Many Houston-area high school football stars picked in 2020 Virtual NFL Draft
Many athletes wait their entire careers for the NFL Draft.
Typically, the football standouts are seen walking a red carpet alongside other prospects and even some celebrities.
But the 2020 picks were much different as NFL officials decided to hold the draft virtually. Like most national events in the recent months, the draft had to be revised in order to ensure minimal contact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Texans made the following draft picks:
1. Missouri City's Elkins High School standout and TCU defensive lineman, Ross Blacklock, as 40th pick
2. Florida edge rusher, Jonathan Greenard, as 90th pick
3. North Carolina offensive tackle, Charlie Heck, as 126th pick
4. Penn State cornerback, John Reid, as 141st pick
5. Rhode Island wide receiver, Isaiah Coulter, as 171st pick
LSU standout Joe Burrow joined the Cincinnati Bengals as the 1st overall 2020 pick.
Although they didn't get to dress up and enjoy the draft they hoped for, several athletes with Houston origins were selected for top spots.
Philadelphia Eagles picked Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts as the 53rd overall pick.
As a former Channelview High School athlete, Hurts has a family rooted in the community. His father, Averion Hurts, Sr., is a local coach who is a household name.
As he reflected on his days in the area, Hurts said, "All of those teams, all of those guys, I was always around them. I saw good habits, good characteristics and I saw the bad ones as well. I think being around those guys as a young kid, it allowed me to learn right from wrong."
Ross Blacklock
TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock will be staying in the state as the Texans drafted him as the 40th overall pick.
Son of a Harlem Globetrotter legend and coming out of Elkins High School in Missouri City, Blacklock said he is ready to put his school back on the map.
"We do not have a lot of people who have come out of Elkins," said Blacklock. "I am proud to be that guy."
Josh Jones was picked 72nd overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
The former Bush High School athlete had a different journey to get to the NFL draft. Jones began as a basketball player for the Broncos before Coach Allen Aldridge convinced him to pursue football. After going to the University of Houston, Jones gained multiple conference champions.
Quartney Davis signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.
The Texas A&M University football star was prepared to be drafted and bring inspiration back to his community. Although the draft wasn't held for players to gather, Davis still had a plan to celebrate with his friends and family.
"We can only have 10 people there, so I am taking care of the ones I can choose," said Davis. "I'm getting my stories together of who I am not choosing and why. It is going to be a surreal moment. I have not shed a tear since 2006. That might be the time right there."
CeeDee Lamb was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.
The former Foster High School star has been called the most dynamic play-maker among this draft class. Lamb scored 32 touchdowns during his college career in Oklahoma.
Elkins High School great Kenneth Murray was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers. Murray was a first-round pick coming out of Oklahoma where he was a linebacker.
K'Lavon Chaisson
Jacksonville Jaguars drafted the North Shore High School alumni. Chaisson played at LSU as a defensive end.
Grant Delpit
Cleveland Browns picked safety Grant Delpit from Lamar High School as the 44th pick overall.
Antoine Winfield Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked safety Antoine Winfield Jr. from The Woodlands High School as 45th pick overall.
Braden Mann
New York Jets picked Cy-Fair High School punter Braden Man as 191th pick overall.
The video above is from a previous story.
