Slot defender? Boundary cornerback? Safety?
Name a position in the secondary and new Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter will play it, even if it comes with a few hiccups.
“I play football. I play defense wherever they put me at,” Lassiter said Friday following the first day of Texans rookie minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”
Lassiter, Houston’s first pick in the 2024 NFL draft, comes with a hard-hitting demeanor but the knowledge to be expendable. The 6-foot defensive back spent two seasons on the outside at Georgia and one season in the slot, helping the Bulldogs win back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.
New #Texans CB Kamari Lassiter working reps at minicamp, pic.twitter.com/OWS6MevhLj
— Cole Thompson (@MrColeThompson) May 10, 2024
The Texans saw a playmaker first and a cornerback second throughout the pre-draft process. They watched him shine as the alpha in Kirby Smart’s secondary while breaking his career numbers from the year prior.
“With Kamari – again, he’s a very sharp young man,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He can play inside and he can play outside. He did that at Georgia, and whatever that day calls for, we’ll put him out at corner, we’ll put him out at nickel and we’ll see what happens.”
Lassiter was a star in Athens during his three seasons. He quickly caught the attention of Smart, who rarely starts freshmen on defense amid ample veteran talent. Much like Ryans, Smart follows the “best man for the job” approach, thus leading to extensive reps for the Tuscaloosa native.
Cornerbacks often take time to translate to the pros, even those from the SEC. Lassiter should make the jump once comfortable given his production at Georgia and the level of competition he faced.
Over his final two seasons, Lassiter allowed the fewest passing yards and second-lowest completion percentage of any FBS cornerback in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
Fundamental work for Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullock pic.twitter.com/CzzsVt7KML
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) May 10, 2024
As for the talent? Lassiter faced first-round draft picks Xavier Legette and Malik Nabers. Against Legette, he allowed two catches for six yards. Against Nabers, he was targeted once for an eventual incompletion in the SEC Championship.
“I always thought I could play at the…
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