Nathaniel Jasper “Tank” Dell Jr., more popularly known as Tank Dell, is a wide receiver who plays for the National Football League NFL team, the Houston Texans. He played college football for the Houston Cougars football team (University of Houston). Dell has also played for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team (Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University) and the Independence Pirates (Independence Community College).
Tank Dell decided to transfer to the Houston Cougars in 2020. He was an instant hit with them after recording 29 receptions for 428 receiving yards along with three receiving touchdowns in just eight regular-season games. He continued the performance the following year with 90 receptions for 1,329 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.
Overall Tank Dell played in 49 games during his college career and recorded 292 receptions for 4985 receiving yards. He also completed 43 receiving touchdowns. Dell was given First-Team All-AAC twice in 2021 and 2022.
Tank Dell has adapted extremely well to the NFL and is an integral part of the Texans
Tank Dell was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft as the 69th overall pick. He has been sensational in his rookie season with the Texans and has looked like a seasoned player. Dell has recorded 42 receptions for 659 receiving yards along with six receiving touchdowns in ten games so far.
The greatest testament to how comfortable Tank Dell is in the NFL has come from the mouth of Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ryans has praised the connection between quarterback CJ Stroud and wide receiver Tank Dell. He said that the duo has a bond off the field, which helps their performance during games.
“That connection and that bond that I think Tank and C.J. have, it’s real,” Ryans said. “You see it off the field; on the field, they have a true bond, and it’s fun to watch those guys work together.”
Fuck it, Tank Dell highlights pic.twitter.com/AQz2cyWkTA
— 🏊♂️ (@R3TROFLOW) November 21, 2023
Dell has ensured that he carries over the good form he showed during his college career to the NFL as well. DeMeco Ryans has acknowledged that Dell is able to make the plays, which made him an exciting college prospect with the Houston Texans as well. Dell’s explosive playing style has not diminished, even against the big guns in the NFL.
“Those plays [Tank] made at [the University of Houston] are the same plays he’s making here for us,” Ryans said. “He was exciting to watch as a college prospect. It’s the same standing back and watching on the sidelines. It’s always impressive. He’s an explosive playmaker. He shows up every Sunday.”
And it is a hundred percent true that Tank Dell has improved the performance of the Houston Texans. They were averaging approximately 195 passing yards per season (based on 2021 and 2022) before the introduction of Dell to the team. That has improved drastically to an average of 264.1 yards per game in 2023.
Houston Texans have hit the jackpot with rookie wide receiver Tank Dell who has been terrific for them in the 2023/24 season.