Running back D'Onta Foreman won't have to travel far to start his new job.
The Texans third-round draft pick said it was a dream come true to drafted by the Houston Texans.
"My family was supporting me, everybody was behind me and for me to be a Texan means a lot," Foreman said Friday. "As the draft process went on, something in my heart was telling me that I really wanted to be a Texan. I really felt like that was going to happen and when it did, it was so real. I can't thank the organization enough."
Foreman grew up in Texas City, attended high school there, and then played football at the University of Texas alongside twin brother Armanti. The 6-0, 233-pound back rushed for 2,028 yards as a junior last season and received the 2016 Doak Walker Award.
"He's a good football player, very productive in college," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "But certainly there are other things that drafting him does for us and one of them is hopefully for him to come in here, work hard and do a good job of learning our system and be able to spell Lamar (Miller) at times when Lamar needs that."
Foreman is ready to learn from Miller, who is now entering his second season with the Texans and sixth in the NFL. Last year, Miller rushed for 1,073 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season with a career-high 268 carries.
"I watch Lamar Miller in the NFL, me and my dad are Texans fans, I watch those guys and I see what he's able to do," Foreman said. "I just try to learn every day from him to put it with my game and be unique like that."
Both he and his father watched Texans games growing up. His father has been "a die-hard" Texans fan, according to Foreman. When he received the call Friday night, it was a big moment for his father and the entire Foreman family.
"He was just smiling and saying he was so proud of me," Foreman said. "It was pretty emotional for him, for all of us honestly – for me being drafted was a dream come true – but for me to be able to be a Texan, his favorite team, is crazy. I'm ready to get to work. I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a great journey."
The Texans selected Foreman with the 89th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He becomes the fourth player in franchise history drafted from the University of Texas, joining DT Frank Okam (2008), G Kasey Studdard (2007), and WR Sloan Thomas (2004).
Check out some of the best shots of RB D'Onta Foreman from his time at Texas.
