Tank Dell stood inside the end zone, cheering on campers as they sprinted past him while racing in the 40-yard dash.
The Texans’ standout wide receiver operated in a variety of capacities Saturday morning during his first youth football camp at Sugar Land Willowridge High School. Dell was QB1 for a day, taking a page from C.J. Stroud’s playbook while throwing passes to campers.
Dell lined up at defensive back, covering receivers with sticky man-to-man coverage while letting some younger campers catch passes on him. Most of all, though, Dell served as a role model and mentor.
“For me, it’s all about giving back,” Dell said. “Growing up, I wasn’t able to go to camps like this. So me being in the position I’m in, giving back, spreading a lot of love to the community and spreading a lot of knowledge I know, just giving back.
“It’s good, man. It’s awesome, man. I’m blessed. I just got to thank God for everything. There was one kid out there I walked up to him, he was shaking, he’s nervous That’s just special for me. That’s just fun.”
For Dell and a talented Texans roster headlined by Stroud, a Pro Bowl selection and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, it’s about more than defending an AFC South division title. Their ambitions are set on going much further into the postseason for a franchise that hasn’t advanced beyond the AFC divisional round previously and lost at that stage last season to the Baltimore Ravens.
Expectations are understandably high inside and outside of the organization for a team dotted with talent that includes Dell, Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Dalton Schultz, Laremy Tunsil, Joe Mixon, Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry, Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris and Derek Stingley Jr.
“We ready,” Dell said. “We’re all excited. We know we have a target on our back. We got a lot of things we want to accomplish: Super Bowl, playoffs, things like that. So, we’re ready to go work.”
Dell was on track for 73 catches, 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie before he broke his fibula against the Denver Broncos, ending his season as he underwent surgery to repair the damage. Even in an injury-abbreviated season, the third-round draft pick from the University of Houston broke former Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels’ rookie franchise record for touchdown catches.
Four of the Texans’ catches of at least 20 yards or more came on Dell touchdown receptions. That was the third-highest mark in the league for any receiver with touchdowns of at least 20 yards, at the time of his injury.
Fully healed from the broken fibula and a gunshot wound through his leg as the victim of a mass shooting this offseason in Florida, Dell is confident that he’s significantly improved.
“I’m way better,” Dell said. “I feel like I’m way better than I was last year at this time. The little bit of experience I got before I got injured, I already know the playbook. So, I don’t have to put too much stress on that. I’m just working every day. I know I’m ready.”
During the camp Saturday, several players showed off their speed.
‘Yes sir, they was running fast,” Dell said. “I let the little kids run, but, when it got to the older group I had to step out there and show them what it is.”
Dell said that the receivers plan to get together with Stroud for four to five days for throwing sessions late this month
When asked about the location, Dell laughed and replied: ‘Undisclosed.”
The Texans have been working overtime this offseason to get ready for a demanding fall with the fourth-toughest ranked schedule.
“I don’t even think it’s downtime,” Dell said. “Everybody is working. Right now, people are just amping up. That’s what I’m doing.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.