Will the Houston Texans’ overhaul of their offensive line continue in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night?

If so, Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. has a recommendation – his former Alabama teammate Tyler Booker.

“Tyler Booker, man, I speak very highly of him,” Anderson said on Monday. “Great character guy. I think he has all the attributes you need to play the offensive-line position — he’s a mauler, he loves to finish blocks, his leadership skills, his mentality. He wants to be the best, and he’s really hard on himself. I’m kind of the same way. That’s what builds you up. That’s what makes you who you are. And he has all those things, man, and I can’t say enough good things about him. And wherever he ends up, he’s going to change that team, change that program and change the offensive line, for sure.”

Three of the five offensive linemen who played the most snaps for the Texans last season are no longer on the team after Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud got sacked 52 times in 2024.

The Texans traded tackle Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green and cut Shaq Mason. Houston signed former Alabama All-American Cam Robinson and Laken Tomlinson as the Texans added two veteran offensive-line starters in NFL free agency this offseason.

Houston has the 25th selection in the first round on Thursday night, and Booker is considered a first-round possibility.

Anderson said he has been in contact with the Alabama guard and Crimson Tide linebacker Jihaad Campbell, another first-round candidate, during their draft preparation.

The three players were teammates at Alabama in 2022, which was Anderson’s second straight season as a unanimous All-American as a Crimson Tide outside linebacker.

“Those are two of the guys I was really close to when I was at Alabama,” Anderson said, “and both of those guys have been doing really well – just talking to them – in their meetings and stuff with coaches and other teams and stuff like that, so I’m excited and I can’t wait to watch them get drafted.”

Anderson joined the Texans as the third selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. He earned the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as a defensive end, then increased his sack total by four to reach 11 in his second season.

“Block out the noise,” Anderson said of his advice to the Alabama draft prospects. “The media’s going to say whatever they want to say. Everybody’s going to have an opinion about your game, but just remember who you are and what you put on tape. God has blessed you tremendously with the gift that you have. He’s brought you this far. Nobody else has brought you this far. You’ve put in the work; he’s given you the gift. And just lean on yourself, lean on your abilities and know that you can go out there and play with the best of the best.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.