HOUSTON – As Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim walked the hallways at NRG Stadium during his visit with the Texans, he kept thinking about his father.
Onyedim’s dad is a huge Texans fan, and the Richmond Foster graduate grew up watching the AFC South franchise.
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“Being able to go to my hometown team, my dad said, ‘I don’t watch too much football,’ but when he watched football, he definitely watched the Houston Texans,” Onyedim told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview. “It was a blessing to go meet with the team that my dad loves watching. It would be, amazing to play for my hometown team.
“I grew up always watching them, being a big J.J. Watt fan and everything. So, that would be great.”
Onyedim also has visits with the Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals.
An Iowa State transfer, Onyedim is former all-district selection at Foster High School.
The Texans already have Iowa State alums David Montgomery, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson on the team. Perhaps Onyedim could become the fifth former Cyclone on the squad.
“They are great players,” Onyedim said. “The Texans love how the program was ran.”
Onyedim had 48 tackles and 2 /12 sacks with 8 1/2 tackles for losses for the Aggies.
“I feel like my senior year helped me a lot,” said Onyedim, who is represented by Range Sports. “Just showing teams that I could play in any defense. It just shows versatility. I could play it in an attacking defense, whatever y’all need me to play.
“I feel like a lot of did what we have to do and showed out. I feel like we changed the history of A&M football. I feel like they’re just getting started with that program with Mike Elko and everything going on.”
He had 90 tackles, 13 tackles for losses and three sacks at Iowa State where he was an honorable mention All-Big 12 conference.
He was a teammate of Texans players Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson.
He had 12 sacks as a high school senior.
Onyedim (6-foot-3 1/2, 292 pounds) has posted a 32-inch vertical leap with a 9-3 broad jump.
He’s regarded as a versatile player as a three-technique.
“They see me attacking and think I’m a really good front player,” Onyedim said. “They see me being a beast on their team. They love the way I play football.”
Onyedim studied communications.
“I’d like to be a color analyst in the studio or something like that when I’m done playing,” Onyedim said. “Like what Shaq is doing.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com