Children ages 5-10 were smiling while running sprints and doing drills in the first of two sessions for youth football campers at the Jackson State practice field Sunday morning.
Former Jackson State player and current Detroit Lions’ defensive end James Houston IV was back at the place where he played college football.
Houston’s message in his first football camp at his alma mater was “anything is possible with a dream, hard work and dedication.”
“My story is an underdog story, right?” Houston said. “I feel there are a lot of people in the world that have everything kind of going against them. But you must persevere and push through and get to the end goal of what you want.”
Houston was selected with the No. 217 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
What made things hard for Houston was the Lions were featured on the HBO series “Hard Knocks” during training camp. Houston said he knew he was going to get cut because the Lions moved him to middle linebacker when he arrived at camp.
“I was the only player drafted to get cut,” Houston said. “It was a roller coaster ride of emotions. To being cut, to spending 12 weeks on the practice squad, to playing on Thanksgiving (Day) and getting two sacks.”
Houston said his favorite NFL moment was getting to play on Thanksgiving Day against the Buffalo Bills. He had family and friends visiting for the game.
At the time the Lions were 4-6 and it was Houston’s first game in the NFL.
Houston had a fumble recovery on special teams and the two sacks against Bills quarterback Josh Allen in a 28-25 victory.
He ended up with eight sacks and trailed only teammate Aidan Hutchinson, who had 9.5 sacks in 17 games. Houston had eight sacks in seven games.
Houston said he has fully recovered from an ankle injury he suffered against the Seattle Seahawks in the second game of the 2023 season. He rehabbed and played in the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
As Houston gets ready for his third NFL season, he wants his message of hope to resonate with the youth of Jackson.
“I want to tell kids to continue to pursue your dreams,” Houston said. “Don’t give up and don’t let anybody else give up on you. And you can always do what you put your mind to.”
