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Texans Okam looking for recipe for NFL success

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  • KRISTIE RIEKEN - AP Sports Writer
  • Originally published July 31, 2008 at 6:02 a.m., updated July 31, 2008 at 6:02 a.m.

HOUSTON – Texans rookie Frank Okam loves to cook.

It has been a hobby of his since he was a child. So when it’s his turn to take the defensive line to dinner this season, he’s hoping to pinch some pennies by cooking for his teammates instead of shelling out $1,000 or more at a fancy restaurant.

“Definitely save a lot of money,” he said. “They usually make the rookies pay.”

For now it appears he has been the one eating most of his own cooking. At 6-foot-5 and 337 pounds he’s the heaviest player on Houston’s roster. Right behind him is left tackle and fellow rookie Duane Brown at 329 pounds.

Though the Texans want Brown to drop a few pounds, they’re just fine with Okam’s weight.

“No, he’s a big man,” coach Gary Kubiak said when asked if he needed to lose weight. “The first few days before camp, I think he sat in the sauna for four days (straight) and I asked him, ‘What are you doing here?’ He said, ‘Trying to get down.’ And I think we settled on what he should be. He has done pretty good. He’s pretty well-conditioned for as big of a person he is.”

Though Okam talks about his cooking skills to anyone who will listen, one player questioned whether he’s actually that talented in the kitchen.

“He can’t cook. I cook. I can barbecue, cook – maybe he can do some bakery type stuff, make a pie or something,” joked guard Kasey Studdard, who played with Okam at Texas.

The Texans aren’t too concerned about his cooking skills. They just hope he’s able to contribute this season. He was one of the top tackles in the country coming out of high school, but was inconsistent at Texas. His draft stock took another hit because some believed he wanted to go to law school instead of the NFL and because he weighed 347 pounds at the combine.

Okam does want to go to law school, but that can wait until after his football career is over. As for the weight, though the Texans are fine with his current size, he said he might try and shed five pounds so he can get a bit quicker.

Concerning his commitment to the game, Okam seems fully invested in not only playing, but succeeding in Houston. He’s already set a goal of starting.

“If you don’t want that, if you don’t think you have that then you’re in the wrong business because they’ll run you out of here,” he said. “The game is too hard. That’s definitely my goal and definitely my mind-set and I think I have the ability to do it.”

He joins a defensive line that features 2006 top pick Mario Williams at end and last year’s first-round pick Amobi Okoye at tackle.

To start he’ll probably have to unseat 2005 first-round pick Travis Johnson. Johnson has struggled with injuries and hasn’t made much of an impact in three seasons, but had a career-high 41 tackles last year.


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