Hilliard taken by Texans in final NFL Draft round

Former Patterson High and LSU standout Kenny Hilliard realized his lifelong dream of playing pro football over the weekend. But, like most dreams, it didn’t come without some anxiety.
The Houston Texans used their final pick of the 2015 NFL draft on the LSU running back. The 6-foot, 226-pound Hilliard was selected with the No. 235 overall pick in the seventh round Saturday in Chicago.
“It was a really stressful time,” Hilliard said. “I knew God had me, so I tried to be patient but that wait was no joke. I’m just glad it’s all over and I’m on a team, so now it’s time to go to work.”
Saturday’s final day saw one other former Tiger selected, giving the LSU four selections. That total is the fewest the Tigers have had since 2005, when they had three. The Tigers had nine draft selections each of the past two years.
In the fourth round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded up to select linebacker Kwon Alexander with the 124th pick.
Hilliard’s selection is the second year in a row in which the Texans drafted an LSU running back; the team selected Alfred Blue in the sixth round last year. Hilliard is the sixth drafted running back in that position coach Frank Wilson has had at LSU since 2010.
“I talked to Blue,” Hilliard said. “We are the only LSU players on the team so he told me I had just go out there and represent, just ball hard, put in work.”
No LSU players were selected in Thursday’s first round, but cornerback Jalen Collins (second round, Atlanta Falcons) and defensive end Danielle Hunter (third round, Minnesota Vikings) were chosen Friday. This year’s four selections make it 64 pros that Les Miles’ squad has produced since he took over as head coach.
Hilliard also knew the undrafted Tigers would find NFL homes quickly.
“I talked to a couple of those dudes and they already knew where they were going,” he said. “LSU’s program prepares you for the league and I wish all them dudes nothing but luck.”
By Sunday evening, five ex-Tigers had landed free agent deals: running back Terrence Magee with Baltimore, safety Ronald Martin with Seattle, fullback Connor Neighbors with Tennessee, center Elliott Porter with Cleveland, and defensive end Jermauria Rasco with Green Bay.
Texans Coach Bill O’Brien had seemed excited about his new running back.
“He’s a big back,” O’Brien said. “He’s a first- and second-down back. He’s a tough running back. I think the history of success of running backs from LSU is something that’s good.”
Hilliard had a feeling all along the he would be a Texan.
“I just hit it off with all the coaches and the front office people when I went for my visit there,” he said. “I think they fell in love with me and I just felt their interest was real. A lot of those visits you go on, you know they’re not gonna take you.”
Hilliard has to report to Houston Thursday for rookie mini-camp.
“I’ve been making the rounds to hang out with my boys, but I’m headed back to Baton Rouge to take care of a couple things, pack and I’m ready to grind.”
Hilliard rushed 90 times for 447 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2014, playing in 11 games (six starts).
––By CORWIN MURRAY
––theadvocate.com contributed to this story.