Thibodeaux was honored to have a chance to go to NRG Stadium for a chance to meet the coaches and staff of the team he grew up rooting for.
Thibodeaux said he was nervous upon his arrival. However, coach DeMeco Ryans made it easy for him to break free of his shell. In one day, Thibodeaux experienced what has made Ryans a desired coach for players since his hiring in January 2023.
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans speaks at a press
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
"He is a good dude," Thibodeaux said. "The way he talks. The way he describes everything. His reason why for leading this team, you believe it and want to buy into it. He is a guy you want to go work hard for. It was a good time."
Ryans spent the bulk of the pro day sharing the Texans' draft process, values, and facility. Ryans broke ground with the prospects by encouraging players to show their personality while reiterating why he invited each prospect to be in attendance.
As a coach who has spoken heavily about improving the team's defensive front, Thibodeaux's five-year tenure with the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas showcases why Ryans took an interest in the D-II prospect.
He recorded 128 tackles (60 solo hits) and 9.0 sacks across 40 career games. Thibodeaux notched a career-best 16 tackles during the Javelinas' 35-14 victory over Eastern New Mexico on Oct. 21. He recorded five or more tackles in four of his final five games of the 2023 season.
Under coach Michael Salinas, the Javelinas ran a defensive scheme similar to what made the Texans one of the best defensive teams in 2023. Thibodeaux's attributes and background have made him a quintessential fit for Ryans to add to the SWARM.
"What coach DeMeco has been doing with C.J. [Stroud], all of their other pickups and draftees, They have flipped the whole dynamic of what the Texans are all about. Bring that juice and swagger back to the city.
"To get drafted by the Texans, I would get a chance to stay home and see my family. It would give me a chance to play in front of the people who have believed in me since the beginning. Honestly, there is nothing I would want more than that."
