WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

Yates is a Texan, and it couldn't be a better situation

By Tim Hall

May 3, 2011

What a difference 18 months can make.

It seems like yesterday North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates was getting booed at the Dean Smith Center when his image popped up during the famous in-game "I'm a Tar Heel" video feature.

Now he's in the NFL.

Yates was part of a school record nine Tar Heels selected in the NFL Draft, going in the 5th round to the Houston Texans (152nd overall). And while going from college to the pros is a huge step in any sport, Yates is going to feel a little more comfortable with this situation.

"Coach (John) Shoop had been telling me, he was talking to coach [Greg] Knapp (Houston's QB coach) a lot because we run pretty much identical offenses. I really couldn't have gotten into a better situation because the transition to me is going to be that much easier. We've been watching Houston Texans film for two or three years now. We do a lot of the same things on offense," Yates told Mark and Mike on 620 The Buzz.

"That was one of the reasons why they said they took me."

Part of the NFL scouts' intrigue surrounding Yates was his intelligence and ability to understand some of the more complicated offenses in the league. In this case he's fitting in to a system he says is "identical" to the one ran in Chapel Hill. One veteran quarterback scout said before the draft that on top of his intelligence, he's got plenty of arm and can make all the throws.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has even said Yates reminds him a lot of Matt Schaub. So Yates has a lot working in his favor before he's even thrown a pass for his new team. And who knows when that will be with the labor situation in the NFL.

"It's kind of weird because after that phone call took place (on day Yates was drafted) I'm not allowed to talk to my coaches at all. Neither is my agent. I'm not allowed to get a playbook, I'm just still sitting here. It hasn't really hit me yet," Yates said.

Until the lockout is resolved Yates said he'll be waiting and working out. He also joked that he's following the lockout in the news "a little more serious" than he was a week ago.

Whenever all that ends Yates will be on his way to working out his contract for the Houston Texans and getting ready to practice with a high powered offense. Someone had to point out to him that he'll get to pitch footballs to Andre Johnson.

"I was like, oh my god, you're right," Yates laughed. "I'm gonna be spoiled like having Hakeem Nicks all over again."