Texans rookie receives the highest praise from an all-time great
The Houston Texans have found themselves a special player in rookie wide receiver Tank Dell. The team's third-round pick out of Houston has taken the league by storm over the first 12 weeks of the season and is on pace to shatter multiple rookie receiving records held by some of the best players in franchise […]
The Houston Texans have found themselves a special player in rookie wide receiver Tank Dell.
The team's third-round pick out of Houston has taken the league by storm over the first 12 weeks of the season and is on pace to shatter multiple rookie receiving records held by some of the best players in franchise history.
Dell has totaled 47 receptions, 709 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns over the course of his first 10 career games. Dell already has the most receiving touchdowns by a Texans rookie and is weeks away from breaking the team's rookie receiving yard record as well.
Both records were held by Texans legend Andre Johnson prior to the 2023 season. The two-time All-Pro totaled 66 receptions 976 yards and four touchdowns during his rookie season in 2003. All of those numbers will soon be surpassed by the rookie who seemingly came out of nowhere.
"It's just like, **** where is this kid from," Johnson said while speaking about the Texans new rookie. "The creativity in the route running, and the separation he creates is different. It's definitely different the way he gets in and out of routes. Whoever taught him, has done a great job with him. I can only see him getting better and better as he learns and as he grows. I'm very excited for the kid."
Dell has totaled 5+ receptions, 50+ receiving yards, and 1+ receiving touchdown in each of his last four games. That kind of production over a four game span is unheard of for any receiver, much less one in his rookie season.
Dell has three games with 100+ receiving yards and 1+ receiving touchdown in 2023. The 5'10, 165 pound wide receiver is dominating coverages on a weekly basis with no signs of letting off the gas, but his impact on the team goes beyond the passing game.
"He was exciting to watch as a college prospect and it's the same standing back and watching him on the sidelines," Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said at the beginning of the month. "It's always impressive. He's an explosive playmaker, he shows up every Sunday. That's the thing that stands out, you see the touchdown catches but for me, it's the blocking. It's him stepping in the run game and blocking safeties who are probably twice his size. It doesn't matter, he's going to step in there and give you everything he has every single game."
The rookie has certainly been impressing all of the eyes looking his way during the first 12 weeks of the 2023 season. Dell is only going to get better and is just getting started with his NFL career. More records and milestones will continue to come his way.
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