A former defensive end, Houston became a stand-up pass rusher in Georgia's new 3-4 scheme in 2010. Considering the pass-rushing prowess he'd shown as an undersized defensive end in 2009, he proved to be made for the new role.
After redshirting in 2007, Houston showed flashes of ability in his first season on the field, accumulating 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks despite only starting one game. He started 10 games as a sophomore, earning second-team All-SEC accolades as an undersized defensive end. He posted 39 tackles, including a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Houston emerged as one of the most feared pass rushers in the SEC in 2010. He had 67 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and finished second in the conference, behind Auburn's Nick Fairley, with 10 sacks. Houston was credited by Georgia with 44 QB hurries -- three times as many as any other Bulldog defender -- and was named All-SEC as a finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards.
Roughly half of the 32 NFL teams use a three-man line as their base defense. Versatile pass rushers like Houston are more valuable than ever. With a season of experience already under his belt -- as opposed to making the transition in training camp -- Houston has an advantage over similarly built athletes yet to prove they can make the switch. He might be viewed as a one-trick pony but, because of his burst off the edge, Houston the potential to be a top-50 pick.