Texans HC DeMeco Ryans gives high praise to rookie LB Aiden Fisher

Wearing the number of the current Houston Texans coach, Aiden Fisher, will be a name to watch as a potential dark horse to make the team.

Fisher, the final pick of Houston's draft class, was a star under Curt Cignetti at James Madison and later Indiana. At pick No. 243, he's a long shot to make the squad, but DeMeco Ryans sees a leader who could become a niche role player by the time his career comes to a close.

"You put on the tape and you instantly see a guy who's a great communicator. You see him pointing, talking, directing traffic. That's something you don't see a lot in college football. He knows the safety rotation," Ryans said Friday. "You can see a guy who's very sharp. He understands the entire defense of how the puzzle fits together."

Initially a commit for the Dukes, Fisher served as a captain and followed his coach to Bloomington. An anchor for the Hoosiers' defense for two years under Bryant Haines, the 6-foot defender finished second on the team with 97 tackles, marking his third straight season with more than 95 tackles.

For his career, he racked up over 300 career tackles.

"A really smart football player, All-American, made a ton of plays there in Indiana to lead them to a National Championship," Ryans said. " I'm excited to add another tough, smart, dependable football player to our team."

The Texans will return to practice later this month for voluntary drills. Fisher is expected to start as a fourth-string linebacker, alongside fellow rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans HC DeMeco Ryans gives high praise to rookie LB Aiden Fisher