The Texans have signed fourth-round draft pick Trevardo Williams, the speedy outside linebacker from the University of Connecticut.
Williams (6-1, 241) was the 124th overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft. He is the fifth of nine Texans draft picks to sign, joining sixth-rounders David Quessenberry, Alan Bonner, Chris Jones and Ryan Griffin.
In 50 games at Connecticut, Williams started 30 games at strongside defensive end and set a school record with 30.5 career sacks. The Jamaica native was first-team All-Big East as a senior with 11.5 sacks and had 12.5 sacks as a junior in 2011.
Williams had the best 40-yard dash (4.57) and vertical jump (38 inches) of any defensive lineman at this year's NFL Scouting Combine. He also benched 225 pounds 30 times.
Coach Gary Kubiak liked what he saw in the Texans' May 10-12 rookie mini-camp out of Williams, who was drafted one round after the Texans selected outside linebacker Sam Montegomery from LSU.
"I would say that Williams is a little ahead of Montgomery," Kubiak said after the final mini-camp practice on Sunday. "Montgomery struggled with his back and some stiffness... I think Williams was exactly what we thought. Tremendous speed. He can really run."
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