Alonzo Highsmith, the Green Bay Packers scout who discovered cornerback Tramon Williams in 2006, has been named NFL Scout of the Year.
Highsmith was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1987 draft, but played just six NFL seasons due to knee injuries. He’s now a regional scout for the Packers.
The Houston Chronicle details Highsmith’s finding of Williams here. Undrafted out of Louisiana Tech, Williams lost out on a roster spot to Dunta Robinson, Phillip Buchanon, DeMarcus Faggins, Dexter McCleon, Lewis Sanders, and Von Hutchins in 2006 Texans camp. Gary Kubiak’s team did not even offer Williams a practice squad contract.
Texans fans are still sore over losing Williams. It’s hard to blame them considering Houston’s league-worst pass defense in 2010.
Add in the fact that not a solitary cornerback kept over Williams is still a Texan, and it’s a mini-public relations disaster for Kubiak. Four of the six are out of the league.