Sources: Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden visited Texans on Wednesday

HOUSTON – University of Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden the fastest receiver in the NFL draft, visited the Texans on Wednesday at NRG Stadium, per league sources.

At the NFL scouting combine, Golden left no doubts about his explosiveness and pure speed.

The University of Houston transfer and Klein Cain graduate ran the fastest time of any wide receiver at the NFL scouting combine with a 4.29 performance at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Golden had the second-fastest time of any player at the combine this year behind Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who ran a 4.28.

Golden excelled this year for the Longhorns after leaving the Coogs program.

Golden caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns from quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, averaging 17 yards per reception. Finishing his career with 134 catches for 1,975 yards and 22 touchdowns with two kickoff returns for scores, Golden is a projected first-round draft pick.

“Knowing I can play inside and out, you can move me anywhere,” Golden said. “I can get open at any phase, at any level. Just understanding the game and seeing whatever the team wants me to do. I’m reliable on special teams also. So, I feel I can change the game in any way.”

His best traits?

“I would say my route running and the catch point, being able to attack the ball, wherever the ball is,” Golden said. “Being able to play inside and outside. Being a reliable target, whenever you need that clutch play, I’m going to be there. I can make any play that’s coming toward me, and being on the same page with the quarterback at the right time.”

Although he didn’t meet formally with the Texans, Golden is intrigued by that potential scenario. He’s been consulting with former UH teammate Tank Dell about the entire draft process and his experience with the Texans.

Golden met formally with the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, another wide receiver-needy squad, the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers.

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Golden, who caught 167 passes for 3,242 yards and 32 touchdowns in high school, is a potential fit for the Texans at the 25th overall selection.

“It was just the ball finding me at the right time,” Golden said. “Stay consistent and stay ready until the opportunity presented. I tried to my best to contribute to the team when the ball would find me. Just knowing what I can do with the ball in my hands, just staying patient at the time. Keeping my mind right for when the opportunity comes so I can make the most of it.

“Understanding the game all around. Seeing what defense they’re in and how the corner is going to play. Being able to run your routes full speed, tempo or whatever, and be on point with the quarterback.”

Golden said he chose Texas because it was close to home and that was the first school that reached out to him.

“The process was quick,” he said. “I didn’t want to go too far from home and I knew what Texas did with the past players they had. Being able to go right down the road was a no-brainer for me.”

And he emphasized he benefited greatly from his time in Houston.

“It helped me develop because that’s where I started off,” Golden said. “Just getting in the offense as a freshman, then my second year being under Tank Dell, I took a lot of knowledge from him. Taking that next step to Texas was great for me.”

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