Mainland's Tank Dell selected 69th overall by the Houston Texans
Tank Dell became the 29th Volusia-Flagler football player selected in the NFL Draft on Friday night, going in the third round round — 69th overall — to the Houston Texans.
Dell, a Mainland High grad and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in 2022 at the University of Houston, led the nation with 1,398 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns while finishing second in receptions (109). Prior to the draft, he ran a 40-yard time of 4.49 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, with a 1.49 10-yard split, and broad-jumped 10 feet, 1 inch.
'I know how the bottom feels': Tank Dell rises from overlooked recruit to NFL draft pick
Football Fraternity: Tank Dell set to join long list of Volusia-Flagler NFL draft picks
Dell ends a three-year drought of local alumni being drafted; Oak Hill native Darrynton Evans, a New Smyrna Beach alumnus, went 93rd overall to the Tennessee Titans in 2020. He's the seventh Mainland High grad chosen, a list that includes Jachai Polite, Leonard Williams, Ricardo Allen, Buster Davis, Antwuan Wyatt and Terry Anthony.
The Texans made waves early in the draft, selecting Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick on Thursday night, then trading back up to the third pick to take Alabama defensive lineman Will Anderson.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NFL Draft: Mainland's Tank Dell selected by the Houston Texans
