Right now the NFL is a mess. From star players getting injured to seasoned veterans underperforming, things are just scrambled—we haven’t seen much consistency. Few players are living up to the expectations of their fans and coaches and there aren’t a lot of reliable athletes at the moment. Looking closely, however, you can find a few unexpected heroes who defy the rest of the league. The player I’m about to mention is a perfect example of one of these outliers.
Nathaniel Jasper “Tank” Dell Jr. is a wide receiver for the Houston Texans. He’s a first-year rookie who was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. This caught me by surprise based on how he’s performed this year. His stats are among the best in the league, which is an incredible testament to his talent and work ethic.
As of week 12, he has a total of 42 receptions for 659 yards. Considering that is almost 16 yards per reception, it clearly displays what a crucial part he is of this Texan offense. He also has obtained 6 touchdowns on the season; more than any other receiver on the team. Not to mention he is also Texan quarterback CJ Stroud’s most targeted receiver. Career stats only paint a small portion of the whole picture though. To see how reliable Dell really is, there’s a lot more you need to know.
If you’re not an avid college football fan, you might not have heard the name Nathaniel Dell. He played football at Alabama A&M and Independence Community College, but he ultimately transferred to the University of Houston where he spent most of his college career. In his three-year career there, he had 228 receptions for over three thousand yards, and over 30 touchdown receptions. While these stats definitely stand out, there was a different reason I remembered him.
Sports are notorious for nicknames. A lot of athletes earn theirs when they make it to the league, whether they are abnormally fast or incredibly strong. This wasn’t the case for Dell, however. When I saw him play in college, the question “Why is he called Tank?” always came to mind. With a 5’10, 165 pound frame, he isn’t extraordinarily big or strong. So why is his nickname Tank? The name comes from “Tank Head,” which is what his mom called him when he was little due to his head being enormous in proportion to the rest of his body. The name has followed him ever since, from playing in high school to now making his name big in the NFL. His name has a backstory, but it also fits perfectly with his attitude and personality. He never quits and gives it all on the field—just as a tank does in war.
Tank Dell truly is the definition of talent. His commitment to bettering himself and his team has played a major role in taking the Texans organization from being a 3-13 team in 2022, to already starting with a 6-4 record. While he’s not the most famous athlete in the league, he’s already proven to have extraordinary potential. I see him having a great season and a historic career wherever he ends up.
