Texans OTAs Create 'Stanford Connection' with Davis Mills, Dalton Schultz
HOUSTON — Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills and tight end Dalton Schultz were teammates at Stanford University in 2017.
Schultz was in his third and final year with the Cardinals. He had established himself as one of the top tight ends in the nation while leading Stanford to a 9–5 record, 7–2 in Pac-12 play.
But due to a knee injury sustained the year prior, Mills redshirted his freshman year and missed out on the chance to play alongside Schultz. He suffered the injury during the 3A state championship game as a high school senior at Greater Atlanta Christian.
The Texans' three-week OTA practices marked the first time the two Stanford alumni shared the field as teammates nearly six years after their college days.
Mills' growth since 2017 is difficult for Schultz to evaluate. But he has found pleasure in watching Mills overcome the devastating ACL injury that plagued his collegiate career.
"Before here, I don’t think I ever had a pass from him, ever," Schultz said. "They had him on the side, and I don’t think even going through in the training room he threw me a ball. Obviously, you have to grow a whole lot coming in from your freshman year at a place like Stanford to the league."
Schultz's memories highlight the unfortunate circumstances Mills had to overcome in college. He played one game in 2018 as a backup to K.J. Costello. And following Costello's injury in 2019, Mills appeared in a career-high eight games for the Cardinals.
The 2020 campaign marked the only year Mills entered the season as a full-time healthy starting quarterback. But due to the pandemic-shortened season, Mills appeared in five games.
During his four-year stint at Stanford, Mills played 14 games. He completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,468 yards and 18 touchdowns, good enough for the Texans to feel comfortable to select the quarterback prospect as a third-round pick (no. 67 overall) during the 2021 NFL Draft.
"I’m excited for him and it’s great to have another Stanford boy in here — "him and Book [Thomas Booker]," Schultz said. "I think it’s one of those things where you can kind of reminisce on the good ole days. It’s nice having another guy like him here."
OTAs at the Houston Methodist Training Center marked the first time Schultz caught a pass from Mills. They displayed the Stanford connection Tuesday morning when Mills completed a 10-yard completion to Schultz during 11-on-11 drills.
Mills is currently in a quarterback competition with rookie C.J. Stroud to determine who will start under center for the Texans in 2023.
Winning the job would not only allow Mills to retain his starting role. But starting Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens would give Mills and Schultz a chance to rectify their college days at Stanford.
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