As we continue taking a closer look at the handful of former Baylor Bears currently playing in the United States Football League (USFL), today brings us to Jameson Houston.
Houston, a 25-year-old cornerback from Austin, Texas, was selected by the Michigan Panthers in the 9th round of the 2022 USFL Draft.
As a redshirt freshman for Baylor in 2016, Houston started two games and appeared in 11 more, tallying a total of 15 tackles (13 solo). He followed that up with 18 tackles as a sophomore (16 solo) in 11 games with two starts.
During his junior year with the Bears in 2018, Houston played in 12 games and garnered nine total tackles (six solo). In 2019 as a senior for Baylor, the cornerback appeared in all 14 games for the Bears and picked up 44 tackles (34 solo), eight pass break ups, one fumble recovery and one interception while also garnering first-team academic All-Big 12 and All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.
After bouncing around as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns (waived Aug. 10, 2020) and Carolina Panthers (waived Sept. 7, 2020), Houston was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on Nov. 25, 2020, and was called up to the active roster in Dec. 2020 and Jan. 2021 before signing a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on Jan. 4, 2021.
On May 18, 2021, Houston was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars and was waived on Aug. 24, 2021.
And in 2022, the former Baylor Bear is now an active member of the Michigan Panthers as a starting cornerback, garnering 13 tackles and one interception thus far this season.
Fun facts: Houston hauled in his first and only collegiate interception against West Virginia on Oct. 31, 2019, while also picking up one tackle and two pass break ups in that game. He was also briefly reunited with his college coach, Matt Rhule, while trying out with the NFL’s Panthers in 2020.
Next game for Houston and the Michigan Panthers (1-3, 3rd place in the North): a matchup against the Tampa Bay Bandits (2-2, 3rd place in the South) on Friday, May 13 at 7 pm Central Time on USA.
Due up next for the Baylor Bears in a USFL profile snapshot: Orion Stewart.
