Dante Lavelli, Paul Warfield, Cris Carter and Santonio Holmes are among many wide receivers whose Ohio State careers led to success in the NFL. On April 27, DeVier Posey became the most recent OSU wide receiver to join that fraternity. He was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 68th overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft’s third round.
Posey was the 10th receiver drafted. He was the second of four Buckeyes drafted, following offensive tackle Mike Adams, who was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 56th overall selection.
Posey told The Lantern he was excited to be drafted in the third round, but was prepared to be drafted at any time.
“I was ready for anything,” Posey said. “I knew that anything could happen. I just felt like I had to mentally prepare myself to go late and mentally prepare myself to go early.”
In his four-year career as a Buckeye, Posey caught 136 passes for 1,955 yards and 18 touchdowns. Those numbers rank sixth, eighth and seventh respectively among OSU receivers all-time.
In his senior season, however, Posey only had 12 receptions for 162 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Posey was only allowed to play in three games last season, as a result of two separate five-game suspensions. Posey was one of five OSU players suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for trading Buckeyes football memorabilia in exchange for improper benefits in the form of tattoos. He also received a separate five-game suspension for receiving money for work he did not complete during a 2011 summer job.
Posey said NFL teams asked him many questions about his suspension, and he answered their questions honestly.
“They asked me a lot,” Posey said. “They just really wanted to know what happened, but for the most part, they just wanted to figure out what kind of guy I was, and I feel like I was honest and forthright with everything, I gave them everything I knew.”
Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he agreed with Posey’s assessment of his honesty.
“He was very forthright about everything that had taken place,” Kubiak said in a press conference April 28. “He told us exactly what he went through.”
Kubiak said despite Posey’s past, there are “so many positives” about him.
“Obviously, he made a mistake,” Kubiak said. “He wants to move on and he’s got an excellent opportunity with his career.”
Posey said he felt like he “learned a lot” from the suspensions.
“I felt like it made me a better person,” Posey said. “I had to serve my teammates, I had to become more of a leader off the field. It was just a really humbling experience, something I’ll never ever forget.”
In drafting Posey, the Texans overlooked his suspensions in favor of his talent. Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison spoke about what Posey does well as a wide receiver, and how he can contribute to the team’s offense.
“He runs great routes and has good ball skills,” Dennison said in a press conference April 27. “He’s very precise in everything and works hard. He works in the run game. He’s a good-sized guy. He fits with the rest of our guys. We’re trying to supplement our wide receiver group and we think he does a good job with that.”
Andre Johnson, a two-time first-team AP All-Pro selection, is among the wide receivers that Posey will play with in Houston. Posey said he is very excited to play with Johnson.
“I’m so looking forward to that,” Posey said. “Just to be able to pick Andre Johnson’s brain, and just to learn from him every single day. I’m just really excited for this opportunity.”
Posey tweeted from his account @DPo8 on Tuesday that he will wear No. 11 on his Texans jersey next season.
Kubiak said in his press conference that he expects Posey to be an immediate contributor.
“I think he’s got a big-time upside and can help us real quick,” Kubiak said.