"When Andre Johnson was a freshman at Miami Senior High, one of his assistant coaches was Tim "Ice" Harris. In Johnson, Harris saw a burgeoning talent, a certain high-level Division I prospect, and the self-appointed task for Harris was to minimize the looming gap from high school to college as much as possible.

The two grew close - Harris was impressed by Johnson's work ethic while Johnson was drawn to Harris' instruction and guidance. Along the way, Johnson became a role model for Harris' son Brandon, who, as a 5- or 6-year-old, often would tag along to practices and workouts, running around on the sidelines.

Now, 15 or 16 years later, Johnson shakes his head as he glances down at the opposite end of the Texans' locker room. Moments later, Brandon, no longer a little kid but instead a rookie cornerback, will saunter in.

"It's just kind of crazy because you're in high school, you see this little kid, and never in a million years do you think you'd be on the same professional football team," Johnson said. "It's just like a part of your family coming up here.""