Signed by Houston Texans as non-drafted free agent, May 4, 2006…Waived by Texans, Aug. 28, 2006…Re-signed by Texans to practice squad, Sept. 4, 2006…Released from practice squad, Oct. 9, 2006…Resigned by Texans to practice squad, Oct. 24, 2006…Re-signed by Texans as reserve/future free agent, Jan. 1, 2007…Allocated to NFLEL, Jan. 8, 2007…Waived by Texans, Sept. 1, 2007…Re-signed by Texans to practice squad, Sept. 3, 2007…Signed by Texans to active roster, Dec. 4, 2007…Placed on reserve/injured (foot), Oct. 14, 2009…Re-signed by Texans as restricted free agent, July 31, 2011…Signed by Oakland Raiders as unrestricted free agent, March 17, 2012.
CAREER: Veteran in the trenches, joins the Raiders after 50 games and 47 starts in five-plus seasons with the Houston Texans…Blocked for three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, two by Arian Foster and another by Steve Slaton; helped fellow undrafted free agent Foster lead the league with 1,616 rushing yards in 2010…Part of a top-five NFL offense for three of the past four years…Named to the USA Today All-Joe Team in 2008 and 2011.
2011: Started 13 games, 15 including postseason, in final season with the Texans…Named captain of the USA Today All-Joe Team, which honors unheralded players…Missed final three games of the regular season but returned to start both of Houston’s playoff contests…Helped Texans rank second in the NFL in rushing (150.0 avg.)…Blocked for Arian Foster, who ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,224 rushing yards… (9/11) vs. IND: Started season opener and paved the way for Ben Tate’s 116 yards on the ground in 34-7 win…(9/18) at MIA: Helped Tate rush for 103 yards in 23-13 triumph…(9/25) at NO: Protected Matt Schaub, who threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns…(10/2) vs. PIT: Cleared the way for Foster to rush for 155 yards and one touchdown in 17-10 victory…(10/23) at TEN: Part of an offense that recorded 518 total yards, the third-highest total in team history…(11/6) vs. CLE: Helped enable team to rush for a franchise-record 261 yards, including two 100-yard rushers…(12/4) vs. ATL: Paved way for Foster to rush for 111 yards on 31 carries, including the go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter of important 17-10 win…Postseason: (1/7/12) at CIN: Started AFC Wild Card game in postseason debut…Helped team earn franchise’s first-ever postseason victory…Helped Foster rush for 153 yards…(1/15/12) at BAL: Started AFC Divisional playoff and assisted Foster to 132 yards, the highest rushing total ever allowed by Baltimore in a playoff contest.
2010: Saw action in 12 games with nine starts…Helped Foster pace the NFL with 1,616 yards on the ground…(9/12) vs. IND: Paved the way for a franchise-record 231 rushing yards by Foster…(9/19) at WAS: Provided pocket protection to allow Schaub to pile up a franchise-record 497 passing yards, with three touchdowns…(9/26) vs. DAL: Made first start of the season, at right guard…(10/3) at OAK: Helped team rush for 249 yards and was part of a line that did not allow a sack…(11/28) vs. TEN: Aided Foster’s 143-yard rushing performance…Placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury on 12/15.
2009: Started five games…(9/20) at TEN: Helped Schaub set a career high with four touchdown passes…(9/27) vs. JAC: Aided in Schaub’s second straight game with 300 passing yards…(10/11) at ARI: Started 25th consecutive game…Blocked for Schaub’s season-high 371 passing yards and two touchdowns…Placed on reserve/injured list with shoulder injury on 10/14.
2008: Started all 16 games…Named to USA Today All-Joe Team…Helped RB Steve Slaton lead all NFL rookies with 1,282 rushing yards…(9/28) at JAC: Ushered Slaton to his first career 100-yard rushing game…(11/16) at IND: Blocked for Slaton, who set a Texans rookie record with 156 rushing yards…(12/7) at GB: Efforts helped Schaub throw for 414 yards and two touchdowns…(12/14) vs. TEN: Helped block for Slaton, who ran for his third consecutive 100-yard game.
2007: Started his first four NFL games…(12/9) vs. TB: Made NFL debut and first career start…Played center in NFL Europe with the Hamburg Sea Devils.
2006: In training camp with the Texans…Released on 8/28…Signed to practice squad on 9/4…Released on 10/9.
COLLEGE: Played at Colorado State…Received second-team All-Mountain West honors as a senior…Started 26 career games, including final 11 of career…An All-Mountain West honorable-mention selection as a junior and sophomore …Started nine games as a freshman…Agricultural business major.
PERSONAL: Attended Fayetteville (Ark.) High School…Three-time letterwinner…Also earned two letters each in track and baseball…Named all-state, all-all-area, all-region and all-Arkansas as a senior…Served as team captain…Named to the AP Super Prep team …Named one of top 50 juniors in the state after leading team to state semifinals.
