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City of Houston had most players on NFL kickoff rosters
Wheatley High School graduate Xavien Howard is one of 19 former Houston high school football players to be on the NFL active roster during the league’s kickoff weekend. (Credit: Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)

City of Houston had most players on NFL kickoff rosters

HOUSTON (BVM) – The City of Houston is a hub of football talent. As most of the country knows football is king in Texas and perhaps Houston is the king of Texas football. Based on NFL rosters, this argument would be valid.

In a poll conducted by NFL Communications, Houston high schools tied Miami for the most players on kickoff weekend rosters in the league with 19 apiece. This is the second time in three years that Houston has led the league in the category, holding sole possession of the honor in 2020 with 24 players.

While Houston isn’t alone atop the rankings this year, it does have the most players for a city in Texas which is the state with the most number of players with 199, edging out Florida’s 185. Texas also ranks No. 9 in players per capita with one NFL player for every 146,460 people in the state.

The 19 players from Houston played for 13 different area schools: Chavez, Clear Lake, Cypress Creek, Dekaney, Eisenhower, Jersey Village, King, Memorial, North Shore, Taylor, Westfield, Westside and Wheatley.

Westside leads the schools with the most players from its program with three. The three players are Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Germain Ifedi, Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and New Orleans Saints defensive end Payton Turner.

Germain Ifedi Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Westside High School graduate
Falcons offensive tackle Germain Ifedi was one of three Westside High School alumni on NFL kickoff weekend rosters. (Credit: Lon Horwedel/USA TODAY Sports)

The 19 players are part of 16 NFL teams: the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders. While most teams have just one representative, three teams have two: the Broncos, Commanders and Dolphins.

Among the notable players from the area include Dolphins’ All-Pro corner Xavien Howard, Lions defensive tackle Michael Brockers and former first-round picks Ifedi, Turner, K’Lavon Chaisson, William Jackson and Ed Oliver.

Michael Brockers Detroit Lions defensive tackle Cesar Chavez graduate
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Michael Brockers is among some of the more notable Houston high school alumni currently on NFL rosters. (Credit: Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Nfl Philadelphia Eagles At Detroit Lions

A full list of names and schools can be found on the NFL Communications website.

With Houston high schools once again at the top of alumni on NFL kickoff weekend rosters, it is clear that the city and its schools will have a huge impact on the league for years to come. Given its track record of being at or near the top of the list, expect many of Houston’s brightest high school gridiron stars to make their way to the game’s highest level.

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