Draft Central | HoustonTexans.com

Stingley was named the top recruit of the 2019 class by Rivals and a finalist for the National Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Dunham School in Baton Rouge. The five-star recruit turned into a consensus first-team All-American for the national champions in 2019 as a true freshman, as well as a second-team All-SEC selection. He tied for fifth in the FBS with six interceptions, two of which came against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Stingley also made 38 tackles and broke up 15 passes in 15 starts that season. He was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2020 (27 tackles, 2.5 for loss, five pass breakups), even though he missed three games, one to illness and two for an ankle injury. Stingley missed all but three starts in 2021 (eight tackles, 3.5 for loss, one forced fumble) with a foot injury, as well. He is the grandson of the late Darryl Stingley, who was a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 1973. Darryl Stingley, a wide receiver, became a quadriplegic after taking a hit to the head from Oakland Raiders safety Jack Tatum in a 1978 preseason game. Derek Stingley Jr.'s father, Derek Sr., played cornerback at Purdue before going on to play minor league baseball and Arena League Football. -- by Chad Reuter

Green was a five-star offensive tackle recruit coming out of Humble, Texas, where he was named the 2018 Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. He started all 13 games of his first year with the Aggies at right guard, however, playing well enough to make the SEC All-Freshman Team. Green moved to left guard for 2020, starting all 10 games and receiving second-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-SEC accolades. He showed great versatility by starting at four positions in 2021 (two at right tackle, one at left tackle, two at right guard, seven at left guard) and earned first-team AP All-American and all-conference honors. Green was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman. The team could not play in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, however, due to COVID-19 issues on the squad. His father, Henry, played guard at Grambling State while his mother, Shalonda, played volleyball at UCLA. -- by Chad Reuter

Pitre (pronounced PEE-tree) signed with the home-state Baylor program out of Stafford High School. He played linebacker his first three years with the Bears, playing in all 12 games with eight starts as a true freshman (37 tackles, three for loss), appearing in 13 games with one start in 2018 (11 tackles, two for loss) and then redshirting the following year with a shoulder injury (12 tackles, 1.5 for loss in four games). Pitre moved to the Star safety/linebacker hybrid spot in 2020, garnering first-team All-Big 12 honors with a team-high 60 tackles and 13 tackles for loss (2.5 sacks). He also intercepted two passes, returning both for touchdowns, and broke up two others. He was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, as well as a first-team Associated Press All-American. Pitre led the Bears with 18 tackles for loss (with three sacks among his 76 total tackles), intercepting two passes, breaking up seven others and tying for third nationally with three fumble recoveries in his 14 starts for the Baylor defense. -- by Chad Reuter

Metchie was diagnosed with a slightly enlarged heart in high school, but doctors gave him clearance to play football. He became a four-star recruit who signed with Alabama after one year at a prep school. He contributed in all 13 games in 2019 (4-23-5.8 receiving) but then became a large part of the team's national championship run in 2020. Metchie stepped in for an injured Jaylen Waddle to start 11 of 13 games, catching 55 passes for 916 yards (16.7 per rec.) and six scores. He started 13 games in 2021, garnering second-team All-SEC honors with a team-high 96 receptions (1,142 yards, 11.9 per rec., eight TDs) before suffering a torn ACL in the conference title game and missing the team's playoff run. Metchie was born in Taiwan -- his mother is Taiwanese and his father is from Nigeria. His family moved to Ghana when he was young, then emigrated to Canada when he was 6 years old. Metchie left Canada to play high school football in Maryland. -- by Chad Reuter

Harris, who grew up with former Alabama LB Dylan Moses in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2019, starting 12 of 13 appearances (63 tackles, 7.5 for loss). Harris played through a shoulder injury during the team's run to the 2020 national championship, starting all 13 games and making 79 tackles, seven for loss with 4.5 sacks and intercepting a pass. He started all 15 games of the 2021 season, again making 79 stops, 12.5 for loss with 5.5 sacks, and recording three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. His brother, Tylor, played football at Wake Forest and made the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad. -- by Chad Reuter

Pierce was a four-year starter at Bainbridge High School, finishing in the top 10 of Georgia's state career rushing leaders (6,779 yards, 92 total touchdowns). He was a steady contributor for the Gators in his first two seasons, playing in all 13 games as a reserve in 2018 (69-424-6.1, two TDs rushing; 5-20-4.0 receiving) and in 12 games during his sophomore campaign (54-305-5.6, four TDs rushing; 4-30-7.5 receiving). Pierce landed the starting job in 2020, leading the team in rushing with 503 yards and four rushing scores on 106 carries (4.7 per; also 17-156-9.2 one TD receiving). He started once in 13 games in 2021 but still topped UF with 13 rushing scores (100-574-5.7) and contributed as a receiver (19-216-11.4, three TDs). Pierce had one of the best quotes of the year when asked why he was playing in the team's bowl game even though he had a Senior Bowl invite in hand: "Why? Because I'm a Gator, bro." -- by Chad Reuter

Earl Thomas Booker IV was considered one of the top 20 recruits nationally at defensive end while at Gilman High School in Maryland, where he was a first-team all-state pick, a track team captain (won a state title in shot put) and senior class vice president. At Stanford, he contributed as a true freshman in 2018, starting three of 13 contests and racking up 28 stops, four for loss with 3.5 sacks, one interception and two pass breakups. Booker garnered honorable mention All-Pac-12 notice as a sophomore in 2019, accumulating 50 tackles, 8.5 for loss with four sacks and three pass breakups in 12 games (six starts). He was a team captain and second-team all-conference pick in 2020 (21 tackles, three for loss with one sack), tying for fifth in the FBS with two blocked kicks, and 2021 (59 tackles, five for loss with 1.5 sacks). In 2020, Booker helped found CardinalBLCK (Brilliance, Leadership, Community and Knowledge) as a safe space for Black student-athletes. He was a finalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Award, also known as the academic Heisman, and the Senior CLASS Award for excellence on and off the field. Thomas' father played football at the University of Wisconsin. -- by Chad Reuter

Quitoriano (kwi-tore-ee-on-o) originally committed to Oregon after earning all-state honors in football and basketball at Sprague High School in Salem, but eventually switched to Oregon State. He got on the field right away as a true freshman, starting four of 10 games played (2-13-6.5). Quitoriano started six of 12 contests the following year, scoring twice on just five receptions that covered 100 yards (20.0 per rec.). Pac-12 coaches voted him honorable mention all-conference in 2020 (14-185-13.2, one TD in seven starts) and 2021 (19-214-11.3, three TDs in 13 starts) as a receiver and blocker for the Beavers. -- by Chad Reuter

Deculus was born in Louisiana but grew up in Texas, where he was an honorable mention 6A all-state pick as a senior at Cy-Fair High School. The four-star prospect returned to Louisiana, playing in all 13 games as a reserve in his true freshman season. Deculus started 11 times in 13 appearances the following year, once at left tackle and 10 times at right tackle. He started 13 games on the right side for the national champs as a junior, missing two games due to injury. The stalwart again suited up for all 11 games at the right tackle position in 2020 and in 12 games in 2021. -- by Chad Reuter