It was a little more than a year ago that Houston cornerback Howard Wilson (6-foot-1, 184) was waiting to hear his own name called in the 2017 NFL Draft.

He explained what he remembered on that day.

"Sitting in the living room waiting, just waiting, waiting for days. [It felt like] that was the longest time [I've ever waited]. It felt like three years went by before I got my name called but when it did everything just froze. It was a real feeling. I loved every moment of it. I couldn't wait to come to this organization and be in the NFL. That was my dream to be an NFL player and just come in and ball at the next level," Wilson told Cleveland Browns on 247Sports.

The phone rang at pick No. 126 overall, the 20th selection in the fourth round. His selection by the Cleveland Browns was the culmination of a long process.

"I thought that I could go as early as first, second, third [round]. Of course I wanted to go higher than I did but I don't have no regrets. I love the team that I went to. I feel like everything happens for a reason. No matter when somebody gets drafted, it only matters what you do when you get that chance, when you get that opportunity.

I still carry on motivation from me having only three offers in high school. That's in the bag right there, just getting drafted along with some more stuff. It's all motivation. I wasn't really worried about how many corners were taken before me. I was just focused on the team that wanted me and how I'm going to show them that they chose the right person, the right player."

For the record, eighteen cornerbacks were taken before Wilson, including Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore and LSU's Tre'Davious White.

In his final season with the Cougars, he recorded 54 tackles, ten pass deflections and five interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown.

The DeSoto, Texas native arrived in northeast Ohio with unbridled optimism and eager to begin his professional career. He, along with offensive tackle Roderick Johnson and running back Matthew Dayes, were the first to sign their rookie contracts.

Unfortunately, the start of his promising career would have to wait. During rookie minicamp, the cornerback went down with an injury. It was later learned that he sustained a fractured patella, which would force him to miss the entire 2017 campaign.

At the time of the injury, he was openly optimistic.

“It's disappointing but this a part of playing football. It was kind of a freak thing. I was just running around and my knee just kind of locked up on me. I didn't think much of it but the training staff wanted to get the proper testing so I got the MRI. I'm a positive person so I will have the surgery, work hard in my rehab and look forward to getting back to out there and helping this team win some games," Wilson said last May.

In an exclusive interview with Browns247, he admitted that it was a little more difficult than he initially let on.

"When it first happened, I was thinking 'I hope it ain't too serious.' Then I got the news that I was going to have to sit out the whole year. It hit me hard. Of course, coming in as a rookie, I wanted to show the fans, the organization, everybody that was rooting for me that I could do special things for the Browns my rookie year. Knowing that I can't, I was hurting. I just sat back and thought of it as a year to get the mental side of it down and try to put a positive spin on it."

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Patience is ultimately what would aid Wilson's recovery.

"I was just taking it one day at a time. I knew it was a long season. I couldn't get healthy like the next day. There was no point in rushing anything. I was doing everything that they were asking me to do. Taking it day by day just knowing that one day I would be happy just like I am. I feel like everything has paid off. All the work that the Browns and the training staff had did just trying to get me back out there."

When the injury occurred, a few of Houston's NFL alums reached out in support.

"Guys like [Chicago Bears WR] Demarcus Ayers, he reached out to me. [Cincinnati Bengals CB] William Jackson, he also got hurt his rookie year. He reached out to me letting me know that everything will be cool. Just take it day by day. I had a couple of guys on the team coming to me. I figured they saw how bad I wanted to play as a rookie and they were just giving me positive feedback, like telling me things like 'everything is going to be alright' and things like that," he explained.

"[Their message was] just keep my head up. I've got a long career coming. They told me just look at this as a year to get my mind right as far as my mind on the game right. They just gave me a lot of stuff to keep me level headed and not get too down about it. They were just trying to keep me positive. The biggest thing that I got was take it day by day, not trying to rush back because you try to rush something back, you might not be able to heal up like you're supposed to. I feel like I took that out of everything and really took it day by day to make sure that I can be 100-percent coming back.

Support does not mean he intends to take it easy on Ayers or Jackson when they take the field.

"It's going to be fun. I'm going to trash talk anyway. I'm going to talk trash to them more than anybody because I know them. It's going to be fun. I'm going to show love at the game. It's good seeing your boys from back home from your old school; of course have bragging rights. It's going to be fun."

Although he was not able to practice his craft on the field, Wilson was not far removed from the team. He was taking mental repetitions alongside his teammates.

"I feel like that was a redshirt year. I was still in the classroom with the guys, going over plays and stuff like that. I feel like I am ahead of the game in terms of knowledge of the plays and stuff like that. Seeing how they study, seeing how they go about being a pro and stuff like that. Going through it, I sat in the background and watched them do it. It was positive from that standpoint."

When the full team returns for off-season training activities May 22, Wilson will be participating.

"I'm full go. I'm back out there with them boys balling with my teammates. I'm out there. You are going to see me out there."

As a sophomore in college, Wilson suffered a torn ACL in the third game of the season. Moving forward, there is no concern over the structure of his knee.

"I had an injury my sophomore year also. Coming back my junior year, I didn't think about it then. I thought about it like 'man, they are probably thinking since I had a surgery on my knee that I'm going to move slower than how I can move.' I use that as motivation about how they think I am hurting. Other than that, in terms of my playing, am I worried about it? Nah. I'm more confident than I've ever been about my playing skills. I'm going to go out there and show what I can do."

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The Houston product was drafted by former Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown. The team fired Brown and hired General Manager John Dorsey in December. In some cases, it can be a time filled with nerves for players on the roster. He has had the opportunity to sit down with Dorsey.

"I feel like once I get out there and show what I can bring to the team, everything is going to be alright. I'm the type of player that I feel like every team should have, that every team needs. The type of football player that wants to go out and ball and ball every day in and out. Every team should have a roster full of them types of players. I feel like as long as I do that, everything will be alright," Wilson continued.

"We talked it up. He liked the way I played and everything. Like I said, I have to go out there and show it. I have to show what I can bring to the team."

A move to free safety has not been suggested. He is open to whatever role the team asks him to fill though.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams brings an energy to the field that filters down through his players.

"Me and G-Dub, we talk all the time. He is crazy. I like him. I feel like everybody on defense should have a little crazy about them. We cool."

This off-season, the Browns signed cornerbacks TJ Carrie, Terrance Mitchell and EJ Gaines in free agency. They also drafted Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward in the first round and Louisiana-Lafayette cornerback Simeon Thomas in the sixth round.

Those additions did not go unnoticed.

"I look at it like they are trying to help the team. They are trying to get dudes on the team that can help us win. They are trying to improve in every area. They got new at every position trying to help the team. I didn't take it wrong or anything like that. I just look at it as they are trying to flip the organization around by any means."

Cornerbacks Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jamar Taylor and Mike Jordan also return to the roster.

Wilson supported the team's decision to retain head coach Hue Jackson as well.

"He's a good coach. He knows what he is talking about. He knows what he is doing. He said we need more pieces to help us win. I feel like we got that in this year's draft and with this free agency. There should be big things coming for this season. He's pretty cool. He's a cool coach."

After missing his rookie season, he feels he has something to prove to the fan base and organization.

"I'm just trying to show exactly what I can bring. Bring that character out there, that crazy. A ball hawk. I need that. I'm trying to show all of that. I'm just trying to show the fans, the organization what I have been holding back as far as me being hurt. I'm trying to unleash everything."

What Wilson misses most about the game is so simple and natural.

"Talking shit [is what I miss most]," he joked.

"I miss being out there just having fun. I'm myself. I'm free. Football is really the only sport that you can smack somebody and not go to jail for. You can just get all of your frustrations out. It's a sport that we've been playing since we were small. We are getting paid to play a sport that we love. It's fun. It's fun. I just miss having fun."

An injury as severe as what Wilson suffered would bring down some of the most headstrong personalities. The cornerback became noticeably excited when asked what he will be feeling when he takes the field during his first regular season game, which is currently Sep. 9 at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"It's been a long time coming. I've been waiting for this since I got drafted. I've been waiting to show what I can do. Ball. Get the ball and ball. That's the only two things on my mind. You ball out and you have to get the ball. That's the name of the game. Just ball," he finished.