HOUSTON _ CeeDee Lamb is Houston through and through.
Standing for an impromptu photo shoot on the edge of east downtown just north of 3rd Ward, murals of some of the city's most identifiable citizens like rapper Paul Wall and Beyonce in historic Graffiti Park, the smile on his face is as round as loop 610 and the pride for his city is undeniable.
But Lamb's hunger for a new start and excitement about embracing a new city is palpable.
So the former Oklahoma star who saw his dreams come true when he was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys can't wait to pack up his new Ford 250 and head north on the I-45 to begin what he hopes to be the start of a Hall of Fame career, one that tracks in the footsteps of legendary Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin.
"Be a Hall of Famer," Lamb said boldly when asked for his career goals. "Have as much of an impact or more that Michael had on the game and on America's Team. I want to be on a team that makes unbelievable memories together. I feel like that is what we are going to do here."
"I can't wait."
There won't be any turning back for Lamb, just as there wasn't after his previous two moves.
The first was from Louisiana to Texas with his family when he was as a child. Theis was back when he was known by his birth name. Only his mom is allowed to call him Cedarian, and a certain reporter may never get another interview after putting it in print.
CeeDee, his preference, was a nickname that a peewee football coach came up with when he started playing football for the first time in his new city of Houston.
Lamb said his family moved from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Like so many families, they were looking for a better way of life but the move dramatically changed Lamb's path because it was only after the move to Texas that did his love for football begin.
"I didn't play football when I was in Louisiana, it was when I moved to Texas," Lamb said. "My dad didn't want me growing up in Louisiana so we moved to Texas. Texas is a football state. It worked out."
It led to a standout high school career at Richmond Foster and scholarship to Oklahoma, which he now hails as the greatest move of his life because of the family atmosphere and expert coaching that allowed him to develop into one of the best receivers in school history and a highly-coveted NFL prospect.
He finished his three-year career at OU tops in school history in average yards per catch at 19.0 among players with at least 130 receptions. He's also second all-time with 32 receiving touchdowns, and third in receiving yards with 3,292.
"OU was probably the best thing that happened to me," Lamb said.
But now he can't wait to take his talents, love and loyalty to the Cowboys.
Lamb's move up I-45 has only delayed by the NFL shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As he waits, he works out daily with his trainer and does WebEx virtual meetings with his teammates from his Airbnb townhouse in downtown Houston.
"It's surreal ... At times, it doesn't feel real yet because of everything we are dealing with," said Lamb during this interview, which occurred before the world learned of George Floyd's name. "It hasn't hit me yet. I am taking it one day at a time until the real thing comes. But I'm very excited. I can't wait to get out there on the field."
