Tag: Garret Wallow

Texans LB Garret Wallow says TCU helped raise his football IQ

New Houston Texans rookie linebacker Garret Wallow says playing at TCU for coach Gary Patterson helped raise his football IQ.

Coach Gary Patterson knows how to get collegiate players ready for the NFL.

Since 2001, the first draft after Patterson took over as the head football coach, TCU has produced 55 players drafted by the NFL.

Make Houston Texans’ fifth-round pick Garret Wallow No. 56.

The Texans selected the linebacker No. 170 overall on Saturday in day three of the 2021 NFL draft.

According to Wallow, one of the benefits of playing for the Horned Frogs and Coach Patterson was increasing his football intelligence.

“I would definitely say they helped me raise my IQ, definitely helped me think of football differently more from a player standpoint and a student as well,” Wallow told reporters on a conference call on May 1. “I guess just really for smart-wise, definitely from a professional level. Definitely just prepared the best way possible especially being under Coach P, such a great coach.”

Wallow produced 295 combined tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 40 games with TCU from 2017-20.

What helped Wallow was Patterson, “holding everybody to a high standard, not letting anybody slack for nothing.” The type of environment Patterson cultivated allowed for Wallow to flourish.

“From that standpoint, definitely prepared me for where I’m about to be now,” said Wallow.

Grading each of the Texans’ 5 picks from the 2021 NFL draft

Take a look at how the Houston Texans’ 2021 NFL draft class grades out.

The Houston Texans had a five-man draft class for the second consecutive season, which must be one of the side effects from trading your first and second-round picks for a Pro Bowl left tackle.

Nevertheless, the Texans tried to target specific players who could be a part of their culture and bring discipline and determination to the locker room. Houston didn’t have as many selections as a rebuilding team might need, but general manager Nick Caserio was looking for players who could help amplify the message of competition and improvement around NRG Stadium.

Here is how the 2021 Texans draft class grades out.

Texans pick TCU LB Garret Wallow No. 170 overall in Round 5 of 2021 NFL draft

The Houston Texans selected former TCU LB Garret Wallow with the 170th pick overall in Round 5 of the 2021 NFL draft.

The Houston Texans continue add depth to their linebacking corps with the selection of former TCU linebacker Garret Wallow with the 170th pick overall in Round 5 of the 2021 NFL draft Saturday.

To take Wallow, the Texans traded No. 174th overall in Round 5 and No. 233rd overall in Round 7 to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Texans signed former New York Jets linebacker Jordan Jenkins in the offseason along with former Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers Christian Kirksey. The Texans also have former 2017 second-round linebacker Zach Cunningham on the roster.

The approach by Houston is one to create competition on the roster.

“I would say, our football team, try to create competition,” general manager Nick Caserio said at the end of day two on April 30. “Again, they will probably be, I would say, we’re going to look at the board just like we did in the first few days, right? I mean, we’ll try to follow it horizontally and just look at different players at different positions relative to how we have graded them. So their role commensurate with their value and how that fits. So we’ll try to stay as disciplined as possible.

“So, again, I wouldn’t say it’s about one position, about one player. It’s going to be about a number of different things and that’s how we’re approaching it.”

Wallow produced 295 combined tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one interception, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in his 40 games with the Horned Frogs.

A coverage linebacker prospect for Cowboys to consider drafting in all 7 rounds

Tim Lettiero reviews seven linebackers that can fit into Dan Quinn’s new system in each round in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the linebacker position for the Dallas Cowboys. With the addition of Dan Quinn, fans can expect the linebackers to take on a different role than what they are used to seeing. That could come from what’s in house, but there also could be additions in the 2021 NFL draft who could help at the position.

Going into next season, Leighton Vander-Esch and Jaylon Smith will likely be manning the starting roles. While current free agent Sean Lee mulls retirement, Keanu Neal was recently signed to provide some reliable depth and scheme versatility alongside youngsters Francis Bernard and Luke Gifford.

Vander Esch showed the ability to be an impact defender on the second level but has been unable to return to his rookie year form given his injury riddled career thus far. Jaylon Smith on the other hand has been able to stay healthy but has incredible inconsistencies in his game. Lee, Neal, Bernard and Gifford are all fine backups and role players, but none fill the coverage void the Cowboys have desperately needed filled.

As this 2021 draft series rolls on, a look at a linebacker prospect from each round is in order.

Senior Bowl: 10 linebackers for the Eagles to watch

Here are 10 linebackers at the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl for the Eagles to watch

The Philadelphia Eagles will have a new coaching staff in 2021 and that could allow for a newfound desire to place value on the linebacker position.

The NFL is a new game and gone are the years of running backs getting 40 carries per game, or defenses serving with three down-hill, thumping style linebackers on the roster.

Alex Singleton and T.J. Edwards have been solid but the Eagles need an athletic, playmaking linebacker who can flourish in pass coverage.

Some of college football’s top linebackers have converged onto Mobile for the Senior Bowl and we’ve provided 10 that the Eagles should keep an eye on.