Houston Texans preseason camp at ‘The Greenbrier’ brings back former WVU player

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (WVNS) — The Houston Texans are back in West Virginia this week, gracing the greens of the Greenbrier’s Sports Performance Center, this time with a former Mountaineer among their ranks.

This stop on the Texans’ preseason tour has served as a reunion with West Virginia for one former player after former WVU long snapper Austin Brinkman signed with Houston as an undrafted free agent this season.

Brinkman is the only long snapper currently listed on the Texans’ roster.

Despite getting thrown into such a unique and lofty position as the Texans’ new starter, Brinkman has not forgotten where he came from.

“You have to prepare yourself for this level. I certainly knew going into it that this is where I wanted to get to. I got to give a lot of credit to our specialist room [at WVU]. We always pushed each other, at the end of the day. You really earn your stripes in the weight room. We really pushed each other in that aspect,” said Brinkman.

Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans has already been singing his praises of the former Mountaineer.

“Any time you have a rookie at the long snapper position, there are some growing pains that comes with that. Well, Brinkman has the temperament. He has the skill set to step in and do a great job. The first thing first [he needed] is to have great snaps. That is what he has done. He has been very consistent with the snaps,” said Coach Ryans.

Brinkman had a major senior year with WVU, getting attention for some national honors. He said he hopes to continue to make a name for himself in Houston.

“It is a grind. It is constant competition. Everything is moving at 100 miles an hour. You always got to be prepared for what is going to happen on the field, or it could not be on the field. So you have just got to be ready at all times when your number is called. I think we have done a great job of preparing for stuff like that to happen,” added Brinkman.