‘Locked in, instinctive, electric,’ Texans rookie Kamari Lassiter making his move to earn potential starting job

HOUSTON – Kamari Lassiter read the eyes of Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud, reacting instinctively to undercut an accurate throw intended for veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Instead of another completion from the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year to a decorated, proven downfield target, Lassiter had other plans.

The Texans’ rookie corner and top draft pick, a second-round selection from the University of Georgia, batted away the football that was headed toward Diggs’ outstretched hands. After deflecting one of two Stroud throws as the Texans wrapped up their minicamp, Lassiter celebrated by placing his hands behind his back and swiveling his helmet as if to say: ‘It’s Locksmith time.’

Over the past two weeks, Lassiter has been making a convincing argument that he deserves strong consideration for a starting job as outside corner opposite standout Derek Stingley Jr., or as a nickel, as he competes with former first-round draft picks Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson. His latest performance Wednesday earned him coach DeMeco Ryans’ daily SWARM play of the day. The acronym stands for Special Work Ethic and Relentless Mindset, Ryans’ primary adage.

“I’ve been so amazed by him, man,” said Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last season. “He’s been making plays left and right all over the field. He’s electric, man. Another young guy that we can’t wait to keep seeing grow and stuff like that. And I think he can do great things for this defense and be a part of something special that we have going on here.

“It’s just that mentality that you have coming from the SEC. So, he gets it. He knows now is the time. He don’t have to wait for nobody. He’s not scared to jump up in front of the line. He’s not scared to go make plays. That’s the type of mentality that he has coming from a place like that, but that’s just who he is. And he understands what we’re trying to do here.”

Signed to a four-year, $9.014 million contract that includes a $3.376 million signing bonus, Lassiter has high expectations for himself. And so does his coach.

“What I have seen from Kamari, is a guy that has been locked in since Day One that he has gotten here,” Ryans said. “He has done everything we have asked him to do. Kamari is a guy that doesn’t make the same mistake twice. He is very competitive, he is making plays, he is an instinctive player.

“I think a lot of guys have been fired up to see what he has been able to do over the past couple of weeks. I am excited to see where he is trending, he is trending in the right direction, and I am excited to see how he comes back and where he starts in training camp.”

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“I feel like I just always want to prove myself right,” Lassiter said. “I never sought out to prove anyone wrong. I just thought that I could always be here. I always thought I could play at the highest level in college and my family always believed that. It’s just always about proving ourselves right. Everything that I do is really just to kind of just prove myself right just to make sure that I know I’m here for a reason.”

From adjusting to humid Houston weather to learning the playbook to his way around NRG Stadium, to, apparently, that Ryans attended Southeastern Conference rival Alabama, Lassiter is determined to get off to a fast start.

More difficult challenges are ahead for Lassiter.

Lassiter could wind up playing more than one position, which is the kind of versatility the Texans envisioned from him when they drafted him 42nd overall. He has played both positions in college.

“With Kamari, he’s a very sharp young man,” Ryans said. “He can play inside and he can play outside. He did that at Georgia, and whatever that day calls for, we’ll put him out at corner, we’ll put him out at nickel, and we’ll see what happens.”

After being drafted by the Texans, Lassiter exchanged text messages with Stingley, who emerged as a Pro Bowl alternate last season as he intercepted five passes. Stingley’s message to Lassiter: “Let’s get to work.”

• Source: Texans agreed to four-year, $9.014 million deal with second-round corner Kamari Lassister

Lassiter yielded the lowest amount of passing yards last season in college football, according to Pro Football Focus analytics. He did a great job shadowing and limiting the production of first-round wide receivers Malik Nabers (LSU, New York Giants) and Xavier Legette (South Carolina, Carolina Panthers).

Wherever he winds up lining up, Lassiter is comfortable.

“I play football,” Lassiter said. “I play defense wherever they put me at. It doesn’t matter. I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. I just think it was some of the things that were instilled in me at a young age. The best ability is availability, just being able to be versatile and do whatever the team needs you to do.

Lassiter was the Texans’ first draft pick in their rookie class this season after the defending AFC South champions traded their first-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings.

“Kamari provides toughness,” Ryans said. “You talk about energy and the way he plays the game. He loves football. It shows on the tape. It jumps off the tape. He’s a versatile player. He can play inside, he can play outside.

“You just talk about a guy who is a leader, a guy who works hard. He’s everything that our team is about. You talk about everything being relentless and attacking. With the relentless mindset every single day, that’s what Kamari brings.”

Lassiter won two national championships with the Bulldogs.

Lassiter (6-foot, 180 pounds, 4.64 speed in the 40-yard dash) was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection. Lassiter had a foot injury when he tested and normally runs in the 4.5 range.

“We’re drafting football players, we’re not drafting track teams,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. “I know speed is important. I’m not saying speed is not important. We don’t feel that’s an issue for this particular player. When you watch him play in the SEC, you don’t walk away and have that concern.”

Lassiter yielded only 136 passing yards and no touchdowns on 15 receptions off 37 targets last season to rank first in the NCAA among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Lassiter has a special silver chain with an engraved lock with ‘K3′ stenciled in the middle.

“I call myself The Locksmith,’” Lassiter said. “I pride myself on having stuff on lock. I really wanted to get a lock with the name ‘Locksmith’ on there.”

There will come a time when the Texans will have decisions to make on where Lassiter ultimately lines up as they gauge how ready he is to play as a rookie.

• Source: Texans agree to four-year, $4.209 million deal with sixth-round linebacker Jamal Hill

For now, it’s about preparing himself for those competitions.

“I just want to show everyone that I want to earn the respect of my teammates and my coaches,” Lassiter said. “I just want to come in here and do whatever I can to help the team. I want to help us be successful and whatever that is, I’m going to do it.

“This is a high culture program. The standard is the standard here. You have a bunch of guys who want to get better, a bunch of guys who have the right mentality, the right mindset, group of guys who really just want to win.”

Standing on the Texans’ practice field during a water break, Lassiter said it truly sunk in that he’s arrived in the NFL. It’s the first of many awaiting him.

“I had a wow moment actually,” Lassiter said. “I kind of had a second just to kind of take it all in. I was getting some water, and I was like, ‘Dang, I’m really playing for the Houston Texans.’ This was my dream. I’m getting to play football at the highest level. It’s a great feeling.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.