With cows near the end zone, Texans linebacker Dylan Cole happy to be home in Rogersville

Show Caption Hide Caption Dylan Cole football camp Houston Texans linebacker Dylan Cole held a football camp at his old high school, Logan-Rogersville.

ROGERSVILLE — With cows standing in the background of the west end zone instead of 72,000 fans filling out NRG Stadium in Houston, Dylan Cole felt back at home.

The Houston Texans linebacker was back on his high school grass at Wildcat Stadium in Rogersville, where he began his journey to the NFL. On Saturday morning, the former Missouri State star was helping kids with their own journeys.

Cole hosted his free Dylan Cole Football Camp, with 300 kids registered.

The former Logan-Rogersville star put kids from second to 12th grade through drills while signing every autograph at the end of camp.

Even though the kids asked him if he was a bodybuilder while they looked up to him in awe, Cole doesn't see himself as a "hometown hero."

"It's really hard to put into words," Cole said. "I think I'm more or less a guy someone looks up to. I try to use my platform the best I can and hope I encouraged some kids along the way."

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Cole's message to the kids during the day was for them to have fun and love football.

Having a camp at his old high school field with his name across the T-shirts isn't something that was ever on his radar.

"It's something I would have never thought about," Cole said. "I'm so happy and blessed I get to do this."

The Texans linebacker, who signed as an undrafted free agent and made an impact during his rookie season, joked around with the kids throughout the day while also encouraging them to be their best.

"Don't worry about the stress that's being put on you by other people; just have fun," Cole said. "Football's supposed to be fun. I've been playing it since I was 6, 7 years old. Just have fun."

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As Cole heads into his second year in the NFL, he hopes to stay healthier than his first.

Cole missed six games in 2017 with a hamstring injury after the second interception of his career.

Despite the injury, Cole feels more prepared to go into the next season in which he's likely to continue to have an impact on the Texans defense.

"I found my niche and I'm going to continue to grow on that," Cole said. "The league is about the more you can do. If you learn to do more, the longer you'll stay and the more time you'll get to play."

Cole ended his first season with 10 tackles and 15 assisted. He intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown.

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Cole led Logan-Rogersville to a Class 3 state championship in 2011, rushing for more than 2,000 yards in a season that ended in St. Louis and a victory over John Burroughs (and current Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott) in the title game.

Aside from his career at Logan-Rogersville, Cole ended his career at Missouri State as one of the best defensive players in the history of the program.

After his senior year, Cole was a unanimous Football Championship Subdivision All-American, led the nation in tackles per game and was named the top linebacker in the country in the FCS by the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association.

But as he stood in the middle of the field Saturday with hundreds of campers surrounding him, and farm animals in the distance, Cole was thankful to be back where it all began.

"I'm used to cows mooin' and crowds cheering," Cole said. "That's what I love about this place. It's definitely home."

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