Former Rhode Island Rams receiver Isaiah Coulter caught 72 passes for 1,039 yards and eight touchdowns in his junior year.
However, it was his nine catches for 152 yards in a 34-17 loss to Virginia Tech that led the 6-3, 190-pound wideout to believe that he could play in teh NFL.
“I feel like I’ll handle it great,” Coulter told reporters on April 25 after being selected 171st overall in Round 4 of the 2020 NFL Draft. “I play with a chip on my shoulder. I’m ready to just come in and help any way I can.”
Coulter is aware that he is coming from a smaller school, and he is well aware that he constantly has to prove himself on a daily basis.
However, the Brandywine, Maryland, native didn’t just wake up one day and decide he could play at the pro level. In his sophomore season, he caught 42 passes for 604 yards and three touchdowns. In order to reach the 1,000-yard mark receiving, it took preparation and focus in the offseason.
Said Coulter on what helped him improve between his sophomore and junio year: “I would just say taking my craft serious in the offseason. Not taking a lot of time off, just really digging into my weaknesses and just trying to improve and get better, whether it’s in the film room watching — just seeing little things that I could do better.”
One of the areas that Coulter spent time was his route running and how he came in and out of his breaks. It was all part of a concerted effort on Coulter’s part to take his offseason seriously and love the game of football as part of a daily ritual of improvement.
Coulter will have his chances to impress receivers coach John Perry and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. While the Texans do have Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks, and Randall Cobb ahead of him, DeAndre Carter, Keke Coutee, and Steven Mitchell are receivers who will similarly be battling for a spot on the 53-man roster.
