Miami (FL) linebacker Darryl Sharpton was one of two players taken in the fourth round Saturday by the Texans. Wisconsin tight end Garrett Graham was the other.
These quotes are part of our 2010 Path to the Draft coverage presented by FOX Sports Houston.
After they were selected in the 4th round by the Texans, Miami (FL) linebacker Darryl Sharpton and Wisconsin tight end Garrett Graham answered questions from the Houston media via conference call. The following is a transcript their respective interviews.
Linebacker Darryl Sharpton Tight end Garrett Graham
LInebacker Darryl Sharpton(on how excited he is to be drafted) "I'm excited. With all the anticipation building up the last couple of days I could hardly sleep last night. I've been up since five o'clock this morning. I'm just so excited to be picked and I'm happy to go to Houston."
(on how much injuries slowed him at Miami) "I'm a big believer in perseverance. When you play football it's a physical game and you are always going to get nicked up. All you got to do is persevere and work hard. That's what I've done all my years at the University of Miami and I'm ready to continue to do that in Houston."
(on how consistent his game is) "I'm going to bring a lot. Every play I play it'll be really hard and will be a hundred miles per hour every play. I'm going to work hard. I'm just looking forward to getting to Houston and getting to work immediately."
(on if he's looking forward to playing with the Texans' current line backing unit) "I look forward to it a lot. I'm a linebacker myself so obviously I'm very familiar with those guys and how they play. I look forward to playing with such great linebackers. My qualities will complement them and I believe we will have a great line backing corps."
(on the prospect of playing with Texan WR and fellow Miami Hurricane Andre Johnson) "When the Texans called me he was one of the first people that popped in my mind. He has been working out with me all the time at the University of Miami. I look forward to being his teammate."
(on what is his biggest asset) "My biggest asset is my motor and my physicality."
(on joining a team with a good linebacker corps already established) "It's very cool. The linebackers are the quarterbacks of the defense. I think that these linebackers are going to be able to do some great things next year."
(on joining RB Ben Tate in Houston) "I worked out with Ben Tate. Me and him are really good friends and I look forward to being a teammate with him as well. I'm excited about that."
(on how far he thinks the Texans can go during his rookie season) "I'm optimistic. I think the sky is the limit all the way."
(on working out with any of the former Miami Hurricane linebackers) "I'm really close with a lot of the Miami linebackers, in particular, guys like (Jonathan) Vilma, D.J. Williams, Nate Webster. Guys like that I'm very close with, we stay in contact and we shoot ideas off each other."
(on if he anticipated being picked by the Texans) "I wasn't sure. I was hearing from a lot of different people. I really didn't hone in too much on any particular team. I came in with an open heart and I'm fully committed to being a Houston Texan."
Tight end Garrett Graham
(On his initial reaction when was drafted) "I was shocked and excited. I'm just grateful to get the opportunity to play in the NFL and have a great opportunity to go to a franchise like the Texans. I'm just really looking forward to it."
(On if he had any idea of being drafted by the Texans) "Before I answered the call I really didn't. I was thinking I would be drafted by Dallas or the Falcons, but this probably couldn't be a better offense for the type of tight end that I am. This is going to be a great opportunity."
(On what type of tight end is he) "I'm a complete tight end. I can block and stretch the field. I have good hands. I kind of have a knack for the first downs in the red zone."
(On what he knows about the Texans) "I watch whenever I can. I'm from Wisconsin I don't get that many games that the Texans are on. I know they are a good team and I'm looking forward to getting down there and contributing anyway that I can."
(On how much he knows about Texans TE Owen Daniels) "I know quite a bit about Owen Daniels. I was a freshman when he was a senior at Wisconsin. I followed him quite a bit. He is a great guy to watch and definitely be a great guy to learn under."
(On if he learned anything while playing with Daniels at Wisconsin) "Up until my senior year we watched film on him on certain plays and what he did. I definitely picked up on the things that he did and his game and tried to carry it over to mine."
(On what did he learn while playing with Travis Bekum) "He's a very good route runner and great competitor. I took some things away from him from that aspect of the game like certain routes he ran and how would be open."
(On being in competition with other tight ends on the Texans roster) "I'm going to do what I can. I'm going to come in there and play my hardest."
(On if he see himself as an equal part tight end/H-back in the NFL) "I'll do whatever they want me to do. I feel like I could do both. Whatever they want out of me that is what I'll do."
(On if Texans TE Owen Daniels were involved in his recruiting at Wisconsin) "He was. He actually showed me around the campus with a couple of other tight ends when I took my visit out there."
