FanPost

2011 Texans Draft Profile: Chetachi (Cheta) Ozougwu

With the 254th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected Cheta Ozougwu, linebacker from Rice University, as "Mr. Irrelevant."

A standout in the classroom with a 3.41 GPA and a degree in Economics, Cheta is considered a project player. Wade Phillips coached him in the East-West Shrine game, and Ozougwu made a positive impression on Phillips.  Like his new teammate and Shrine Game veteran, Shiloh Keo, he was drafted to the Texans.

More after the jump...

Tale of the Tape

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 247 lbs.

40 yd. time: 4.89

Bench @ 225 lbs.: 26

Awards

2010 George Martin Award, Co-Recipient (Team's MVP)

2010 All C-USA First Team (coaches)

2009 Honorable Mention All C-USA (coaches)

2007 Honorable Mention All-America Freshman (The Sporting News)

2007 Honorable Mention All C-USA Freshman (media)

After only playing two years of football in high school, Ozougwu received a scholarship to Rice University. Still learning the game, he became a starter in the fifth game of his freshman year.

The four-year letterman earned the George Martin Award (Rice's MVP) and earned Conference USA honors in his final year at Rice. He had 11 career sacks and 26 TFLs in his career there; he also had 197 total tackles, with 120 of those being unassisted.

It is nice to have a hometown player here with the Texans, and Wade Phillips must see something with Ozougwa to take a chance on him. He is still a raw player, but he's shown he has some tools that could help the Texans, perhaps on special teams or linebacker later down the line.