TEXAS CITY -- Standing in the end zone where he used to pile up touchdown runs, Texans running back D'Onta Foreman reached full circle without straying far from home.

Hosting an impromptu football workout Sunday afternoon at his alma mater, Texas City High School, where he was joined by his parents, Derrick Foreman, and Shawn Smith and his twin brother and former Longhorns wide receiver, Armanti Foreman, the former University of Texas star didn't limit his activity to encouraging a group of youth athletes.

Sporting a much leaner physique than his first two NFL seasons, Foreman couldn't resist joining the action. He looked quick and explosive as he demonstrated some footwork drills.

After a long, frustrating year primarily spent rehabilitating a ruptured Achilles tendon, Foreman has embraced a demanding exercise regimen and a healthier diet. The 22-year-old has taken on grueling boxing workouts with Andrew Gutierrez in addition to his workouts with longtime trainer Brandon Robinson of Dynamic Athlete Builders specializing in footwork drills to build quickness and change of direction. He's lifted weights and done plyometrics with Dose Khango at The Post Oak Hotel. And he's continued to strengthen his Achilles with his chiropractor, Dr. Tony Tran.

Foreman is determined to put an extremely rough year behind him and recapture the promising form he displayed as a rookie before he got injured while scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.

Foreman is using all of the doubts that have surrounded him since his his injury and past conditioning issues as motivational fuel.

"It definitely lit a fire under me," Foreman said. "I feel like people started to count me out and were saying what I couldn’t do coming back, but I’m a very strong-minded person.

"I’ve been through a lot in my life. This is something I feel like I can overcome and I feel like I have overcame it. I’m ready to put it out there on the field and show people I’m still here.”

Prior to the injury, Foreman had shown enough that there was talk of him eventually replacing Pro Bowl running back Lamar Miller.

Foreman rushed for 327 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie after being drafted in the third round.

For the Longhorns, Foreman won the Doak Walker award as the nation's top running back before declaring early for the draft following his junior season. He led the nation with 2,048 rushing yards and was named a consensus All-American.

Last year, though, Foreman wasn't himself.

When he returned to action after being activated from the reserve-physically unable to perform list in December, Foreman wasn't the same. He was clearly rusty and not in great football shape.

When Foreman returned against the Philadelphia Eagles, he caught a touchdown pass. However, he rushed for minus-one yards on seven carries.

"It was definitely tough not being able to play," Foreman said. "Something I love to do is to play and compete. Being out there with my teammates and not being able to help them and going through my own problem with my Achilles and working to get back, it was a long process being out for over a year.

"Starting all over again, learning how to walk again, learning how to run right, it took a long time. Right now, I feel good. I feel great. I’m ready to get back out there."

Growing up in Texas City, Foreman played running back, defensive end and linebacker. He rushed for 4,382 yards and 61 touchdowns, including 2,102 yards and 31 scores as a senior.

He was a three-star recruit who was overshadowed for a while by his brother before the Longhorns eventually offered him a scholarship.

Derrick Foreman sees a renewed hunger from his son.

"He’s so focused," Derrick Foreman said. "He’s tunnel-vision right now. He’s working hard. He understands the importance of this year. He understands what the naysayers are saying about him. We block out all that and he’s staying focused. He know what needs to be done. He’s grinding. He wants to show his teammates that he’s dedicated, the coaches, the fans, just let everyone know he’s out here working.

"Last year, it was difficult for him. He had up-and-down days going through rehab. When you have such an awesome season your rookie year and you get hurt on a touchdown run and you are lost for the season when you're just really starting to feel the game and come into your own, it was hard. I can tell you he’s 100 percent. He’s ready to go.”

@DayDay409 on @D33_foreman 'He's tunnel vision right now. He understands the importance of this year' pic.twitter.com/SDGO1K4rFx — Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 24, 2019

During the NFL scouting combine, Texans general manager Brian Gaine said Miller will return as the starter. He was also upbeat about Foreman's outlook for this season.

"We’re optimistic about a very positive return in his contributions," Gaine said. "We saw glimpses of that the previous season. Also impressed us in the passing game, so we’re optimistic that those guys will be back and intact.

"Ideally, we’d love to have a committee backfield and have contributions from various players, but Lamar was a three-down back last year and we’re optimistic that Foreman will return to full health.”

After playing as heavy as 249 pounds in college, Foreman is listed on the roster at 235 pounds. He's a few pounds shy of that number currently. He's been following a stricter meal plan with an emphasis on leaner proteins and vegetables.

"I’ve been doing a lot of things to get my stability going, just loosening up my body," Foreman said. "I love the boxing workout my guy, Andrew Gutierrez, put me on. It was a great body workout. I've moved on and I'm back on the field and doing football-specific drills

"Dose is a really good guy, he’s been helping me out and we talked about what kind of game plan we wanted to do. What we have going on right now is really good. Eating right, trying not to be as heavy. We have a good plan. I'm just trying to stick to it."

Foreman once rushed for 341 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Texas Tech during his final college season. Against Baylor, he became the first Longhorns running back to gain 250 yards since Jamaal Charles in 2007.

The entire family is awaiting those kind of performances again and cognizant of how pivotal this third NFL season is for Foreman's career.

"We would sit down and have conversations, "Derrick Foreman said. "We understood the severity of the injury. A lot of people would classify this as a career-ending injury, but we block out the naysayers.

"It’s about working hard and grinding. His mother and I and his brother, we try to give him positive reinforcement. We’re going to push you to be great."

When the Texans return to NRG Stadium for their voluntary offseason conditioning program April 15, Foreman plans to show the organization that he's put the past few months to good use.

"I have been getting my Achilles right and making sure I'm good to go," he said. "I'm just looking forward to the whole thing. It's been a long process to prove myself all over again.

"I'm a guy who loves to compete. I'm working hard and starting my own foundation, getting myself together. It starts from here."