Now with the Texans, Aboushi, who was assigned No. 78, is intent on eventually earning a role as a starter.
“I came in here to compete and to win a starting job and to help the team win, do whatever I can to put the team in the best position to win,” Aboushi said. “Control what I can control, whatever reps I get at whatever position.”
For now, Aboushi is here to provide depth at guard behind starting right guard Brandon Brooks and left guard Jeff Adams, who’s also played tackle.
Devlin’s recommendation helped Aboushi get a roster spot with the Texans.
“Sure, anytime you’ve got a guy on your staff that’s coached that guy and been a part of that guy’s development, I think we always want to try to get that input and Mike gave us good input,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He has a lot of respect for Oday and hopefully Oday can come in here and add depth and battle hard to play for us.”
Aboushi already has a good idea of what Devlin expects from his players.
“I was excited, Devlin drafted me and I had him for two years,” Aboushi said. “Coming in, being familiar with what he expects and the way he wants things done has put me a little bit ahead of the learning curve because I know what he expects as a player and I know what I need to do.”
What Aboushi has to do is play well and avoid any further brushes with the NFL substance-abuse policy.
Aboushi was pulled over in January in New Jersey with police discovering a small amount of marijuana during his car in a traffic stop. He received a conditional discharge of the misdemeanor marijuana citation.
Aboushi also has to learn the Texans’ system and playbook.
“I think the complication comes in the details and terminology,” Aboushi said. “I think for the base, for the most part, being under Devlin and kind of knowing his terms and the way he goes about things, so that’s a little familiar to me. I think it’s just a matter of picking up the details and how they want things done and how they want plays run.”
Aboushi’s last few days have been a whirlwind. He had to get ready in a hurry to come to Houston. He packed quickly and forgot a few key items, including socks.
“It happened quickly,” he said. “Texans claimed me, next thing you know I was on a flight, packed a bag with a bunch of things missing, and then booked it down to Texas. It’s a fast process, but it’s better that way.
“There’s not much time to really think about things. You kind of just get up, go on, and jump in the mix. I missed a whole bunch of stuff. I need to do some shopping.”
