We all know what Dean Connors could do once the ball was in his hands here in H-Town. Turns out that doesn't change with an NFL jersey on his back.

In the LA Rams' preseason opener Saturday, a 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the former Houston Cougar didn't just make the trip—he made the highlight reel. Twice. While the Coogs are still grinding through their own fall camp back home, their former workhorse running back is out west showing the NFL exactly what Houston fans already knew: give him a lane, and he's gone.

The Numbers

Connors' full preseason debut line:

  • 4 receptions, 29 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

  • 6 carries, 22 yards

Two touchdowns in your first NFL action is the kind of stat line that gets people talking, and Rams head coach Sean McVay was among the first to do it.

McVay Takes Notice

Speaking after the win, McVay didn't hold back on his praise for the undrafted rookie:

"Dean showed me that it certainly isn't too big for him. You felt him out there today. I think that's one of the positives — you just feel somebody make their presence known, whether that's a defensive guy or an offensive guy. When he got the ball, there was a change of pace, and you felt like, 'okay, this guy's got a chance to be able to create.' I thought he did that in the run game. And then, obviously — really cool — it was great blocking on the screen he scored on, but it was a great job by him to set those blocks. And then a great job by him on the touchdown catch."

That's a coach talking about a versatile piece—a back who can line up as a receiver, sell a block, and still find the end zone. For a roster still sorting out its running back room behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, that's exactly the kind of tape that gets circled.

The Long Road to Arrowhead

What makes Saturday even sweeter is the path it took to get there. Connors wasn't a blue-chip prospect fast-tracked to the league—he built this from the ground up. Coming out of high school with no scholarship offers, he started at Riverside City College before transferring to Rice and then to Houston for his final college season in 2025, where he ran for 977 yards and racked up nine total touchdowns, earning All-Big 12 honors along the way. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft before signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent.

Connors summed up that journey himself after the game:

"It's been a dream come true getting to play here at Arrowhead—a kid with no offers went to junior college, got one offer, went to Rice, and found myself here. I try to take it one play at a time and not make too much of what it is, just trying to do my best for this team, put points on the board, and try to win games."

What's Next

A two-touchdown preseason debut doesn't guarantee a roster spot — the Rams still have real questions to answer at running back, and Connors is competing for a crowded depth chart. But performances like this one are exactly how undrafted free agents force their way into the conversation. For a kid with zero offers out of high school, "the conversation" is already further than most ever get.

Two more preseason games remain for Connors to make his case. Given what he showed at Arrowhead, the Rams — and the rest of the league — will be watching.