Football in Texas is a rite of passage. From Friday nights to Sunday afternoons, football at every level is a staple in the Lone Star State. So to celebrate the return of football in Texas here is a look at the players from the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans who spent their collegiate playing days in Texas.
Lance Dunbar/RB – North Texas
The University of North Texas product begins the preseason still nursing a knee injury in hopes to be ready for Week 1. Dunbar tore his ACL and MCL in Week 4 last year and according to reports has been healing well in the 10 months since his injury. In 2015 Dunbar was a productive member in the pass game for the Dallas Cowboys as he netted 21 receptions in four appearances. Dunbar had 67 rushing yards on five attempts and enters his fifth season in the NFL. Dunbar is also a product of the Texas High School Football family as he spent some time at Haltom High School located in the Fort Worth area.
Derek Akunne/LB – North Texas
Akunne is another product from The University of North Texas located in Denton and a native of Garland. Akkune’s path to his current spot on the roster is quite the story in itself. Akunne was signed in late December to the practice squad. Before coming to the Cowboys he had a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad before he was released in late October.
In his time between the Falcons and Cowboys he was working at the sports retailer Academy Sports & Outdoors not far from his former college. He is considered a rookie according to his bio on DallasCowboys.com and his senior season at UNT included 108 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
Rico Gathers/TE – Baylor
Rico Gathers is a rookie in every sense of the word. Gathers has no football experience at a high school or college level, but the Dallas Cowboys thought highly enough of him to use a sixth-round pick in the draft on him.
Why draft an inexperienced players such as Gathers? His athletic prowess as a power forward for the Baylor Bears where he averaged 11.4 points and excelled as a rebounder in his senior season was enough for the Cowboys to believe he should transition well as a pro tight end. He has promising upside that the Cowboys are willing to wait for as he learns his new job requirements.
Jameill Showers/QB – UTEP
Jameill Showers has seen his spotlight increase recently with the injury to backup quarterback Kellen Moore. Showers has one year under his belt since his days as a quarterback at the University of Texas–El Paso. Showers transferred to UTEP from Texas A&M prior to his senior season.
Showers is in a tight competition with fourth-round pick Dak Prescott but has a slight lead due to his year of experience under his belt. The Cowboys saw how crucial a backup quarterback is after the debacle of a season they had without Tony Romo. Showers looks to further propel himself into the backup role as the Cowboys have a preseason date with the Los Angeles Rams this weekend.
Geoff Swaim/TE – Texas
Technically still considered a rookie, Geoff Swaim has seen his name shoot up the depth charts. With James Hanna out and Gavin Escobar being limited, Swaim is seeing reps right behind incumbent tight end Jason Witten.
Terrance Williams/WR – Baylor
Terrance Williams has been part of the Dallas offense the past couple of season. He has had his ups and downs as the Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver but has still been an integral part of the offense. The former Baylor Bear has played in every game in his first three seasons and caught 232 passes for 2197 yards and 16 touchdowns. Though his all too familiar body catch has been highlighted by fans and critics, Williams has shown himself to be a viable option as a second option in the passing game.
Quintin Demps/FS – UTEP
Demps was born in San Antonio, played his high school ball at Roosevelt, spent his collegiate career at the University of Texas–El Paso and now finds himself as a member of the Houston Texans, Quintin Demps is the quintessential Texas football player. Demps was signed in 2015 for his second stint with the Texans after spending two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants. Prior to that he was a member of the Texans from 2010-2012.
Last year Demps played in 14 games and had 35 tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and credited with a half-sack. Though Demps has played for a total of four different teams, he’s has been able to settle into any defense well.
Shane Lechler/P – Texas A&M
Arguably the best punter to ever grace an NFL field, Lechler has performed at an elite level for years.
Lechler is easily a Texas legend with his place of birth listed as East Bernard, Texas, where he also played high school football. Lechler spent his college days at Texas A&M and was a long time Oakland Raider before going to the Houston Texans in 2013.
Lecher’s accolades include being a 7x Pro Bowl selection, 6x First-Team All-Pro, 3x Second-Team All-Pro, a Golden Toe Award, and a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. With that extensive resume Lechler might soon find himself a legend in the halls of Canton.
Duke Thomas/CB – Texas
Duke Thomas earlier in in the summer had reportedly seen a great amount of reps as the depth for the Texans was in short supply. The undrafted free agent from the University of Texas could see some serious playing time if the moment strikes.
Christian Covington/DT – Rice
Covington was a sixth-round pick from Rice University and is back in camp after suffering concussion symptoms last week. Last year he recorded two sacks and looks to compete for a starting job on the defensive line.
Eric Tomlinson/TE – UTEP
Tomlinson was signed as a rookie free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles and was later released. The Texans signed him to the practice squad last September and has been getting in some quality reps with the Texans at training camp.
During his time at UTEP he was utilized more as a blocking tight end, but managed to catch 19 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in 11 games.
Jon Weeks/S – Baylor
Undrafted in 2008 out of Baylor and after being released from the Detroit Lions in minicamp; Weeks would be out of football for a few years. In 2010 the Texans gave him a call and has been with the team since.
Interesting note: Weeks made his first Pro Bowl last year as a long snapper.
