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HOUSTON -- When the Texans selected cornerback Glover Quin from New Mexico in the fourth round (112th pick overall) Sunday, they got a dual threat. Not only does Quin play defense, but he's also a special teams guy.

"I think I can play all special teams," Quin said, "and I can return kicks, I can cover kicks, anything that I am asked to do on special teams, I can do it. So, I think that will help out a lot, too."

Houston also selected tight end Anthony Hill from NC State in the fourth round (122nd pick). Hill not only gets to come back to his hometown, but he will reunite with former Wolfpack teammate and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft, Mario Williams. Hill credits Williams for motivating him to be the best.

"We really competed a whole lot," Hill said. "I believe having the opportunity of going against such a great defensive end every day is one of the reasons I made it here today."

In the fifth round, the Texans selected another hometown favorite, taking tight end James Casey from Rice University (152nd pick). Casey only lives about a mile from Reliant Stadium, and he made it to his first team news conference within minutes of the call from Texans general manager Rick Smith.

"They said, 'Well, can you get here in like 15 minutes?' And I said, 'Sure, I can be there in 5 minutes,' " Casey said. "So I just got dressed really fast ... me and my wife. I think that's the fastest I've ever seen her get ready."

Casey played minor league baseball after being drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago White Sox in 2003. He expressed his gratefulness for the opportunity to play for the Texans.

"It's obviously a dream come true to be drafted into the NFL and get a chance to play in the NFL," Casey said.

In the sixth round (188th pick), Houston selected cornerback Brice McCain from Utah. McCain grew up near Dallas and said getting the opportunity to play in the NFL and in his home state is "more than excitement, I can't describe it for you. I've been wanting to play in the NFL since I was 5 years old. I always told my mom I was going to play in the NFL, so all of my dreams are coming true."

The Texans selected safety Troy Nolan from Arizona State with their eighth and final pick in the seventh round (223).

"I got chosen pretty late, but that's OK," Nolan said. "It's a great opportunity. I'm excited to get out there, get done, get to something new, and help the team out, just play and do what I can do."

Darren Lyn is ESPN's bureau reporter based in Houston.