Here is everything Houston Texans cornerback Collin Wright said following the release of the initial 53-man roster, including his reaction to making the roster, the biggest difference between college and the NFL and if he thought about trying to return to college football.
Question: On making the initial 53-man roster Collin Wright: "Everybody knows how stressful camp is. Every day we're being evaluated, every little thing we're doing we're being evaluated, so me not being out there I was a little concerned, but I think I came to peace with what I did show. Everybody, the staff, my teammates, everything I could do and I just left it up to God and luckily I was blessed and I'm blessed to still be here." Q: On how he found out he made the team Wright: "I actually found out on the Texans' Instagram. I didn't really hear anything all day, but I've also heard on days like this, no news is good news, so it hit about three, four o'clock and from what I understood, I was like, 'Okay, I know by five o'clock everything will be out.' I didn't hear anything then and then I found out on social media like everybody else did, so it was a cool experience. I got to celebrate with my family. It was awesome."
Q: On being consistent throughout training camp Wright: "For me that's something I've tried to carry out throughout my whole career coming from college to coming here. That's the lifestyle I try to live, to try to be consistent with everything I do late in the game, how I watch film, how I eat, how I take care of my body, try to do all those things. For me, luckily, being able to trust those things is what makes you better on the field. I was able to have a lot of successful days, make some plays and luckily that worked in my favor." Q: On what he has learned from Defensive Backs Coach Dino Vasso and CB Derek Stingley Jr. Wright: "Hunting the ball. I think that's the number one thing. Takeaways, you kind of make your living off takeaways in the league. For me as a young player, I think Dino teaches it a different way. He's taught me in a way that I've never been taught before and just to always think about the ball every moment, which has allowed me to make some of the plays that I did make during Training Camp. Just being able to watch guys like 'Sting,' Kamari [Lassiter], 'Jayroc' [Jaylin Smith], ‘Tre’ [Tremon Smith], everybody in the room. Everybody's attacking the ball every play; it kind of made me want to elevate my game and try to get there."
Q: On the biggest difference from college to the NFL Wright: "Speed, of course. Guys are a lot faster, guys are a lot more athletic, great route runners, so I think it becomes more about the small things in the game. Trying to study the receiver's split, where they lined up, how's his body language, does he take any false steps, things like that to try to give you that advantage. I think everybody we play is athletic, everybody we always see every day is athletic, so it's really trying to find those small things that are going to make the difference." Q: On his family being at training camp and when they found out he made the initial 53-man roster Wright: "They knew just like me, so they actually told me. We have a small family group chat and they ended up sending me the report. I was like, 'Okay, wow,' and then I ended up getting a phone call from them and then found out. [It] was awesome. I never imagined it playing out this way and just to be here with my entire family has been unbelievable. I'm extremely blessed with the organization giving me a chance to come show my talents and opportunity to keep going."
Q: On his process through the offseason to make the team Wright: "I didn't really know what to expect, honestly. I did a lot of stuff in the pre-draft with a lot of different teams, but definitely coming back here and coming home, I think seeing this side of the Texans, obviously being an outsider looking in my entire life, it was a lot different than I expected, but it was also a lot better than I also expected. Just being able to learn from Dino early on preaching, getting the ball as much as you can and doing those things, it left me a good taste to just be able to take as much as I can." Q: On learning and preparing for the NFL with former NFL QB Andrew Luck Wright: "I think Andrew's words to me before going through the process is just never lose your hard work. Nobody is ever going to give anything to you, so for me, that's kind of how I treated this whole process. I have to work hard. Drafted, undrafted, it doesn't matter, you have to be consistent and try to keep going every day and have to keep giving yourself a chance."
Q: On joining the Texans defense Wright: "Takeaways at all different levels and the physicality. I think this team in general is just built on being the more aggressive, the more dominant, the more physical team. So for me coming in, I think we have so many great leaders that instill those standards every day on all sides of the ball. Being able to listen to those guys talk about it and also be about it every day as well, I think it raises everybody's standards as well." Q: On if he went to any Houston Texans games growing up Wright: "I did. I went to a couple in the Gary Kubiak era. I don't remember too well, honestly. I do remember it was a game against the Browns that I went to that I really remember. I went to a couple, not too many. I was always playing youth sports on Saturday and Sunday, so I didn't catch too many, but I remember being in Reliant as a kid. It's crazy to be back. Just crazy to walk in the same stadium that I drove past in my entire life."
Q: On the local talent around youth football in Houston Wright: "It's awesome. I think there's no place like it. Shout out to Manvel. Shout out to all the guys still playing. I watched their game this past week. Guys killed it. I'm very in tune with what's going on and I still keep up with a lot of kids that go there and just keep supporting them on their journeys. I've heard from all my Manvel coaches over the past three or four months, even in college. I'll hear from a frequently, definitely extended family of mine and I support them all the way." Q: On the thought of returning to college football for another season Wright: "I didn't really have any of those thoughts or concerns. I did have a couple of friends that were considering it and I think they might be there now. For me, that's not anything I wanted to do. I think I've always wanted to be a pro and I want to just keep striving to try to be the best pro I can. I think my time in college expired and I was just ready to move on." This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans CB Collin Wright said after making the 53-man roster
