How Texans rookie Aireontae Ersery navigated tough ‘journey, lot of ups and downs’ to NFL as a potential starting tackle

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Looking around the practice field after another day of hard work where he displayed his growing blocking skills and vast potential, Texans rookie offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery couldn’t stop smiling.

Raised in a tough environment in Kansas City, Missouri with his family, a single mother and five siblings experiencing homelessness at one point, Ersery reflected on his path from difficult times to the coveted NFL status he’s earned. A starting right tackle who has significantly impressed the coaching staff and teammates with his physicality, mobility and athleticism, Ersery went through a lot to get to this point.

Signed to a four-year, $9.211 million contract that includes a $3.339 million signing bonus, Ersery and his family overcame significant adversity along the way to him getting a scholarship to the University of Minnesota and emerging as the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

A second-round draft pick who once shut down Penn State star pass rusher and New York Giants first-round draft pick Abdul Carter, Ersery is soaking up these moments. Especially when he discusses how his family helped him get to this point.

They dealt with an eviction when he was in middle school, ultimately living in several different locations, including one that lacked running water as Ersery, the oldest sibling growing up with brothers and sisters Danny Ersery, Dean Ersery, Cherish Ersery, Journey Stanford and Rain Spriggs, would carry a large jug of water across the street from a neighbor’s spigot to bring home for cooking and bathing needs.

His mother, Takita Charles, held the family together as she worked multiple jobs around the clock at fast food restaurants and at a warehouse to put food on the table for Ersery and his younger siblings. Eventually, through a transitional housing program, they all lived together in a two-bedroom apartment. Now, it’s a new day for Ersery and his family.

“It’s a blessing, man,” Ersery told KPRC 2. “Throughout my whole journey, man, I had a lot of ups and downs. And my family, they don’t really get to see the hard days and the dark days, but they always showed me love and unconditional love.

“And I’m forever grateful for that because not too many people have that. And I also was fortunate to have a family-like coaching staff at Minnesota that helped guide me and get me to where I wanted to be.”

Everything Ersery went through, he remembers and uses. It’s a constant reminder for him of gratitude and motivational moments. He doesn’t allow himself to rest on his laurels or overreact to praise.

He stays grounded and humble. It’s an approach to life and football that’s working quite well for Ersery, who’s listed on the depth chart as the starting right tackle in his second week with the first-team offense each practice.

The water jug. The crowded apartment. The stress. That’s all behind Ersery now, even though the 23-year-old doesn’t allow it to wander far from his mind.

“I wear that stuff on my sleeve, man,” Ersery said. “That’s my story and that’s my fuel to the fire. That’s the gumbo to the pot. My family man, that’s my motivation. We’ve been through a lot and being able to overcome that and being in the position right now is nothing but a blessing. Family is happy and everyone around me back at home, can’t thank them enough for that.

“Just being homeless, single mother of five, dad was locked up when I was little, just being a firstborn having to take on a lot of responsibility, understanding where I was at in my life and what I wanted to do, whether that was go to college for football, athletics or just go and try to get a degree. So, I just try to set myself up for success and I feel like I did so.”

At Ruskin High School, Ersery started gaining attention from recruiters as he lined up at left tackle, defensive line and operated as the long snapper. The team rarely won, but Ersery emerged as a standout. He once dreamed of playing basketball, but ultimately focused on football along with participating in track and field and wrestling.

University of Minnesota offensive line coach and run game coordinator Brian Callahan couldn’t wait to add him to coach P.J. Fleck’s hard-working, ‘row-the-boat’ Golden Gophers program. Ersery went from playing sparingly in his first two seasons to becoming an All-Big Ten Conference selection.

A third-team All-American, Ersery allowed just five career sacks, yielding one sack and one quarterback hit during his final college season. He played only three snaps at left guard, and seven snaps at right tackle over the past three years.

“It’s kind of funny you bring that up chronologically in terms of going from high school to the pros because I remember when we recruited him, when we got him, I remember after like maybe the first year, I remember one time he asked me: ‘Do you really I think I have a chance to make it to the NFL?’' Callahan said in a telephone interview. ”I said, ‘Well, if you keep your attitude the way you have it now or you want to work, we’re big into changing your best around here and getting a little bit better every day. If you stick to that attitude, yes.’

“I guarantee he remembers that conversation because I think there was the first time he really started thinking about, ‘Maybe I can be a pro.’ He’s got a great knack of being coachable in this sense like, we’ll coach him hard and get after him. If he made a mistake or whatever when he was younger, he could bounce back and he never let that affect him and he kept working to get better.”

The game against Carter was an eye-opener. Ersery simply shut him down. The NFL noticed, especially the Texans.

“Definitely, but I think he just did what he was capable of doing,” Callahan said. “Obviously, Abdul Carter is a great player, and we had to game plan to make sure that we accounted for him. Penn State did a good job of moving him around and such, but there was plenty of times that they went head-to-head, and I definitely feel that Aireontae more than held his own against him.”

Ersery called Callahan “another father figure in my life, very, very important to me. We had a very, very close relationship. He didn’t want anything from me but my best. I’ve always shown love and I forever will. That’s my dawg.”

The rest is history, but nothing ever came easy for Ersery. Leaning on family, especially his mom, got him to this point. And his mother’s influence was felt throughout the process.

“His mom is very, very important to it all, she’s a wonderful lady,” Callahan said. “I do know that there were some obstacles. As a coach, you always try to do everything you can to make sure that your players have the support that they need. I always felt like, even though they maybe didn’t have much, she definitely has been a rock for him. Somebody that has inspired him. She’s always somebody that he’s always talked about and made sure that their relationship was really solid.”

The way Ersery is being coached now by Texans offensive line coach and run game coordinator Cole Popovich closely mirrors his college experience with Callahan.

“Cole Popovich, his style of offensive line play, his mindset and being able to relate to that, he has a similar personality to my offensive line coach in college,” Ersery said. “Being able to go out there and be coached, be with the older guys, I have learned from them. Then being able to come out here and play with guys who have been playing at a high level, it’s nothing but a blessing.”

At 6-foot-6, 331 pounds with 5.01 speed in the 40-yard dash, Ersery represents the physical prototype for an offensive tackle. A natural left tackle who stepped in at that spot Monday at The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center when starting left tackle Cam Robinson left practice with an injury not believed to be a long-term issue, Ersery has taken the majority of the first-team snaps at right tackle. He’s had his moments, more good than bad.

“I ain’t done nothing,” Ersery said. “Ain’t done (s--), pardon my French. Every day, man, I’m just just trying to get better and better and better like I’m not showing up here like I’ve arrived. I know I’m a rookie. I’m trying to get better and better and these guys are helping me and guiding me the right way."

Of course, competing against elite pass rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter doesn’t make it easy for Ersery. It’s an extreme challenge to deal with their athleticism, strength and large repertoire of pass rushing moves.

“Every day, I want to come out here and give my best because I know they’re gonna bring their best each and every day,” Ersery said. “Those are two very, very challenging guys. And all they’re doing is making me better. And I’m just excited to be able to come here and compete every day.

"Just got to have a good technique, stay square, anticipating, but not over-anticipating. Those guys are two very, very talented rushers. Danielle, he has more in his toolbox. Will, very strong young player, he’ll go speed to power on you. He can play hard every play. I’m just blessed to be able to go against those guys."

The Texans are extremely encouraged by Ersery’s progress while maintaining the perspective that he’s a rookie and there will likely be some growing pains in his first NFL season.

“He’s done a really nice job dating back to spring,” Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “He works at it. He comes in, he spends a lot of extra time on his own. Fundamentally, technique, pad level, all those things are improving. He’s still got a ways to go, but I’ve been pleased with it. He’s a very conscientious guy and he’s wired the right way.”

Long-armed, tall and strong, Ersery is off to a fast start.

“Ersery, he’s done a great job,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The biggest thing with Ersery is getting acclimated to learning what it takes to be a pro. I see Ersery, he’s steadily gotten better at the things off the field, of finding his routine, and also on the field, just seeing his footwork, his pad leverage, is getting better, it’s improving.”

Ersery hasn’t been officially named a starter yet. Really, no one has, not even former Pro Bowl guard Laken Tomlinson or returning starter Tytus Howard. However, the offensive line is crystallizing in terms of configuration and Ersery has clearly outplayed Fisher and others at right tackle. It’s hard to envision him not s starting against the Los Angeles Rams to open the season.

“Right now, it’s just control what I can control, and that’s going out there and getting better,” Ersery said. “Me playing, switching to the right tackle, I wanna go out there perfect it. So, I try not to worry about that type of stuff, because that’s out of my control. I just try to control the things I can’t control.”

When Ersery isn’t playing football or lifting weights, he listens to music, calls his family to catch up, plays video games and listens to R&B music or country music.

“I try to be cultured,” Ersery said. “I listen to a little bit of everything.”

Ersery is a big man, so, yes, finding some good food is always a priority.

If he has a cheat meal, it would be at Raising Cane’s for a box combo along with a quesadilla from Chipotle. His favorite drink: sweet iced tea mixed with Lemonade, light ice.

A fancy dinner? That would include a steak, done medium well, potatoes and Caesar salad.

After all, Ersery has earned it all every step of the way.

“He’s a wonderful young man,” Callahan said. “He’s just a lot of fun to be around. He’s got a good way about himself. Good teammate, all the guys like him. He’s not overly cocky by any means, and he’s a good guy.

“He’s unbelievable. It’s about being consistent with using his techniques and God-given ability, and, you know, I mean, they’ll figure out specifically what they want him to get better at. I just think he’s got a bright future.”

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