HOUSTON - The Houston Texans announced today they have signed the first member of their 2007 draft class, seventh-round draft pick LB Zac Diles. The club also announced the signing of DT Thomas Smith from NFL Europa's Hamburg Sea Devils.
Diles (6-0, 240), was the 218th selection in the 2007 NFL Draft from Kansas State. He appeared in 24 games in his two seasons for the Wildcats. He was a two-time All-Big 12 honorable mention selection. He finished second on the team and eighth in the Big 12 with 92 tackles during his senior season. He collected seven tackles for losses, which ranked second on the team, and 3.5 sacks
Diles started all 13 games during the 2006 season. He also posted his only career fumble return for a touchdown at Missouri last year. He finished his collegiate career in the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium where he made seven tackles as the Wildcats fell to Rutgers.
Diles, a Fresno, California native, began playing colligate football at Fresno City College where he helped the Rams to an 8-3 record and a Valley Conference title and a berth in the 2004 California North Division championship game as a sophomore. He anchored a defense that yielded just 260.3 total yards per game.
Houston has six remaining draft picks unsigned.
Smith (6-3, 300) played his college ball at Pittsburgh with T Charles Spencer from 2001-05. He was moved to defensive tackle as a senior and posted 32 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and one pass defended. He played for Hamburg, who won the NFL Europa World Bowl championship this spring. He compiled 24 tackles and finished second on the team with four sacks.
In order to make room on the roster, the Texans have released TE Luke Smith-Anderson.
