What’s this have to do with the Texans? Not much in the short term.

But looking back a few years (a few more in some cases) is kind of fun, because everybody on the roster played college ball somewhere, and went through the drill so many prep stars went through about 8 hours or so ago.

For example: wide receiver DeVier Posey was once a 5-star (according to the Rivals.com ranking system) recruit out of Cincinnati’s LaSalle H.S. when he signed on to be a Buckeye at Ohio State. On the other end of the spectrum, 2012 AP Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt was quick to point out this afternoon on twitter that the rankings don’t always matter.

This slideshow covers a wide swath of the team, including some reserves. But going across the starting depth-chart, and keeping in mind that the Rivals’ ranking database only goes back to 2002, here’s how the Texans’ starters stacked up on the first Wednesday in February.

OFFENSE

RB Arian Foster: 3-star recruit from Mission Bay H.S. in San Diego, CA. Signed with Tennessee.

LT Duane Brown: 3-star recruit from Hermitage H.S. in Richmond, VA. Signed with Virginia Tech.

RG Brandon Brooks: 3-star recruit from Riverside University H.S. in Milwaukee, WI. Signed with Miami (OH).

RG Ben Jones: 3-star recruit from Bibb County HS in Centreville, AL. Signed with Georgia.

RT Derek Newton: 2-star recruit from Hinds Community College in Utica, MS. Signed with Arkansas State.

DEFENSE

DE Antonio Smith: 3-star recruit from Northeast Oklahoma A&M J.C. Signed with Oklahoma State.

DE J.J. Watt: 2-star recruit from Pewaukee H.S. in Pewaukee, WI. Signed with Central Michigan (later transferred to Wisconsin).

OLB Connor Barwin: 2-star recruit from University of Detroit Jesuit H.S. Signed with Cincinnati.

OLB Brooks Reed: 3-star recruit from Sabino H.S. in Tuscon, AZ. Signed with Arizona.

ILB Brian Cushing: 4-star recruit from Bergen Catholic H.S. in Oradell, NJ. Signed with Southern California.

CB Kareem Jackson: 4-star recruit from Fork Union Military Academy, VA. Signed with Alabama.

CB Johnathan Joseph: 3-star recruit from Coffyville Community College, KS. Signed with South Carolina.

S Glover Quin: 2-star recruit from Southwest Mississippi Community College. Signed with New Mexico.

QB Matt Schaub (2nd career Pro Bowl): 12-of-22 for 113 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with a 46.2 rating. Sacked once. The 2009 Pro Bowl MVP, Schaub entered game for Peyton Manning at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter and was replaced by Andrew Luck at 3:52 in the third. Schaub’s touchdown pass was a four-yarder to Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs on third-and-goal in the third quarter. Schaub also had one carry for 11 yards, showing off some wheels as he picked up a first down.

RB Arian Foster (3rd Pro Bowl): Three carries, -2 yards. Foster started the game and didn’t see the field much, if at all, after the first quarter. The AFC trailed 31-14 at halftime and had just 15 rushing yards as a team, while the NFC had just 78 in a decidedly pass-happy game. Foster threw a few halfback passes during the week in practice, as he did during last year’s Pro Bowl practices, but didn’t get a chance to do so in Sunday’s game.

WR Andre Johnson (6th Pro Bowl): Three catches for 34 yards on five targets. Johnson started and played much of the first half. In the second half, he wore a red AFC hat as he stood on the sideline with folded arms and talked to former University of Miami teammate Reggie Wayne, Peyton Manning, Schaub and others. He caught one pass from Schaub, a 16-yard gain on third-and-15 in the second quarter.

TE Owen Daniels (2nd career Pro Bowl): Four catches for 45 yards on seven targets. Daniels had a long gain of 17, which he caught from Luck in the fourth quarter. He caught two passes from Schaub, including a 13-yarder in the second quarter.

LT Duane Brown (1st Pro Bowl), LG Wade Smith (1st), C Chris Myers (2nd): Brown and Smith both started. Myers, in his second consecutive Pro Bowl, played as a reserve. Brown played mostly right tackle, with Cleveland’s Joe Thomas seeing a bulk of time at left tackle when Brown was on the field. Smith also played some right guard; he and Brown ironically never played beside each other in the entire game.

DE J.J. Watt (1st Pro Bowl): Five tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit. Watt started in his Pro Bowl debut and made plays in the backfield along with a couple of other highlights – and a stomach-churning moment. The presumptive NFL Defensive Player of the Year lined up at wide receiver on the AFC’s first drive and had a pass thrown his way by Manning in the end zone. The pass was incomplete, and it also left Watt with a bloody finger that he showed off to NBC cameras on the sideline. Watt continued to play in the game and afterward said he’s fine and just needed a few stitches.

CB Johnathan Joseph (2nd Pro Bowl): Four tackles, including three in the first half. Joseph, making his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, started the game and was often on the field at the same time as Watt. He lined up against the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Vincent Jackson and even Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

The Texans’ nine Pro Bowlers are not only a team record but the most of any team in the league this year. Defensive end J.J. Watt, cornerback Johnathan Joseph, running back Arian Foster, wide receiver Andre Johnson and left tackle Duane Brown all are representing the Texans as starters for the AFC. Quarterback Matt Schaub, center Chris Myers, left guard Wade Smith and tight end Owen Daniels made the squad as reserves.

The AFC and NFC teams practice separately each day. Practices started on Wednesday at Kapolei High School and will continue Thursday morning at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Check back with us tomorrow afternoon for updates from practice and afterward as we talk to Texans players and their NFL all-star peers. “Voice of the Texans” Marc Vandermeer is out here with me and will be contributing to our coverage for the week.

We’ll also check in at some point with Texans Cheerleader Vanessa, who already has been blogging her experiences for us on HoustonTexans.com.

• Improved Houston’s all-time postseason record to 2-1 overall and 2-0 at Reliant Stadium.

• Advanced the Texans into the AFC Divisional Playoffs for the second consecutive season.

• Improved Houston’s all-time record against Cincinnati to 5-3 overall, 2-0 in the postseason and 3-1 all-time at Reliant Stadium.

THE TEXANS

• Won the time of possession battle for the first time in team postseason history and the 13^th time this season overall, holding the ball for 38:49.

• Scored first for the 10^th time this season and for the first time in team postseason history when they took a 3-0 lead on K Shayne Graham’s 48-yard field goal in the first quarter.

• Led after the first quarter for the first time in team playoff history and for the ninth time overall this year.

• Led at halftime for the second time in team postseason history and for the 11^th time overall this season. Houston led Cincinnati 17-10 in the 2012 AFC Wild Card Playoff on 1/7/12.

• Led after three quarters for the second time in team postseason history and for the 11^th time overall this season.

THE TEXANS OFFENSE

• Gained 420 yards of total offense in the game and averaged 5.5 yards per play. Over the last eight weeks of the 2012 season, Cincinnati’s defense had held its opponents to an average of 282.0 yards per game, which ranked second in the NFL over that time frame.

• Outgained the Bengals 158-80 on the ground. It was the third consecutive postseason game in which the Texans outrushed their opponents. Houston improved to 3-0 all-time in postseason and 12-1 overall this season when outrushing the opposition.

• Ran the ball 39 times in the game. It was the 12^th game this season in which Houston ran the ball at least 30 times, and the Texans improved to 12-0 in those games. Under head coach Gary Kubiak, Houston improved to 45-5, including regular season and postseason games, when rushing at least 30 times.

THE TEXANS DEFENSE

• Held Cincinnati to 198 yards of total offense, which was the fewest surrendered in team postseason history. Houston previously held Baltimore to 227 yards in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff (1/15/12).

• Held its opponent to fewer than 20 points for the second time in postseason play, limiting Cincinnati to 13 points. Houston improved to 2-0 in the postseason, 43-2 overall (including playoffs) under Head Coach Gary Kubiak, and 10-0 overall this season when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points.

• Did not allow the Bengals offense to convert any of its nine third-down attempts in the game. It marked the first time since the 1989 playoffs that a team did not allow a single third-down conversion. The last team to do so was the Cincinnati Bengals against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on 1/8/89.

ILB CAMERON COLLINS

• Made his professional debut when he took the field on the opening kickoff. Collins was signed from the Texans’ practice squad on Friday, Jan. 4.

TE OWEN DANIELS

• Set a franchise postseason record with his ninth reception of the game. WR Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 111 yards in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore (1/15/12), and RB Arian Foster matched that reception total today with eight catches for 34 yards.

• Recorded the second-most receiving yards in a playoff game in team history with 91, trailing WR Andre Johnson’s 111 yards in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore (1/15/12).

• Extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 84, including regular season and postseason games, with an 8-yard catch in the first quarter.

RB ARIAN FOSTER

• Became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 100 yards in each of his first three career playoff games. Foster finished the game with 140 yards on 32 carries. Overall, he was the eighth man in League history to run for more than 100 yards in three consecutive playoff games.

• Has rushed for 425 yards through his first three playoff games, the most by any player in NFL history through his first three career postseason games. The previous three-game high was 383 yards by Jacksonville RB Fred Taylor following the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

• Set the team postseason record with 32 rushing attempts, bettering his own previous high of 27 in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore (1/15/12).

• Caught eight passes in the game, which was tied for the second-most in a game in Texans postseason history behind TE Owen Daniels’ nine catches today. WR Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 111 yards in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore (1/151/2).

• Scored his fourth career touchdown in postseason play when he dove into the end zone from a yard away in the third quarter. Foster has scored at least one touchdown in all three of his career postseason games.

K SHAYNE GRAHAM

• Connected on a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter. It was the longest postseason field goal in his career and was also the longest in Texans history in postseason play. Graham’s previous long in the playoffs was a 35-yard kick on 1/16/11 in an AFC Divisional Playoff as a New England Patriot against the New York Jets. The previous long in Texans history was a 40-yarder by K Neil Rackers at Baltimore on 1/15/12 in an AFC Divisional Playoff.

• Set a team postseason record and postseason career high with four field goals in the game. K Neil Rackers hit two field goals in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore (1/15/12). Graham previously kicked two field goals in the 2011 AFC Divisional Playoff vs. the New York Jets (1/16/11) as a member of the New England Patriots.

• Set the franchise single-game scoring record with 13 points, topping the 12-point effort of RB Arian Foster in the 2012 AFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Cincinnati (1/7/12).

WR ANDRE JOHNSON

• Extended his franchise-record streak of consecutive games with a reception to 99, including regular season and postseason games, with a 19-yard catch in the first quarter.

• Finished the game with four receptions for 62 yards

CB JOHNATHAN JOSEPH

• Intercepted his second career pass in postseason play when he picked off Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton in the third quarter. Joseph also had an interception against Cincinnati in the 2012 AFC Wild Card Playoff (1/7/12).

OLB BROOKS REED

• Sacked Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton for no gain in the fourth quarter, raising his career postseason sack total to 4.5. He has recorded at least one sack in all three of his career postseason games.

QB MATT SCHAUB

• Made his playoff debut as a starter. He played briefly in the 2005 NFC Championship Game with the Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia (1/23/05) but did not record any statistics.

• Set franchise postseason single-game records for most completions (29), attempts (38) and yards (262). The previous marks were 17 completions, 35 attempts and 184 yards by T.J. Yates at Baltimore in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff (1/15/12).

DE J.J. WATT

• Sacked Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton for a 9-yard loss in the first quarter, raising his career postseason sack total to 4.5. Watt has recorded at least one sack in all three of his career postseason games.

• Led the team with five tackles, all of which were solo stops, and recorded two tackles for loss and two passes defensed.

MISCELLANEOUS STATS

• Total paid attendance was a franchise-record 71,738. The previous high was 71,725 in the 2012 AFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Cincinnati (1/7/12).

• The following players made their playoff debuts in the game: G Brandon Brooks, DE Jared Crick, TE Garrett Graham, CB Brandon Harris, T Ryan Harris, G Ben Jones, P Donnie Jones, WR Keshawn Martin, OLB Whitney Mercilus, S Eddie Pleasant and WR DeVier Posey.

• Inactive players for the Texans were G Antoine Caldwell, CB Roc Carmichael, FB Tyler Clutts, T Andrew Gardner, NT Terrell McClain, CB Stanford Routt and G Cody White.

• Captains for the Texans were ILB Tim Dobbins, WR Andre Johnson, FS Shiloh Keo, C Chris Myers, QB Matt Schaub, DE Antonio Smith and DE J.J. Watt. Schaub, Johnson and Smith went to midfield for the pregame coin toss.

• The Texans won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

THE TEXANS

·         Led after three quarters for the second time in team postseason history and for the 11^th time overall this season.

TE OWEN DANIELS

·         Set a franchise postseason record with his ninth reception of the game. WR Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 111 yards in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore (1/15/12).

·         Has the second-most receiving yards in a playoff game in team history with 91 through three quarters. He trails WR Andre Johnson’s 111 yards in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore (1/15/12).

RB ARIAN FOSTER

·         Became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 100 yards in each of his first three career playoff games. Foster has 113 yards on 26 carries through three quarters.

·         Scored his fourth career touchdown in postseason play when he dove into the end zone from a yard away in the third quarter. Foster has scored at least one touchdown in all three of his career postseason games.

CB JOHNATHAN JOSEPH

·         Intercepted his second career pass in postseason play when he picked off Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton in the third quarter. Joseph also had an interception against Cincinnati in the 2012 AFC Wild Card Playoff (1/7/12).

QB MATT SCHAUB

·         Set franchise postseason single-game records for most completions (25) and yards (218). The previous marks were 17 completions by T.J. Yates at Baltimore in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff (1/15/12) and 184 yards by Yates at Baltimore.

QB Matt Schaub
6th in completion percentage (64.3)
10^th in passing yards/attempt (7.37)
9^th in passer rating (90.7)

RB Arian Foster
1st in rushing attempts (351)
6th in rushing yards (1,424)
1st in rushing TDs (15)
8th in yards from scrimmage (1,641)
1st in scrimmage touchdowns (17)

WR Andre Johnson
4th in receptions (112)
2nd in receiving yards (1,598)

DE J.J. Watt
1st in sacks (20.5)
T-10^th in passes defensed (16)
1st in stuffs (tackles for loss on running plays) (23.5)
T-9th in forced fumbles (4)

ILB Tim Dobbins (missed 2 games, hamstring/shoulder injuries)
T-1st in opponent fumble recoveries (4)

CB Kareem Jackson, CB Johnathan Joseph, FS Danieal Manning
T-10th in INTs returned for touchdown (1)

K Shayne Graham
T-5th in field goals made (31)
5th in points, kickers (138)

P Donnie Jones
10^th in punting average (47.2)
T-10th in punts inside 20 (28)

WR Keshawn Martin
5th in punt return average (12.1)

OLB Bryan Braman (missed 2 games, hamstring injury)
T-7th in special teams tackles (16)
4th in solo special teams tackles (14)

QB Matt Schaub
7th in completion percentage (64.2)

RB Arian Foster
1st in rushing attempts (335)
5th in rushing yards (1,328)
1st in rushing TDs (14)
8th in yards from scrimmage (1,522)
1st in scrimmage touchdowns (16)

WR Andre Johnson
6th in receptions (100)
3rd in receiving yards (1,457)

DE J.J. Watt
1st in sacks (20.5)
1st in stuffs (tackles for loss on running plays) (19.5)
T-9th in forced fumbles (4)

ILB Tim Dobbins (missed 2 games, hamstring/shoulder injuries)
T-1st in opponent fumble recoveries (4)

CB Kareem Jackson
T-10th in interceptions (4)
T-9th in INTs returned for touchdown (1)

CB Johnathan Joseph, FS Danieal Manning
T-9th in INTs return for touchdown (1)

K Shayne Graham
T-8th in field goals made (28)
T-4th in points, kickers (128)

P Donnie Jones
T-10th in punts inside 20 (28)

WR Keshawn Martin
7th in punt return average (11.6)

CB Alan Ball (missed 4 games, foot injury)
T-10th in special teams tackles (13)
T-7th in solo special teams tackles (11)

OLB Bryan Braman (missed 2 games, hamstring injury)
T-8th in special teams tackles (15)
4th in solo special teams tackles (14)

QB Matt Schaub
9th in passer rating (93.8)
T-8th in passing TDs (22)
7th in completion percentage (64.7)

RB Arian Foster
1st in rushing attempts (325)
4th in rushing yards (1,313)
1st in rushing TDs (14)
5th in yards from scrimmage (1,493)
1st in scrimmage touchdowns (16)

WR Andre Johnson
6th in receptions (93)
3rd in receiving yards (1,360)

DE J.J. Watt
T-1st in sacks (19.5)
1st in stuffs (tackles for loss on running plays) (17.5)
T-9th in passes defensed (15)

ILB Tim Dobbins (missed 2 games, hamstring/shoulder injuries)
T-1st in opponent fumble recoveries (4)

CB Kareem Jackson
T-9th in interceptions (4)
T-8th in INTs returned for touchdown (1)

CB Johnathan Joseph, FS Danieal Manning
T-8th in INTs return for touchdown (1)

K Shayne Graham
T-7th in field goals made (26)
4th in points, kickers (122)

P Donnie Jones
T-10th in punts inside 20 (26)

WR Keshawn Martin
T-5th in punt return average (12.0)

CB Alan Ball (missed 3 games, foot injury)
T-8th in special teams tackles (13)
T-7th in solo special teams tackles (11)

OLB Bryan Braman (missed 2 games, hamstring injury)
T-8th in special teams tackles (13)
%4th in solo special teams tackles (12)

QB Matt Schaub
9th in passer rating (92.7)
T-9th in passing TDs (21)
10th in completion percentage (64.0)

RB Arian Foster
1st in rushing attempts (298)
6th in rushing yards (1,148)
1st in rushing TDs (14)
8th in yards from scrimmage (1,324)
1st in scrimmage touchdowns (16)

WR Andre Johnson
6th in receptions (74)
4th in receiving yards (1,209)

DE J.J. Watt
2nd in sacks (16.5)
1st in stuffs (tackles for loss on running plays) (14.5)
T-8th in passes defensed (15)

CB Kareem Jackson
T-8th in interceptions (4)
T-7th in INTs returned for touchdown (1)

CB Johnathan Joseph, FS Danieal Manning
T-7th in INTs return for touchdown (1)

K Shayne Graham
T-7th in points, kickers (105)

P Donnie Jones
T-8th in punts inside 20 (25)

WR Keshawn Martin
5th in punt return average (12.7)

CB Alan Ball (missed 2 games, foot injury)
T-7th in special teams tackles (13)
T-5th in solo special teams tackles (11)

OLB Bryan Braman (missed 2 games, hamstring injury)
T-7th in special teams tackles (13)
4th in solo special teams tackles (12)

HOUSTON TEXANS

OUT
None

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
CB Alan Ball (Foot), T Derek Newton (Knee), OLB Brooks Reed (Groin)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION
NT Shaun Cody (Ribs/Back), ILB Tim Dobbins (Shoulder), TE Garrett Graham (Concussion), ILB Bradie James (Hamstring), CB Johnathan Joseph (Hamstring/Groin), DE Antonio Smith (Ankle), G Wade Smith (Knee/Ribs)

FULL PARTICIPATION
OLB Bryan Braman (Neck), G Antoine Caldwell (Hamstring), DE Jared Crick (Neck), TE Owen Daniels (Back), WR Lestar Jean (Knee), OLB Whitney Mercilus (Hip), OLB Jesse Nading (Foot), WR DeVier Posey (Knee/Hamstring), ILB Darryl Sharpton (Toe), RB Ben Tate (Hamstring), QB T.J. Yates (R. Elbow)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

OUT
None

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
TE Rob Gronkowski (Forearm/Hip)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION
DT Ron Brace (Elbow), S Patrick Chung (Shoulder/Hamstring), G Dan Connolly (Back), TE Aaron Hernandez (Ankle), LB Dont’a Hightower (Hamstring), DE Chandler Jones (Ankle), WR Brandon Lloyd (Knee), DT Kyle Love (Knee), G Logan Mankins (Ankle/Calf), OL Nick McDonald (Shoulder), LB Brandon Spikes (Knee/Ankle), OT Sebastian Vollmer (Back/Knee), WR Wes Welker (Ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION
LB Jerod Mayo (Elbow)