WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Shadowing wide receivers step for step, Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter mirrors routes as if he knows the patterns by heart.
Known as “The Locksmith,” for his ability to lock up receivers with his sticky coverage skills, delivered an acrobatic, game-changing interception of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback during the Texans’ 31-12 blowout victory in an AFC wild-card round playoff victory. He joined former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt as the only two rookies in franchise history to intercept a pass in a playoff game.
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His rookie season was one of the best by any defensive player in the league, regardless of position.
At training camp, Lassiter looks even better this year.
During practice Tuesday at The Greenbrier Sports and Performance Center, Lassiter intercepted a pass quarterback C.J. Stroud intended for Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins. He intercepted his second Stroud throw when he ripped the football away from wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson.
Lassiter trained hard all summer alongside his private coach, Jacory ‘One Way’ Nichols, backpedaling, cutting and covering alongside several teammates, including one of his best friends, safety Calen Bullock.
The blue-collar work ethic. The physical style as a willing and capable tackler. Recovery speed. Advanced knowledge of the game.
Lassiter has a lot working in his favor.
"Man, I just hope I could be the best player and the best teammate that I could possibly be,“ Lassiter told KPRC 2. ”Just coming in every day, doing the job with my best might ability, coming in and getting one percent better at something every day. Whether it’s press, whether it’s off, or it’s tackling, just getting better at some of it every day and just allowing my game to speak for itself."
Lassiter isn’t big on self-promotion. He’s about action. He’s focused on tape and teamwork. The flashiest thing about him is his nickname and a special silver chain with an engraved lock with ‘K3′ stenciled in the middle.
“I call myself The Locksmith,’” Lassiter said. “I pride myself on having stuff on lock. I really wanted to get a lock with the name ‘Locksmith’ on there.”
A teammate at Georgia gave him the nickname as an underclassmen.
“He started calling me The Locksmith and it just kind of stuck with me,” Lassiter said. “Got it on lock.”
Signed to a four-year, $9.014 million contract that included a $3.376 million signing bonus, Lassiter yielded only 136 passing yards and no touchdowns on 15 receptions off 37 targets in his final collegiate season to rank first in the NCAA among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus analytics.
Not only did Lassiter not allow a catch on two targets in his direction, an incompletion to go with the interception in the playoff game, but he also had a perfect, jolting form tackle on Chargers running back Derius Davis on a swing pass.
After the playoff game was over, Stingley had a lot to say about how well Lassiter played.
“Cold,” Stingley said. “He different. He is different. I’m proud of him.”
Lassiter recorded 58 tackles, 10 passes defensed and one safety, allowing 32 completions on 73 targets for 424 yards and four touchdowns for an opposing quarterback rating of 64.0 while lining up opposite Pro Bowl cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. as a rookie. The way that Lassiter matches up with big, tall receivers like Collins and 6-foot-4 rookie Jayden Higgins stands out.
“Kamari continues to improve his details and that’s what sticks out about him,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “A Year Two player who doesn’t feel like a Year Two player, he’s continuing to ascend, continuing to make plays, continuing to push himself to be in those tough spots.
“Going against Nico, going against Higgins; those are tough guys to go against and he battles every single day and he finds a way to make a play. I think he made two picks today on the football, so it’s impressive to see such a young player who’s always dialed in, always bringing great energy and great emotion to our defense, and the guys they really vibe with that. He’s a spark plug for our team.”
Lassiter has displayed a competitive mettle and ability to do it all as a physical corner.
After a stellar career for a national championship squad with the Georgia Bulldogs, Lassiter has made an immediate impact on the Texans’ defense.
“I feel like I was built for it since I was young,” Lassiter said. “There’s not much I haven’t seen. I play with the passion I’ve always had and play for the people who love me and even the people who hate me. Everything cranks up in the playoffs. It’s all on the line. It’s win or go home.”
The camaraderie and quality of the secondary makes them a potentially special group. There’s Stingley on one side opposite Lassiter with hard-hitting Jalen Pitre at nickel, veteran safety and Super Bowl champion C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who intercepted six passes last season for the Philadelphia Eagles and Bullock, who tied Stingley for the team lead with five interceptions as a rookie last season.
Bullock emphasizes the Texans are the best secondary collectively, not one of the best. Lassiter doesn’t disagree, but he’s ultra-focused.
"I don’t get into it,“ Lassiter said of the rankings. ”I just know how good each individual player is in our secondary. And I know like what we can be, but I mean, what we can be doesn’t really matter, you know, it’s what we do on the field. So, I mean we just got to keep coming together as one, keep playing as a unit. And whenever the time, whenever the ball is there, we got to go get it.
“Exactly, yeah, potential is just a word. It’s what you do on that field, what you put on tape. Every time we come on this field, we got to put it on tape, then we’re the best secondary."
At camp, the secondary has been flying around. There haven’t been a lot of big plays by the offense. And the camaraderie of the group is strong.
"I mean, that’s what training camp is all about, just kind of getting a group of guys together and just seeing how well we play together,“ Lassiter said. ”And I feel like we’re gelling very well together. We’re playing very well against each other.
“I feel guys feed off each other, whenever somebody makes a play, everyone gets happy. Whenever somebody doesn’t make a play you got your brother right there to pick you up. All right, come on, we got another play. Just next man mentality. I just feel like this defense is gonna surprise a lot of people."
Operating behind a defense headlined by Pro Bowl pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., the secondary is preparing for the football to come of the quarterbacks’ hands fast. There should be opportunities to make plays.
“I definitely know that rush and cover works hand in hand,” Lassiter said. “We have an amazing rush with those guys up front. I mean like you can’t ask for much more and they’re attacking. I mean just playing on that back end, you just kind of know. Sometimes that ball might get out fast and if it doesn’t, just do your job."
When he’s not playing football, Lassiter spends time with family or playing video games. He says nobody on the team can beat him in the UFC fighting game. “I’m the best for sure,” he said.
Lassiter doesn’t waste time looking back. A second-round draft pick, Lassiter was the fifth cornerback selected overall after first-round picks Quinyon Mitchell, Terrion Arnold and Nate Wiggins and second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Not being drafted higher isn’t something that consumes Lassiter. He’s grounded in the present: the next play, the next practice, the next game.
"I don’t really care, that’s in the past,“ Lassiter said. ”’m grateful to be drafted. I’m blessed to be in this position. I’m blessing on this team and playing with the guys that I get to play with every day. I mean, I got drafted. A lot of people didn’t, can’t say that. So I mean I’m not really worried about that."
What Lassiter does care about deeply is winning and being reliable for his teammates and coaches. Ultimately, it’s about trying to win a Super Bowl. Anything less isn’t satisfying.
“That’s what we’re all working for,” Lassiter said. “That’s the only goal to be honest: to win a championship. I feel like every guy in this locker room, player, coach, support staff, anybody, I feel that’s what were all working towards. And that’s why we put our best foot forward every day.”
“Kamari has been consistent,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed player, old school. He’s a corner who loves to play physical, which is rare these days. Kamari likes to tackle, and he brings a different intensity out on the perimeter than most corners, because of his physicality, but also just his smarts intelligence and his playmaking ability.”
LOCK IT DOWN KAMARI 🔐
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 11, 2025
📺: @Nickelodeon and @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/2pePR2YUDq
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
