'I Prayed For This': Texans WR Tank Dell Grateful for Houston Opportunity

Beyond thrilled to be a part of the Houston Texans, rookie wide receiver Nathaniel "Tank" Dell Jr. is determined to replicate his collegiate success both individually and for the team.

HOUSTON — Nathaniel "Tank" Dell Jr., a wideout prospect from the University of Houston, sent the Houston Texans a message on Instagram in late December. "Don't let me leave the city," Dell wrote. And nearly four months to the day after he messaged the Texans, Houston traded up from No. 73 to the 69th pick to select Dell during the 2023 NFL Draft.

"I prayed for this, I told all of the coaches, I wanted to be here," Dell said. "I feel like Houston is my second home. I told them I am ready to get rolling."

While Dell prayed to stay in Houston, general manager Nick Caserio became fond of the Florida native after noticing him during the 2023 Senior Bowl in Alabama. Caserio said nobody could cover him and described Dell as one of the most offensive skilled players in the country.

Over the previous two seasons at the University of Houston, Dell recorded 199 receptions for 2,727 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also contributed to the Cougars' special teams as a kick returner who rushed for 330 yards since 2020. 

But entering the draft, the lone knock against Dell may have been his 5-foot-10 stature. The Houston alumn understood the impact it had on his draft stock, but Caserio does not believe a player's size should determine their on-field productivity. 

"It's kind of like what Bryce [Young] said, you know, he's 5'10", you can't change your size, but you figure out a way to be productive and be a good football player," Caserio said. "He's [Dell] small, but I would say good football players come in a lot of shapes and sizes.

"I think he's a player that brings an element to the team and to the offense from an explosive standpoint that there's potentially an opportunity there to enhance some of the things we do between offensively and maybe a role as a returner and ball handling."

Dell's goal ahead of joining the Texans is to maintain the same mindset that helped establish a winning culture with the Cougars. 

Before Dell transferred from Independence Community College in 2020, Houston had a subpar football program. The Cougars won four games in 2019. Over the past three seasons, Dell helped the program win 20 while establishing the Cougars as a powerhouse in the AAC.

In December, Dell completed a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Clayton Tune to lead the Cougars to a 23-16 Independence Bowl victory over the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. He finished with six catches for 44 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help Houston complete a 13-point comeback win.

"I am coming to help win and rebuild the program to get to the level I know we can be at," Dell said. "When I first got to UH, we were rebuilding. I came in and helped flourish the program, and I expect to do the same thing when I step into the organization. Get to the Super Bowl and win championship games — I am going to give everything I got.

"This is all I prayed for since I was five years old. I always told myself I would make the NFL, no matter the critics and doubters."

Dell said he is coming into the NFL with a chip on his shoulders. Before his selection on Day 2, Dell took note of every wide receiver and defensive back drafted ahead of him.

Dell is determined to give the Texans everything to validate the message he sent as an aspiring NFL prospect 119 days before his draft selection.

---

You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Houston Texans? Click Here

Follow Texans Daily on Twitter and Facebook

Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnTexans today! Click here To Listen.

Want even more Houston Texans news? Check out the SI.com team page here.