The Alabama State tackle played quarterback in high school and has played tackle for a few years

Texans get their tackle at 23 selecting Tytus Howard

Texans get their tackle at 23 selecting Tytus Howard
Credit to Alabama State Football Twitter

The draft board started to set up perfect for the Texans. With just one tackle going in the top 20 picks Washington State's Andre Dillard, Oklahoma's Cody Ford, and Florida's Jawaan Taylor all remained on the board. Three of most draft experts top four tackles. Moments later the Eagles had traded up and were on the clock.

There went Dillard. One pick before the Texans were set to select. Then they were on the clock. Now they trusted their board.

Roger Goodell walked to the podium and announced the Texans had selected Alabama State tackle Tytus Howard.

"It's just an unbelievable feeling right now," Howard said after he was picked. "I'm just blessed to be a part of the Houston Texans."

Howard said he had a good feeling about being a member of the Texans when he had his visit with the team.

"They decided to draft me and I promise you they didn't make a mistake. I'm going to give them everything I have."

Texans general manager Brian Gaine knows there's a fit for his new lineman.

"We see Tytus Howard as an offensive lineman," he said. "We'll start the best five, however it works out. He'll have a chance to compete for a starting job, come in and earn what he gets, but the fact of the matter is, is Tytus has been a starting-caliber player at right tackle and left tackle."

Gaine mentioned Howard "checked all the boxes" and said he is the type of player that matches their physical as well as intagible profile.

As for where he played, Gaine doesn't mind Howard's track record against non-Power 5 schools.

"I know the competition in terms of comparably speaking to a power-five conference, he's not coming from a power-five conference, but I'm not concerned about that at all."

Howard was a high school quarterback. He then started a transition to tight end before ultimately ending up as the right tackle for Alabama State. He credits his coaches and the strength staff for staying on him. He also said his fiance was instrumental in getting him to eat enough.

"My favorite would be her chicken spaghetti," Howard said with a chuckle. "I would eat that back to back nights. I would eat that whole pan."

Howard said his time as a quarterback helps him at the tackle spot.

"I know how being sacked feels," he said. "So I try my best not to give up any sacks so I try to play as long as I can to keep guys from hitting the quarterback."

Speaking of keeping the quarterback clean, Howard knows all about how important Deshaun Watson is to the Texans.

Howard said he thinks Watson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and he said his athleticism will help him work longer to keep Watson clean.

As for Howard, he has a clear mentality to take to the NFL.

"There was a saying that one of my offensive line coaches used to say, his mentality is you put him in a cage with a gorilla, you better pray for the gorilla, not him because he's going to be all right. That's just how I feel. You just put me in a cage with anybody and I feel like I'm going to come out. That's my mentality going in."

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Jesus Sanchez will take Cam Smith's spot in right field. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

The Houston Astros head to Camden Yards on Thursday looking to snap a four-game skid as they face the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth matchup of the season. After being outscored by 37 runs in their last 10 games, Houston is hoping to regain the offensive spark that carried them through much of the season. Jeremy Peña has been a bright spot, batting .310 with 21 doubles and 13 home runs, while Carlos Correa has contributed a hot streak recently, going 11-for-37 with a home run and four RBIs over his last 10 games.

On the mound, the Astros will turn to Jason Alexander (3-1, 4.74 ERA), who has shown flashes of effectiveness but will need to limit the long ball against a Baltimore squad that thrives when opponents fail to homer. Brandon Young (1-6, 5.68 ERA) takes the hill for the Orioles, who are 27-14 this season in games when they haven’t allowed a home run. Gunnar Henderson leads the Orioles offensively with a .281 average, 29 doubles, and 15 homers, while Ryan Mountcastle has added some recent firepower, going 12-for-39 with two home runs over the last 10 games.

Baltimore comes in 6-4 over its last 10 with a 2.48 ERA, outscoring opponents by 15 runs, while Houston is 4-6 over the same span with a .193 team batting average and 5.92 ERA.

A win in Camden Yards could be exactly what Houston needs to stabilize its lineup and pitching staff.

Betting odds

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Orioles -112, Astros -107; over/under is 9 runs

Roster Moves

Houston announced four roster moves on Thursday. Taylor Trammell heads to the IL, Brice Matthews has been recalled, JP France completed his rehab and heads to Sugar Land, and Jordan Weems will go to Triple A as well.

Astros lineup

The first thing we notice is that Cam Smith is getting the night off. Espada appears to be shaking things up by not having two slumping players (Jesus Sanchez & Smith) in the lineup at the same time.

There's nothing new with the top 3 hitters, except Altuve will play second base. Christian Walker (1B) will hit cleanup, followed by the slumping Sanchez (RF), Yainer Diaz (DH), Victor Caratini (C), Mauricio Dubon (LF), and Jacob Melton (CF).


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