Jan 03 2007
Houston Texans DeMeco Ryans: NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
To say DeMeco Ryans had a good rookie year would be a huge understatement. He had an historic rookie year that resulted in his wining the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award:
DeMeco Ryans came into the NFL as Houston’s second choice to bolster its defense. He leaves his first pro year as the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The linebacker, chosen at the top of the second round of last April’s draft — 32 spots after the Texans made defensive end Mario Williams the first overall selection — was a runaway winner of the award announced Wednesday. Ryans led the league in solo tackles with 126, and his 156 total tackles were 33 more than the next-best rookie, Detroit linebacker Ernie Sims.
In fact, no rookie in the last 20 years had more tackles than Ryans, who was an All-American at Alabama in 2005. And Ryans had more tackles than any of the other five linebackers who won the award this decade, including Brian Urlacher and Shawne Merriman.
Ryans is an absolute joy to watch on the field and this award is recognition for his unique talents:
The ease with which Ryans won the award might have been surprising. He received 36 of the 50 votes by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.
Congratulations DeMeco and all Texans fans look forward to watching you play next year!
Rhymes With Right: [DeMeco has] become a fan favorite, with a winning personality and a genuine warmth shown towards the people of his professional home. And the great thing is that we know there is more to come from this kid, that he has yet to reach his full potential.
