The Houston Texans selected Woody Marks in the fourth round of the 2025 draft. And no matter how fond head coach DeMeco Ryans was of the rookie’s skill set and production in college, he was not expected to have a leading role in Year 1. That is, until he did.
Marks proved his physicality and willingness to mix it up with opposing players all on one play in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans.
Moreover, it happened during a play in which he did not get the ball, and he is not shy about it.
Woody Marks Gets Last Laugh on Titans DB
GettyQuandre Diggs #28 of the Tennessee Titans breaks up a pass intended for Woody Marks #27 of the Houston Texans.
Marks rushed for 69 yards and 1 touchdown on 17 carries, adding another 50 yards and 1 TD on four receptions in the Texans’ 26-0 win over the Titans.
However, Marks also made waves for a crushing block he put on Titans safety Quandre Diggs.
The block came on a scramble by Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud for a first down. Diggs, perhaps taking exception to the leveling blow Marks put on him that helped spring his quarterback, took verbal shots at the rookie.
Marks drew attention from the NFL, whose social media team issued a notice to “look” at Marks “absolutely pancake his block assignment [triumphant emoji]” on September 29
“He was talking all game. We kind of knew he was pressed. I’ll say the o-line coach, and the offensive coordinator, and offensive coaches [knew] when they press, they they coming. So, I knew he was coming. The linebacker wasn’t coming. I kind of sat inside. Then, when he came, I really just struck my helmet right in his chest, and he just went down. And he was talking on the ground. I was like, ‘I’m not letting you get up.’ So, I heard the referee, I was like, ‘I’m gonna let you get up now,” Marks said on SportsRadio 610 on September 29.
“He was like, ‘You ain’t nothing. You’re a rookie.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, I just put you on your back, on top of you. What are you talking about?’”
Texans Praise Woody Marks
GettyWoody Marks #27 of the Houston Texans dives for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.
Marks is now up to 113 yards and 1 TD on 29 carries, with a 6-96-1 line as a receiver out of the backfield. He drew strong praise from Ryans and Stroud postgame.
“You saw it on tape at Mississippi State, at USC. You saw what he was capable of doing,” Ryans told reporters on September 29. “I’m just proud of him for just stepping in. And he’s getting more opportunities, and he’s really taking advantage of those opportunities and making the plays to really impact our team.”
“I was a really big fan of Woody in college, when he was at USC. Thought he was really elusive, really crafty, and I thought he did a good job since those days in that Lincoln Riley offense. And I thought today we kind of used him in that light. Spread him out, gave him some familiarity running the ball and some plays that he’s ran before, and he’s a very dynamic pass catcher. But yeah, he did great,” Stroud told reporters on September 28.
“A lot of the guys that are doing big things in their first year, it’s going to be huge for us.”
The Texans remain without Joe Mixon, and Nick Chubb has not looked as explosive as he was before his knee injury in 2023. That could leave Marks to operate as the Texans’ RB1 the rest of the way. Up next are the injury-depleted Baltimore Ravens in Week 5.
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