Former Carthage Bulldog and TCU Horned Frog Jason Teague is sweating down in Houston trying to make it in the NFL after being drafted by the Houston Texans. We had an opportunity to visit with Jason after Texans Training Camp practice on Wednesday morning, August 17th about his thoughts of making it to the NFL.

We asked him if in his high school days back in Carthage he had an idea that he would make it into the NFL. “It was just a goal. You know, you’re just striving every day, working hard every day, hoping for the best, that’s all you could do, every day.”

We also asked him when he really thought his goal would become a reality. “Well, when we were having lots of success at TCU, you know, great coach, Gary Patterson stood by us and taught us some great foundations and rules and stuff like that. I knew coming from East Texas I had a hard-working mentality and coming from junior college, I knew if I could make it through that, I could make it through anything.”

He also discussed the biggest changes and challenges he’s faced making the transition from college to the NFL. “I think just being business-minded. You know, being in college was just fun and camaraderie, everything was more like team-wise. In the professional level, it’s more like you make sure you do your job everyday instead of you know, more team-wise.”

The general consensus has always been that there is a big difference in the speed of the game between college and the NFL. We asked if he’d felt that was the case so far. “It’s not warp-speed; it’s just that you’ve got to think a lot faster. If you think slow, you’re going to play slow, if you think fast, you’re going to play fast. That’s what the main difference is.”

He knows it will be a tough battle to make the opening day roster, but has a great attitude about what it will take to make that a realistic possibility. “I just want to keep working hard every day and pray for the best; that’s all you can do about it.”

We had to get his thoughts on Carthage’s three-peat as a State Champion in AAA. “I knew we always had a hard-working mentality just like Gilmer does, and everybody else in East Texas does. It’s a hard district and a hard area to come out of, but you know, three-peat, that’s like lightning striking for Carthage. I try to (get back to Carthage) every now and then, you know my brother, Edward Pope, he’s been on the State Championship teams and I go down there and support him anytime I can. We just hear about each other. We all had games Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs are just working hard every day trying to make it out of that tough district. I know they can do it if they keep on fighting one game at a time.”

We ended our conversation by asking him what words of wisdom he would give to his friends on the Bulldog team to make sure they were successful again this season. His answer was nothing less than what you would expect to hear from a hard-working, successful athlete. “Just stay humble; just stay humble every day and go out there and listen and do what the coach says, you know, have a great attitude, do everything you can do, and God will take care of the rest.”

We wish Jason the best. One thing is for sure; with his talent, work ethic, and overall attitude, he WILL make it in the NFL somewhere. Hopefully, it will be with the Houston Texans!