NFL Draft results 2014: Louis Nix goes to Texans in 3rd round

Nix fell to the middle of the third round, but the Texans traded up to take the Notre Dame product.

May 10, 2014, 2:28 AM UTC

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame defensive tackle Louis Nix III told reporters at the NFL Combine that he felt "sexier." He's must be really feeling like stuff now that the Houston Texans have made him the 83rd overall selection of the 2014 NFL Draft.

The SB Nation top 200 big board had Nix ranked as the best defensive tackle in the draft, and No. 12 among all prospects. He's a monster of a man at 6'2 and 331 pounds, making him ideally suited for stuffing the run game. Many see him as a true nose tackle at his current size, projected to be similar to men like Sam Adams and Ted Washington.

An interview with Louis Nix

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An interview with Louis Nix

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Last year, Nix was limited for Notre Dame during the second half of the season with a knee injury. The Florida native only played in eight games in 2013 and eventually had surgery in November to repair a torn meniscus. Nix finished with only 27 tackles after recorded a career-high 50 in 2012. The big question for the Texans is which Nix will they get? The dominant player from 2012 or the guy that limped through 2013?

While Nix has shown the ability to penetrate on pass plays, run defense is where he stands out. Here’s SB Nation’s Matthew Fairburn on his disruptive ability:

As you might imagine, Nix isn’t easy to move in the middle of the defense. He holds the point of attack very well and had the responsibility of taking on double teams often at Notre Dame. He didn’t always beat the double teams, but he wasn’t usually swallowed up by them either. Regardless, Nix does a fine job of locating the football in the backfield and getting off blocks to make plays. Many project Nix as a nose tackle because of his ability to stay disciplined in his gap and eat up blocks. But he’s also shown the ability to use his quickness to get into the backfield. He’s not just a one dimensional player.