The Houston Texans have done a masterful job of churning the undrafted free agent market and finding rookies who can make the 53-man roster and contribute.
Former Michigan Wolverines running back Karan Higdon may be this year’s Vyncint Smith or Dylan Cole. Higdon’s position coach, Jay Harbaugh, gave a glowing endorsement of the running back in a video on the Wolverines football program’s Twitter.
“Karan is a guy who is extraordinarily persistent,” Harbaugh said. “You really can’t tell him that he won’t be able to do something, and that’s something that’s a driving force for him to keep pushing on his limits and expanding them to the point he became a really complete player.”
Higdon rushed for 2,616 yards and scored 27 touchdowns on 471 carries through his four seasons at Michigan. The 2018 first-team All-Big Ten member also caught 16 passes for 177 yards.
The Sarasota (Florida) Riverview alumnus is going to have his work cut out of him if he is to make the Texans’ 53-man roster. After all, Pro Bowler Lamar Miller is atop the running back by committee while 2019 ought to be a season D’Onta Foreman returns to form. Then, the coaching staff seems to believe that Buddy Howell, a practice squad member, can be a contributor for the former AFC South champions from a season ago.
Higdon’s ability to adapt quickly may help push him over the top, Harbaugh believes.
Said Harbaugh: “His knowledge of what it takes, and I think he’s going to surprise people at how quickly he can assimilate into a new scheme.”
Competition is a good thing when it comes to teams trimming down their 90-man rosters from May to September. If Higdon can take advantage of as many reps as possible in that four-month period, he could very well be the next Texans undrafted free agent success story.
