Chasing the Dream
H'Town legends pursuing different paths to get on NFL rosters
Mar 8, 2019, 5:17 pm
Westfield's Tyler Batson living dream in Canada. Via VYPE
Originally Appeared on Vype
It's all about chasing that dream.
For some like Westfield's Ed Oliver, who will be selected in the first-round of the upcoming NFL Draft, it's easy.
For others, the path is non-traditional.
Over a dozen former Houston-area high school football legends are playing professional football en route to getting on a NFL 53-man roster.
The Canadian Football League and the Alliance of American Football are giving more opportunities to NFL hopefuls, including former H'Town stars.
"I've been out of football for a year since college," Tyler Batson, formerly of Westfield and UTEP said. "Out of college, I didn't get an NFL free agent workout or invited to a camp. I just never gave up on the dream.
"I took that year off to get healthy physically and signed with an agent who really worked for me. I got a CFL tryout in Dallas and killed it. I signed with the Edmonton Oilers and will leave for training camp in April.
"Honestly, I didn't know much about the CFL or the tradition of the Oilers, but I've done a ton a research now. I just kept putting in work, knowing that my opportunity would come. I've accomplished the goal of becoming a professional football player and now my goal is to play in the NFL."
Batson will be picking up the new CFL rules and the playbook before moving in April, but he has the intangibles.
"I combine a great football IQ, size, speed and physicality," he said. "I specialize in explosive plays and I feel like any team can use those capabilities."
A pair of FCS Walter Payton Offensive Players of the Year from Houston are also on CFL rosters in Bo Levi Mitchell (Katy) and Jeremiah Briscoe (Stratford). One of the city's all-time leading rushers Trey Williams (Dekaney) has recently been picked up by the Alliance of American Football.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.