2014 Houston Texans Draft Prospects: New Orleans Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
Sep 7, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tulane Green Wave wide receiver Ryan Grant (3) catches a touchdown over South Alabama Jaguars cornerback Montell Garner (16) during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. South Alabama defeated Tulane 41-39. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
(The Toro Times will preview every college football bowl game, taking a look at the potential prospects in the bowl games that could be drafted by the Houston Texans in the May 2014 NFL Draft.)
The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl will be played on Saturday, Dec. 2 in New Orleans, LA at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
The game features Tulane (7-5, 5-3 Conference-USA) and LA-Lafayette (8-4, 5-2 Sun Belt Conference).
On the CBS Big Board, there are four players on the list, but none are projected to be drafted. As for Tulane, they have five players on the list, including two players who are projected to be drafted in the fifth and possibly seventh rounds.
The top player to watch in the game who could potentially help the Texans as a late-round choice is wide receiver Ryan Grant.
Grant is a redshirt senior who stands at 6-0, 192 pounds. The senior is the 23rd-rated receiver and the 165th-ranked player overall, as he’s been timed with a 4.59 40-yard dash.
He’s a native of Beaumont, Texas and was All-Conference-USA first team, and who knows, he could be a sleeper pick for the Texans on Day 3 of the draft as they could use some help at the WR spot behind DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson.
His draft bio states:
"“This season, Grant has played in all 12 games with 11 starts and leads the team in catches (70), receiving yards (926), touchdown grabs (nine) and all-purpose yards (926) while sitting tied for second in points scored (54).”"
It also says in the CBS profile page about Grant:
"“His 70 catches and nine touchdown receptions in 2013 each rank tied for ninth in Tulane single-season history. Grant ranks third in C- USA in receptions per game (5.8), fourth in receiving yards per game (77.2), 20th in all-purpose yards per game (77.17) and tied for 22nd in points per game (4.5).”"
Dane Brugler in his draft analysis said of Grant’s strengths:
"“Strengths: One of the more underrated pass catchers in the country. Grant has quick hands, smooth coordination and wins with timing and precision in his routes to create just enough room to work. Natural hands catcher.”"
Being ranked as a possible fifth-round choice, it isn’t thinking out of the box for the Texans to take a look at him as a day three choice. Besides the two WRs already mentioned on the Texans, the team could use some depth at the position.