Latest news with #WoodyMarks
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Woody Marks signs rookie deal with Houston Texans
Woody Marks signs rookie deal with Houston Texans Woody Marks secures his place on the Houston Texans' roster with his NFL rookie deal. No drama. On Friday, the Houston Texans signed third round draft pick Jaylin Smith to his rookie contract. A day later, they followed suit with Smith's USC teammate, signing fourth round pick Woody Marks to his deal. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Mark's contract is for four years and $6 million. After spending the first four years of his college career at Mississippi State, Marks transferred to USC for the 2024 season. He thrived in his lone year in Cardinal and Gold, rushing for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns, while also adding 321 yards receiving. During the draft, Houston made headlines by selecting Smith and Marks in consecutive rounds. After also taking Calen Bullock and Solomon Byrd in last year's draft, the Texans now have four young Trojans on their roster. The 2025 NFL schedule will be released this week, so fans will soon know, who, where, and when Marks and his Texans teammates will be playing this fall.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texans fans mixed on giving up future draft capital for USC RB Woody Marks
Fight media? The Houston Texans double down on Trojan picks, selecting USC running back Woody Marks with the 116th overall pick. To acquire the pass-catching weapon, Houston gave up a 2026 third-round pick and pick No. 179 to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for pick No. 116 and a seventh-round pick. Advertisement Marks is a solid playmaker in the space. Last season in his lone year with the new Big Ten team, he finished with a career-high 1,133 yards on 198 carries and nine rushing touchdowns. During his time with Mississippi State, he served mostly as a secondary runner, never totaling more than 573 yards and 103 carries. But Marks will quite literally make his mark in the passing attack as an option for C.J. Stroud in the flats on third down. Best known as a pass-catching back during his tenure with the Trojans and Mississippi State, Marks should provide that spark needed in the backfield toward the passing game. In four years of college football, the 6-foot-1 runner finished with 261 catches for 1,544 yards and five TDs. Houston needed another runner pair long-term with Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, but Marks was considered a late-round pick. Some thought he'd be an undrafted free agent. Instead, the Texans gave up a future top 100 pick to secure a player who likely will be a one-trick option. Here's how social media reacted to the pick. How social media reacted to the Texans selecting USC RB Woody Marks at No. 116: This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans fans mixed on giving up future draft capital for RB Woody Marks
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WATCH: Highlights of new Texans RB Woody Marks
On your Marks, get set, Go! Woody Marks will be hearing that plenty during his time with the Houston Texans. By trading away a future No. 2026 third-round pick, plus pick No. 179, the Texans moved up into Day 3 to select USC running back Woody Marks at pick No. 116. Marks should compete for the No. 2 job behind Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon. Advertisement Best known as a pass-catching back during his tenure with the Trojans and Mississippi State, Marks should provide that spark needed in the backfield toward the passing game. In four years of college football, Marks finished with 261 catches for 1,544 yards and five TDs. Marks isn't just a solid playmaker through the passing game. As the leading rusher for the Trojans in 2025, Marks finished with 1,133 yards on 198 carries and nine rushing touchdowns. During his time with the Bulldogs, he served mostly as a secondary runner, never totaling more than 573 yards and 103 carries. Here are Marks' top highlights to help fans get excited ahead of training camp later this summer. Texans official highlight College highlights Big Ten Network highlight reel This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: WATCH: Highlights of new Texans RB Woody Marks
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans 2025 draft pick profile: RB Woody Marks
Texans 2025 draft pick profile: RB Woody Marks Doubling down on players from the same school seemed to be a trend for Nick Caserio in 2025. After trading down nine spots and out of the first round Thursday night, the Houston Texans finally bolstered their passing attack by selecting Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the 34th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Midway through the third round, his counterpart from Ames remained on the board, so general manager Nick Caserio ensured that Houston grabbed fellow Iowa State star Jaylin Noel. With the next selection, USC defensive back Jaylin Smith reunited with former Trojan Calen Bullock in the Texans' secondary. After that, the Texans jumped back into Round 4 by trading a 2026 third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for pick No. 166, which was used on USC running back Woody Marks. A former starter at Mississippi State, Marks transferred to Pasadena this offseason for a fresh start in a new offense. It ended up being the best thing for both sides as the Trojans secured a victory in the Las Vegas Bowl over Texas A&M to cap off their season. Marks, who is still coming into his own as a runner, finished with a career-high 1,133 rushing yards and nine TDs while averaging 5.7 yards an attempt. Where the 5-foot-10 runner will be useful early in his career is the receiving game. Over his seasons in college football, Marks totaled 261 receptions for 1,546 yards and five TDs. Here's a quick rundown on Marks: The Basics Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 206 pounds Age: 24 From: Atlanta, Ga. Breakdown "Houston dealt with a slew of injuries in the backfield last season, so investing in the position in a deep class has merit, especially as starter Joe Mixon enters his age-29 season. Marks is a good but not great athlete but offers a lot as a receiver out of the backfield. He's the oldest running back in the class, though." -- Ayrton Ostly Lance Zierlein's Scouting Report "Marks balances patience with decisiveness, setting blocks into defenders and then bursting past the collision. He glides through lanes with good vision and enough shake to create missed tackles over the first two levels. He lacks breakaway speed in the open field and contact power between the tackles. He's highly experienced and has sure hands as a pass catcher, with the ability to elude the first tackler in space. Marks projects as a slashing complementary back capable of finding yardage and adding value on passing downs." What Texans HC DeMeco Ryans Said "Really like Woody and what he's able to provide. Really like him out of the backfield catching the football. Really great hands. Really has that ability to make guys miss at the line of scrimmage and the ability to play behind his pads, play physical. So, like the addition of him to our running back room." RAS Score Grade: A+ "From a scheme standpoint, this is a great fit. Marks' receiving skills should make him the easy No. 2 option in Caley's system behind Mixon and can be a nice change-of-pace runner. He lacks breakaway speed in the open field but makes up for it by using a lower center of gravity to push ahead to play through contact. He'll be a nice complementary back capable of finding yardage and value on third downs. The only reason why its underwhelming is the asking price. Giving up a top 100 picks is always costly." - Texans Wire's Cole Thompson Highlights First Interview
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans' order of picks for 2026 NFL draft
Texans' order of picks for 2026 NFL draft The Houston Texans entered NFL draft weekend with seven picks. They left with nine players after making a record-setting seven trades over the three-day span and picked up several draft pieces for the future. With the 2025 draft in the past and a chance to secure a third division title, the Texans' front office can now look ahead to planning for the 2026 class. As things stand now, Houston currently holds seven selections for the 2026 NFL draft. The Texans lost their third-round pick in a Day 3 trade to acquire USC running back Woody Marks, but retained New York's third-round pick in the trade-up for quarterback Jaxson Dart in Round 1. Outside of that third-rounder, the Texans hold just three of their seven remaining original picks for 2026, plus a 2026 second-round pick acquired in the Laremy Tunsil deal with the Washington Commanders. With a hit tip to here's a look at the team's order of 2026 selections. Texans 2026 NFL draft order of picks Round 1 : Own pick : Own pick Round 2: Washington's pick Washington's pick Round 2 : Own pick : Own pick Round 3 : New York Giants' pick : New York Giants' pick Round 4 : Own pick : Own pick Round 4: Washington's pick Washington's pick Round 6 : Philadelphia's pick : Philadelphia's pick Round 7: 49ers' pick This seems to be normal in the Nick Caserio era. Most Day 3 picks are shuffled around for either players or future draft compensation to move up into Day 2. That could change, of course, by the time next April arrives because future trades can't be ruled out. The Texans have already made a trade involving 2027 with the Cleveland Browns, though it was only for a Day 3 selection. That could (and likely will) change, but for now, the Texans hold eight picks heading into next combine showcase.
