NFL scouting combine: How UH pass rusher Nelson Ceaser is ‘prepared for this moment’

INDIANAPOLIS – Nelson Ceaser didn’t hesitate or need time to contemplate the topic of conversation.

As one of the top pass rushers in the Big 12 Conference, the University of Houston edge pass rusher brings a lot of juice at the line of scrimmage. He routinely unleashes his growing pass rushing repertoire to relentlessly harass quarterbacks.

Now, the Missouri City native and Ridge Point graduate is plying his trade at the NFL scouting combine and working to prove himself in workouts and interviews.

How ready does Ceaser feel for the draft after playing for former Coogs defensive line coach Brian Early?

‘My time at Houston prepared me for this moment,” Ceaser said. “I feel very prepared, I really do. I feel very prepared. Shout-out to coach Early. He pretty much taught me a lot about football I didn’t know going into the process. Coach Early was not going to play me until I learned how to stop the run, so I appreciate that a lot.”

Ceaser met with his hometown Texans in addition to the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins, among roughly half of the 32 NFL teams at the Senior Bowl. At the scouting combine, Ceaser has met with the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, among others.

“I would love to talk to the Texans,” Ceaser said.

The idea of playing at home is intriguing to Ceaser and following in the footsteps of former teammate Tank Dell, the Texans’ wide receiver who excelled as a rookie.

“That would be a blessing,” Ceaser said. “It’s not in my control. I would love that for real. I just want to go out and be the best version of myself. I don’t feel like I’m in competition with anybody. This is what Nelson Ceaser is, and go from there.”

Ceaser enjoyed his experience talking with the Texans at the Senior Bowl. Whether that leads to more going forward remains to be seen.

“I thought it was pretty cool, I enjoyed talking to the Texans a lot,” Ceaser said. “I’m excited by what the Texans did over there. Being a real-life Texans fan, that was exciting to see them go out there and do their thing. They went crazy this year. My hometown team, man, that would be a perfect fit for me.”

At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, Ceaser is a versatile player who declared for the NFL draft after his junior season. A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Ceaser recorded a career-high 9 1/2 sacks to lead the conference. He ranked eighth nationally with 0.86 sacks per game as he recorded a team-high 13 1/2 tackles for losses in 591 snaps and 11 starts.

Ceaser had 34 pressures with 20 hurries last season.

Among his moves he’s been working on: the stab-single, the cross-chop, bull-snatch and a spin move.

“I love selling an inside move,” Ceaser said. “I would say my go-to move is the cross chop, a quicker move that allows me to get to the quarterback faster. Once that move is set up and ready to be unleashed, I can get after the quarterback. I have spun in some games. I would say I go finesse first, and then I throw in a lot of power.”

Among his best performances: three sacks against Baylor, blocking a field goal against Central Florida and recording two sacks and three tackles for losses against Rice.

Ceaser has the ability to drop back in coverage, intercepting a pass against Texas-San Antonio earlier in his career. He also had a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2022.

“I believe I can play outside linebacker, middle linebacker and defensive end,” said Ceasar, who recorded 131 tackles, 38 for losses, seven forced fumbles and a school-record 21 1/2 sacks at Ridge Point before choosing the Coogs over Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas Tech. “If they need me to drop back in coverage, I can do that, too. One team told me I was a linebacker in their scheme. The majority of them have said I would play outside linebacker for them.”

The success that Dell had immediately after being drafted in the third round out of UH made an impression on Ceasar.

“I love seeing that,” Ceasar said. “I want everyone to win and be able to experience their dreams and make their dreams come true. The closer I get to the NFL, I realize how hard it is. It’s about production. It’s a job. It’s a business. I understand all of that.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com