‘Looking forward to putting it all together,’ Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson working to contribute

HOUSTON – Bolting into a pass pattern after being shoved during the initial stages of his route, Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson hauled in the football.

Hutchinson repeated the process, at the direction of private coach Delfonte Diamond, catching a series of passes during a workout that included fellow Texans wide receivers Robert Woods and Jared Wayne.

Hutchinson is determined to contribute more after catching eight passes for 90 yards as a rookie with five carries for 49 yards and six total first downs, plus four catches for nine yards in two playoff games.

“Just learned the things I needed to work on as a receiver an all-around,” Hutchinson said. “Whichever way I can contribute, I really took that serious. I had to swallow some hard truths, but it was good for me. Without that, you can’t grow as a player. I’m really looking forward to putting it all together and trying to contribute to the Texans.

“Offseason was great. I got a lot of things done as far as lower body strength. I’m just trying to strengthen it from the ground up so I can be able to be strong in the season and not really lose endurance.”

Hutchinson delivered one of the longest plays of his rookie season only to have his impactful first down nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty against the New York Jets. The questionable call spurred by contact with cornerback D.J. Reed took away a 31-yard completion during a 30-6 road loss.

Hutchinson played 281 offensive snaps last season for 26 percent of the total playing time, appearing in 16 games with zero starts last season.

A former consensus All-American at Iowa State drafted in the sixth round, Hutchinson displayed signs of progress in his development.

Now, Hutchinson is part of a crowded wide receiver room that includes Pro Bowl selection Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, John Metchie III, Woods and Steven Sims.

“Man, they’re building it up,” Hutchinson said. “They’re doing exactly what they said they were going to do. I’m excited, man. When you add players like that to the locker room and to the team, it just gives you a sense of more confidence that you know you have players who have done it before at a high level. They can contribute, so all of us just have to add to it and grow with them and rise to that platform.”

And an intense training camp awaits Hutchinson with roster spots and playing time on the line.

“Most definitely, you always want that,” Hutchinson said. “Competition is going to make you grow. It’s going to make you better. I’m looking forward to competing with everybody in the room because we’re all going to help each other.”

The work with Diamond, who trains multiple NFL receivers, including CeeDee Lamb, Deebo Samuel, Keon Coleman, Diggs, Dell and several others, has been beneficial to Hutchinson.

“Delfonte is one of the best,” Hutchinson said. “I appreciate the constructive criticism he gave me.”

At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Hutchinson, a former Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the year who finished with 254 catches for 2,929 yards and 15 touchdowns in three seasons for the Cyclones, has size and athleticism working in his favor as well as crisp route-running skills and explosiveness.

Hutchinson caught 107 passes for 1,171 yards and six touchdowns in his final season at Iowa State.

“Oh yeah, he’s an all-around athlete,” Diamond said. “I’m pretty sure this year he’s going to be utilized to the max. Strong hands, tall receiver, good feet, real good dude.”

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